Coal Tar & Asphalt Fumes
Roofers, paving crews and sealcoaters work with hot, sticky materials that give off fumes. Coal tar products are especially harmful, and asphalt fumes can irritate the eyes, nose and lungs. Hot material also causes severe burns.
- Roofers
- Paving Crews
- Sealcoating
Know the materials
- Asphalt (bitumen) comes from petroleum. It is used for paving and roofing. Heated asphalt gives off fumes and vapors.
- Coal tar pitch comes from coal. It is used in some roofing, pavement sealers and coatings. It contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which cause cancer.
- Read the label and Safety Data Sheet to know which product you have. See Safety Data Sheets.
Health effects
- Skin: irritation, rashes and acne-like spots. Coal tar can make skin very sensitive to sunlight (photosensitivity), causing severe sunburn.
- Eyes, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea and cough.
- Burns: asphalt may be heated above 300 degrees F, and it sticks to skin. See Tar Kettles.
- Cancer risk: coal tar pitch is a known human carcinogen, and long-term exposure raises skin and lung cancer risk. NIOSH has studied asphalt fumes for years; evidence on asphalt itself is less clear but exposure should still be kept low.
Controls
- Substitute products where possible. Use lower-temperature mixes (warm-mix asphalt) and non-coal-tar sealers. Some places restrict coal tar sealants.
- Use engineering controls: exhaust on pavers and kettles, enclosed systems, and positioning workers upwind.
- Do not overheat the material. Follow the maker's temperature.
- Wear long sleeves, gloves, boots and a face shield or safety glasses. Coveralls should be heat- and chemical-resistant. See Hand Protection.
- Use respiratory protection when controls cannot hold fumes down. See Respiratory Protection.
- Use sunscreen and cover exposed skin when working with coal tar.
- Wash hands and face before eating, drinking or smoking, and shower after work. Wash work clothes separately. See Take-Home Contamination.
If you are burned
Cool the burn with cool water. Do not pull off hardened asphalt; it can tear skin. Get medical help. See Burn First Aid.
Standards & references
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