With the ever-changing trends, laws and products within our industry, our Pitch Black® family has prided itself on balancing innovation and consistency for nearly 40 years. But, lately, issues in the industry are hitting much closer to home. This year we want to shed some light on a subject that is rarely talked about until now: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and how they affect our furry family members.
This isn’t just business. When it comes to health and safety, we think about our planet, our health and our children. But what about the others that share our homes, like our pets? The question here is, how do PAHs affect our furry friends?
Let’s get real about PAHs. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are a byproduct of burning carbon to create coal tar, a common ingredient in most sealcoat products. Most people know that exposure to the average product formula, while it’s being applied, can be extremely toxic and dangerous. What many people don’t know is the toxicity levels of PAHs and coal tar may not diminish after the product ages. Long-term exposure to these toxins has been proven to cause skin, lung and many other types of cancers. Now, you may be thinking, I don’t often come in direct contact with pavement, how is my family at risk?
The risks are higher than you think. We’ve all seen the warnings for pets: don’t leave your dog in a hot car, don’t walk them in the peak heat of the day, don’t walk them on hot sidewalks, etc. But what about the otherwise safe streets? What about the times the pavement is cooled off and you and your furry friend are ready to head out on a walk? Let’s be honest; the toxins coating the streets are the last thing on your mind. You may be all dressed and ready to go, with shoes protecting you from the elements. However, your four-legged friend has nothing to protect it. Most dogs need lots of exercise. The longer the walk, the longer their paws are exposed to PAHs. What happens after the walk? Those toxins may be tracked onto your furniture and, in the cases of extra-snuggly pups, into your bed. As your dog licks its paws, it consumes those chemicals and may further be exposed to potentially fatal toxins.
PAHs are no small issue. Lab results have shown that the consumption and exposure of these toxins can have negative effects on all types of animals, both domestic and wild. Many believe coal tar and PAHs have caused growths, shortened lifespans and have even proven fatal. Rain runoff of these toxins from the streets may have been the cause of wildlife deaths and mutations for years. We strive to educate everyone involved and focus on the facts.
There are safer sealcoat options. Our Pitch Black® formula has been completely non-toxic, containing 0.00% PAHs since the beginning. We view our manufacturers, our contractors and our customers as family. Our No. 1 goal is to make sure we protect our family and keep each member safe. We care about our customers beyond the date of their purchases. We’ll stand behind our product because we know that Pitch Black® is safe for the environment, safe for our families and safe for man’s best friend.
ABOUT PITCH BLACK®: The Archie family got its start in asphalt in the 1920s with Robb Archie’s grandfather, Joe Archie, in Western New York. Archie’s dad, Earl Archie, learned the trade from his dad during the 1940s and 50s and taught it to his son, Robb Archie, who carried that knowledge from the 1960s and 70s to make Pitch Black® in the 1980s. The family secret formula has only been licensed to Pitch Black® manufacturers during the last 9 years, but Pitch Black® has been used for over 25 years. For more information, contact sales@gopitchblack.com or (775) 232-1055.
