Hampton council became the fourth municipality in the state to take a stand against coal tar use in the township, though the board stopped short of banning the toxic chemical.

Coal tar is the black liquid commonly used to seal parking lots and playgrounds. It is a potent source of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and has been linked to certain cancers including stomach and bladder.

“We have become aware of the health and environment implications of the PAHs associated with coal tar sealant, and I would prefer that they not be used within the township,” council Vice President Carolynn Johnson said.

“However, as a council we collectively felt that an ordinance to ban their use in the township would not be enforceable.”

Instead, council approved a resolution to discourage the use of coal tar. Township officials intend to educate residents about the dangerous implications of coal tar with information posted in coming weeks on the township’s website.

The township was approached by Fox Chapel Councilwoman Mandy Steele, who is campaigning across Allegheny County to ban coal tar.

Fox Chapel became the first municipality in the state to ban the substance, followed by Sharpsburg and Aspinwall.

Steele said she plans to meet with every municipal leader in Allegheny County.

She stressed the toxic impact of PAHs, which are carried in the rain to the Allegheny River and local streams, as well as into homes.

“Coal tar sealants are a 1A human carcinogen and our house dust and waterways are just loaded with it,” Steele said. “It’s alarming.”

For example, used motor oil has 400 PAH contaminants per million particles — coal tar sealant has 17,000% more at 70,000 PAHs.

According to the National Institutes of Health, coal tar has been linked to bladder, kidney and skin cancer. It is also irritating to the eyes, nose and throat.

Regionally, other municipalities are considering a ban or resolution against the chemical.

Shaler is scheduled to vote on the issue in May.

Tim Rogers, Shaler manager, said commissioners are considering a resolution similar to Hampton’s to target environmental best management practices, rather than an outright ban.

Mt. Lebanon, O’Hara, Blawnox and Pine are all considering the move. Presentations also were made to Cranberry, Ben Avon Heights, Bell Acres, Peters, Franklin Park, McCandless, Richland and Millvale.

Steele said there are safe alternatives to coal tar, such as an asphalt-based sealer, that are equally priced and last as long.

“It’s incredible to see this groundswell of strong environmental action coming out of the region,” Steele said.

Hampton Manager Chris Lochner said the township didn’t go all in with an ordinance partly because of the expense.

“The cost of finding out where coal tar is being used and enforcing the ordinance wasn’t where we wanted to go,” Lochner said.

“We don’t want people to use coal tar but we’re not going to police it.”

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