AISD cleans up toxic playgrounds

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Parents in the Austin Independent School District can rest easy, knowing their children will no longer risk exposure to a toxic substance on their playgrounds.

Over the summer, crews removed a coal-tar sealant containing carcinogens known to cause cancer. KXAN brought the story to public attention in April.

Heavy equipment recently pulled onto playground slabs at seven elementary schools where the substance still existed: Doss, Williams, Summitt, Pleasant Hill, Linder, Hart and Campbell.

In areas with a large amount of the substance, crews completed removed it. At others, they simply encapsulated it. AISD previously said the project would cost as much as $115,000.

The concern with elementary students rests with the potential for children to track it in on their shoes or get it on their hands, then breathe it in or get it in their mouths. The district has had no reports of any health concerns and points out that people would probably need longterm exposure for any problems.

The health hazard lies in what makes up the sealant – a family of toxic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. There are at least 13 PAHs listed as potential human carcinogens – something known to cause cancer.

The City of Austin has pointed out that little is known about the potential impacts associated with short-term exposure to PAHs in forms such as pavement sealant debris. City officials banned the sealant's future use after scientists discovered its harmful effect on water quality and the environment.

When the city did its testing years ago, it found the coal-tar sealant in the sediment at the bottom of waterways – likely from parking lot runoff. Since the ban, those levels have dropped off significantly, according to the city's Watershed Protection Department.

• The city said people are exposed to PAHs by:  
• breathing air containing PAHs
• contact with contaminated soil, water, air, or debris
• consuming contaminated food or water  

Some people exposed to high concentrations throughout a long period of time have developed cancer. Skin contact to high concentration of PAHs can cause skin irritation and rashes. Developmental and reproductive effects have been seen in laboratory animals exposed to high concentrations of PAHs.

Last summer, AISD removed the sealant from the playground at Maplewood Elementary for about $16,500. Throughout the next two years, the district hopes to tackle about 60 parking lots containing the sealant for an estimated $1.5 million. That money will likely have to come with a future bond package, according to the district.

The city said people can limit their exposure to PAHs near parking lots, driveways and other paved surfaces.

Hints include:

• Clean and remove shoes before entering the house
• Wash hands and face often, especially before eating or drinking
• Keep children's play areas and toys clean
• Damp mop or clean floors and other household surfaces to reduce dust and dirt in homes and buildings
• Bag and throw any visible accumulation of degraded asphalt sealants in the trash
• Maintain grass, landscaping, or lawn to provide a barrier to exposed soils
• Officials said people can further limit their exposure to PAHs:
• · Avoid gardening or digging in areas with significant soil contamination
• · Quit smoking
• · Wear protective clothing when handling products containing PAHs
• · Reduce the amount of smoked or charbroiled foods consumed
• · Reduce use of wood-burning fireplaces and stoves
• · Avoid use of coal tar-based shampoos and creams