Coal tar based driveway sealants are poisonous (American Medical Association and US Geological Survey). They have been banned in Winnetka and Highland Park, as well as other municipalities and some states. These sealants, commonly used to re-coat asphalt driveways, contain a variety of chemicals that are hazardous to our health and the environment. Coal tar is a known human carcinogen. These chemicals come into your home as dust, and are washed off pavement, contaminating our water. These sealants do not provide any structural advantage to pavement – they just make it look black.
Asphalt-only sealants are widely available, and permeable pavement doesn’t need to be sealed. Click here to read more on the problem, and here for information on some alternatives.
