AISD to rid playgrounds of toxic tar

AUSTIN (KXAN) - This summer, the Austin Independent School District plans to remove a toxic substance from a handful of its elementary school campuses.

The district will reportedly be the first entity in the nation to get rid of a coal tar sealant , a substance some studies show could cause cancer.

"It's black, and it's painted on parking lots,” said Mateo Scoggins, a senior environmental scientist with the city of Austin. “The idea is that you apply sealants, and it makes the parking lots last longer."

The city found the substance so potentially dangerous that it banned its future use back in 2006.

"It runs off our parking lots and gets into our waterways,” said Scoggins. "They kill organisms. They cause organisms not to be able to reproduce. They cause a range of water-quality problems."

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

”There are concerns about extended exposure to humans,” acknowledged Curt Shaw, AISD's construction management director.

Shaw said the sealant still exists on playground slabs at seven elementary schools: Doss, Williams, Summitt, Pleasant Hill, Linder, Hart and Campbell.

"I always assume that the playground here at Doss is very safe,” said Emma Garrett, a parent who just learned that her daughter's playground -was one of those slated for the removal. “It's nicely shaded, and there's a lot of mulch on the ground. It looks like it's a great place to play."

The city's Watershed Protection Department said people are exposed to PAHs by:

• breathing air containing PAHs
• contact with contaminated soil, water, air, or debris
• consuming contaminated food or water

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.

"There's still the possibility, and there's no reason to try to do something about that,” Shaw said. "None of our conditions have got any significant high concentrations that folks would be exposed to for any extended period of time."

That means students are probably safe. However, the city said some health impacts have been documented:

• 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.

The city 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.

Still, AISD plans to remove the sealant on the playgrounds this summer for around $115,000, according to Shaw. Throughout the next two years, he said the district will tackle about 60 parking lots for an estimated $1.5 million. He said that money is already in the budget.

Garrett said she appreciates the proactive approach, that her child should be a little safer next school year.

"I would rather take care of it before it's a problem than have an accident occur,” she added.

When the city did its testing years ago, it found the coal tar sealant in the sediment at the bottom of waterways. Since it put the ban in place in 2006, Scoggins said those levels have dropped off significantly.

Major retailers like Lowe's and Home Depot no longer sell the product. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, has also been working to pass a nationwide ban.

Last summer, Shaw said AISD removed the coal tar sealant from the playground at Maplewood Elementary for about $16,500.

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

• 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