More often than not, homeowners and business owners are considering the sealcoating process to enhance the look and lifespan of their asphalt parking spaces. In fact, the industry of sealcoating is expected to grow by up to 5% in the next 10 years because more and more people are now realizing the importance of having a durable and attractive pavement.
But despite this, many people are still not familiar with the process of sealcoating and are probably looking for more accurate information before considering this type of maintenance investment on the property. So if you’re interested to know more about the sealcoating process, then we invite you to continue reading as we’re going to sort some of the facts against the fictional information about asphalt sealcoating in today’s post.
Fiction 1: The Smell Of The Sealant Is Harmful To Our Health
The scent of a refined tar-based asphalt sealcoating mixture is so distinct that we can easily detect it even at low concentrations. And that’s because the sealant includes naphthalene, which is a strong-smelling product with an odor threshold of 3 ppb (parts per billion), which is a very low concentration as compared to the smell of a nail polish remover that has a threshold of 7,000 ppb.
But even if the sealant has quite a strong scent, it is still considered safe. But if the naphthalene level goes beyond 10,000 ppb, then it’s considered harmful to our respiratory system. So with this threshold level, you can be assured that the sealant is not harmful to our health.
Fiction 2: Pavement Sealants Are Not Safe To Us Humans And The Environment
As mentioned in the first myth, the scent of the sealant is not at all harmful to our nose and lungs. But what if it comes into contact with our skin? According to medical experts, this idea is inaccurate since millions of people in different countries use coal-tar creams, shampoos, and soaps on a daily basis which is approved by the FDA. And there’s are those who use it as medical treatments for skin disorders like dandruff and eczema.
Apart from that, the strong smell is not enough to cause air pollution and the ingredients are 100% safe for the environment.
Fiction 3: Tar-Based Sealants Can Lead To Deadly Diseases Like Cancer
This information is also untrue according to data since generations of family-owned contracting companies who are constantly dealing with sealcoating chemicals have no reports of chronic effects like cancer and other deadly diseases. Aside from that, employees who have been closely involved in the storage, transport, and application of tar-based sealant did not experience any health complications as attributed to the regular exposure of this product as part of their line of work.
Tar-based sealants are recognized by the United States FDA as “safe and effective”, with active ingredients that are commonly used on other products to treat various kinds of skin ailments.
And perhaps one of the determining factors for debunking this myth is the many studies conducted a century ago to know the effects of prolonged exposure to tar-based products on human health – which all reached the same conclusion that it won’t lead to cancer or any adverse health complications. Check out this link to learn more about the disadvantages of tar and chip driveways.
If you’re looking for a trusted paving company in Pittsburgh, you can go to JR Paving & Construction today.