Soilworks products are the industry’s top standard due to our insistence on creating high performance soil stabilization and dust control products that stand up to rigorous testing – both in the lab and in the field. Our commitment to quality and performance has led to our involvement and testing in hundreds of real-world situations. The following library of reports, presentations, specifications, approvals and other similar documents provide you, our customer, the transparency and dependable assurance that is expected from Soilworks.
EPA/600/R-16/166 | October 2016 | www.epa.gov/research
Research Findings: Data Collection on Toxicity of Dust Palliatives Used in Alaska
R E S E A R C H A N D D E V E L O P M E N T
Research Findings: Data Collection on Toxicity of Dust Palliatives Used in Alaska
Submitted to:
U.S. EPA Region 10 Office of Air and Waste
Tribal Air Program And
U.S. EPA
Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Laboratory
Environmental Modeling and Methods Division Environmental Chemistry Branch
Submitted by:
Eastern Research Group, Inc. www.erg.com
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development
Washington, DC 20460
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
2.0 Background………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
2.1 Overview of Issues……………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
2.2 Research Goals…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
2.3 Project Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
2.4 Research Questions………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
3.0 Data Collection Approach……………………………………………………………………………………… 3
3.1 Reaching Out to Contacts Identified by EPA……………………………………………………. 3
3.2 Primary Documentation Search………………………………………………………………………. 5
4.0 Findings………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
4.1 Palliatives Used in Alaska……………………………………………………………………………… 9
4.2 Characteristics of Palliatives Used in Alaska………………………………………………….. 14
4.3 Toxicity of Identified Palliatives…………………………………………………………………… 17
4.4 Palliative Regulations Applicable to State-Used Palliatives……………………………… 21
5.0 Data Gaps/Research Needs…………………………………………………………………………………… 24
6.0 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 26
List of Figures
Figure 1…… Process to Collect Information on Palliatives Used in Alaska…………………………….. 8
List of Tables
Table 1. Subject Matter Experts and Affiliations…………………………………………………………… 4
Table 2. Steps for Primary Documentation Search Using Online Data Sources…………………. 7
Table 3. Palliatives Used in Alaska: Categories, Products, Manufacturers, and
Chemical Compounds…………………………………………………………………………………. 10
Table 4. Available Information on Chemical Characteristics of Palliatives Used
in Alaska……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 14
Acronyms and Abbreviations
AAC |
Alaska Administrative Code |
AASHTO |
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials |
ADEC |
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation |
ASTM |
American Society for Testing and Materials |
AUTC |
Alaska University Transportation Center |
CASRN |
Chemical Abstracts Service Number |
CFR |
Code of Federal Regulations |
DOT&PF |
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities |
ERG |
Eastern Research Group |
PAH |
Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons |
PCB |
Polychlorinated biphenyls |
SDS |
Safety Data Sheets |
UAF |
University of Alaska Fairbanks |
USDA |
United States Department of Agriculture |
USEPA |
United States Environmental Protection Agency |
1.0 Introduction
EPA requested assistance in the investigation of dust palliatives (suppressants) used on road surfaces in the state of Alaska, the fate and transport of these palliatives in the environment, the documented effects to human health and the environment, and the applicable regulations associated with palliative use in Alaska. Aspects of the project, activities performed during the literature search, summarized findings from the effort, and identified data gaps/research needs are all included in this document. This information is organized into five main sections: “Background,” “Literature Review Approach,” “Findings,” “Data Gaps/Research Needs,” and “References.”
2.0 Background
Dust palliatives are products used worldwide to suppress the release of fugitive dust resulting from vehicles traveling on unpaved road surfaces (e.g., dirt roads, gravel roads, unpaved runways). Much of the fugitive dust in Alaska comprises particulate matter that is less than 10 microns in size (PM10), which can lead to adverse health effects in some exposed individuals (Withycombe and Dulla, 2006). Fugitive dust has other potential negative impacts, such as impairing driver safety by reducing visibility and requiring costly and frequent road and runway maintenance (UAF/AUTC, 2013).
Unpaved road surfaces are commonplace in major portions of Alaska, where more than 50 percent of state-owned roads and the majority of local and private roads are unpaved (UAF/AUTC, 2013). For several decades, tribal, state, urban, and rural city governments in the state have been applying palliatives to control and suppress dust on these types of road surfaces. Palliative use dates back to the 1960s with the application of salt-based palliatives, such as calcium chloride and magnesium chloride (Connor, 2015b). Chemical-based palliatives, such as synthetic fluids, have become increasingly popular in Alaska since the early 2000s (Hickman, 2015a; Milne, 2015b). Also, water has been and continues to be a popular method of dust control in Alaska, particularly on construction sites (Barnes and Connor, 2014).
The U.S. market has more than 190 proprietary chemical dust suppressant products, and many other nonproprietary products (e.g., calcium chloride) are available as well (Jones, 2015). Different entities and resources categorize individual palliatives in varying ways, but this report uses the following categories based on project research and subject matter expert input about palliatives applied in Alaska:
2.1 Overview of Issues
The use of palliatives in the state of Alaska has raised various concerns, including the potential impacts on traditional subsistence resources, possible effects on the environment, and unknown human health risks from exposure.
Several rural communities have expressed concerns about palliatives through an Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) survey about dust in 2010. ADEC found that many communities were willing to try chemical dust palliatives, but they wanted more information on the potential toxicity, effects on human health, and effects on the environment, such as the extent of contamination (ADEC, 2010a).
This research effort sought to find information to address the stated concerns of Alaskan tribes and communities. While manufacturers and independent agencies have conducted some testing of products, information from subject matter experts and the literature indicates limited documented knowledge and research on the environmental impacts and health effects of dust palliative use in Alaska. Studies on palliatives have been conducted in locations outside of Alaska, but findings cannot necessarily be extrapolated to Alaska’s unique environment given the variation in results that may come with different study parameters and location conditions. This report does provide information on studies conducted elsewhere to provide perspective (e.g., plant toxicity studies in Colorado and Texas), but it is important to note that only field tests in Alaska can provide accurate predictions of dust palliative performance and impacts in the state.
2.2 Research Goals
This project was created in direct response to questions received from a number of Alaskan tribes and communities about the safety of dust suppressant products. The overarching goal is to evaluate existing knowledge and data gaps on the potential toxicity of palliatives used in Alaska as they relate to possible exposures among the Alaska Native population. Evidence compiled for this project is intended to assist EPA in determining whether palliatives used in the state are safe for use in Alaskan villages, particularly in the context of impacts on subsistence resources and the potential risk to Alaska Natives. To achieve this overarching project goal, the data compilation process focused on addressing the individual objectives stated in Section 2.3.
2.3 Project Objectives
The defined objectives of this project include the following:
2.4 Research Questions
3.0 Data Collection Approach
A data collection effort to gather information about palliatives used in Alaska for dust suppression on roadways was performed. Data collection involved two overarching steps: 1) calling key subject matter experts identified by EPA to gather information by asking a list of pre- approved, project-specific questions (listed below); and 2) searching for and compiling relevant publicly available resources (e.g., published literature) pertaining to palliatives of interest. All information and citations provided by EPA’s recommended experts (and additional contacts identified throughout the process), as well as citations located from searching online resources, in an Excel spreadsheet—referred to as the “bibliographic database” were documented. (Note: the bibliographic database is a Microsoft Excel® file containing citation information for each reference; it is being provided as a separate deliverable.)
The following subsections describe specific information-gathering activities. Figure 1 at the end of this section highlights each step in the process.
3.1 Reaching Out to Contacts Identified by EPA
The first step in the process involved contacting the initial list of subject matter experts provided by EPA, as well as additional contacts identified by these experts. EPA’s project manager provided ERG with a list of nine contacts with various backgrounds and expertise associated with palliatives used in Alaska, particularly in Alaska Native villages (Table 1). The vision was that these experts could provide information on the specific palliatives used in Alaska and the time periods when they were used. Once obtained, this information was used to identify the chemical makeup of each palliative and other relevant properties needed to address the specific objectives of the literature review effort.
Table 1. Subject Matter Experts and Affiliations
Subject Matter Expert |
Agency/Organization |
|
Barbara Trost |
Air Monitoring and Quality Assurance Program, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation |
|
Billy Connor |
University of Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska University Transportation Center |
|
David Barnes |
||
Paul Rettinger |
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highways Administration, Tribal Transportation Program |
|
Steve Hickman |
Polar Supply Company (Palliative Distributor) |
|
Ali Hamade |
State of Alaska, Section of Epidemiology |
|
Clark Milne |
DOWL; formerly worked at Alaska and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) |
Department of Transportation |
Cheryl Detloff |
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. |
|
Bethany K. Kunz |
U.S. Geological Survey |
|
|
Additional Contact |
Agency/Organization |
Jason Sakalaskas |
Alaska DOT&PF, Northern Region |
AJ Salkoski |
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium |
David James |
University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
David Jones |
University of California, Davis |
The following list of 10 questions were posed to each contact:
3.2 Primary Documentation Search
Palliative-specific information was gathered from various online sources. This process involved searching publicly available databases and websites using a developed assemblage of relevant keywords and various keyword search strings. We used the following search tools:
U.S. National Library of Medicine’s Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB;http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?HSDB).
The strategy for identifying relevant keywords and keyword search strings focused on the use of general terms, palliative types, chemical names, and additional specific project-related words. The process for each of these is summarized below.
*Chemical compositions of dust palliative products and ingredient CASRNs are taken from SDSs whenever available. A full list of identified products and their associated chemical compositions, when available (i.e., are not proprietary ingredients), are listed in Section 3 of this document. Chemicals that account for only a small percentage (<5 percent) of a product were not included in searches.
When searching for reference literature, the process involved reviewing abstracts, identifying references most likely to contain relevant information, and obtaining full-text references when possible. Throughout the literature search process, relevant information about each reference was compiled in the Excel-based bibliographic database (e.g., author, date, title, URL [if applicable], full citation, and summary notes for the reference).
While some reference materials were available online in their entirety, others were limited to abstracts or brief summaries. To complete the primary literature search, a tiered approach was used for reviewing and compiling relevant information. The process included searching online databases for references potentially relevant to palliatives and project objectives (Step 1), targeting documents that could be useful based on a review of abstracts and other information (Step 2), and obtaining and reviewing full references for those deemed relevant (Step 3). Each step is summarized in Table 2.
Table 2. Steps for Primary Documentation Search Using Online Data Sources
Step |
Task |
1 |
Search online data sources (e.g., Google Scholar, Pubmed) using keywords and keyword search strings. |
2 |
Review abstracts and summary information for each reference. |
Flag sources of information relevant for project-specific needs. |
|
3 |
If accessible, obtain and review the full reference and summarize it in the bibliographic database. Cite relevant information in the summary report. |
Figure 1. Process to Collect Information on Palliatives Used in Alaska
4.0 Findings
This section synthesizes the findings of the interviews and literature review, which are summarized in the following subsections: “Palliatives Used in Alaska” (Section 4.1), “Characteristics of These Palliatives” (Section 4.2), “Toxicity of These Palliatives” (Section 4.3), and “Regulations Applicable to Palliative Use in Alaska” (Section 4.4).
Hundreds of search queries and all identified literature were tracked in the bibliographic database. A total of 247 resources were identified, with 125 marked as relevant to the project scope and requiring a full review. Articles deemed relevant were those that provided information directly related to the project objectives, goals, and research questions (e.g., dealt with palliative toxicity, documented application of palliatives in Alaska). Articles were deemed irrelevant if they fell outside of this scope (e.g., referred to palliative performance, summarized information on dust effects). Notably, some of the retained resources pertain to research conducted outside of Alaska, but were flagged because they may be relevant to some of the project’s research goals (e.g., results of products tested in other states). Most of the palliative-specific information cited in this report came from product SDSs, which are also tracked in the bibliographic database and referenced in Section 6 of this report.
4.1 Palliatives Used in Alaska
This section discusses the palliatives identified as having been used in Alaska, locations in the state where application is generally known to occur, and typical application methods.
Table 3 lists the categories and the corresponding products, manufacturers, and chemical compositions for palliatives reported to have been applied in Alaska based on subject matter input and literature. Though all of these palliative categories have been applied in Alaska, some are more widely used than others. According to Barnes and Connor (2014), the most appealing types of palliatives for use in the state are water, salt-based palliatives, synthetic fluids, and polymers because of their product availability, cost, and effectiveness. In addition, non-salt-based chemical palliatives have gained popularity for several reasons, such as their effectiveness at reducing dust and their relative price efficiency (Milne, 2015c).
Other palliatives—vegetable oil, tall oil, Soil Sement®, Soiltac®, Perma-zyme, and Top Seal®—have had a very limited number of applications in the state, with testing sometimes representing the only application. Similarly, acrylic-based products and other polymers are reportedly not generally used much in Alaska. Clay additives are infrequently used due to their high cost; montmorillonite was used in Fort Yukon, but other areas of application are not well documented in Alaska (Milne, 2015a). Likewise, though one electrochemical product was tested in the state, it performed poorly and was not used again (Connor, 2015a).
Table 3. Palliatives Used in Alaska: Categories, Products, Manufacturers, and Chemical Compositions
Category |
Products Used in Alaska |
Manufacturer |
Chemical Composition1 |
Water |
N/A |
|
|
Salt-Based |
Dowflake™ (Calcium Chloride) |
Occidental Chemical Corporation |
|
Liquidow™ (Calcium Chloride) |
Occidental Chemical Corporation |
|
|
Dust-Off® (Magnesium Chloride) |
Cargill |
|
|
Petroleum- Based |
Earth Armour™ |
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. |
|
PennzSuppress® D (Asphalt Emulsion) |
American Refining Group, Inc. |
|
|
Organic Nonpetroleum- Based |
Alastac (Lignosulfonate) |
Apun, LLC |
|
Lignosite® 458 Sodium Lignosulfonate |
Georgia-Pacific West, Inc. |
|
|
AlastaSeal (Tall Oil) |
Apun, LLC |
|
Category |
Products Used in Alaska |
Manufacturer |
Chemical Composition1 |
|
|
Freedom Binder 400 (Tall Oil)2 |
Freedom Industries (No Longer in Operation) |
• • • |
Water (30–60%) Tall-oil pitch (30-60%, CASRN 8016-81-7) Surfactant blend (1–10%, proprietary CASRN) |
Denali Dust Control Concentrate (Vegetable Oil) |
Denali Materials, Inc. |
|
||
Soybean Oil Soapstock |
N/A – Specific Products Not Identified |
|
||
Beet Juice |
N/A – Specific Products Not Identified |
|
||
Enzymes3 |
Perma-Zyme |
Pacific Enzymes, Inc. |
|
|
Top Seal® |
Soils Control International, Inc. |
•
• |
Copolymers, vinyl acrylic, water, and proprietary formulations Vinyl acetate (<0.1%, CASRN 108-05-4) |
|
|
Soil-Sement® |
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. |
• • |
Water (50–95%) Acrylic and vinyl acetate polymer (5–50%, non- hazardous) |
|
|
|
|
Powdered product: |
|
|
|
• |
Copolymer of vinyl acetate, ethylene and vinyl ester |
|
|
|
|
with mineral fillers and protective colloid liquid |
|
|
product: |
||
|
|
|
• |
Synthetic vinyl copolymer dispersion (55%, non- |
|
|
|
|
hazardous) |
Polymers |
|
|
• |
Water (45%) |
|
|
|
• |
Water (44–54%) |
|
|
|
• |
Olefin acrylate polymer (33–39%, proprietary |
|
|
|
|
CASRN) |
|
LSP-400 |
3M™ |
• • |
Ammonium alkyl sulfate (2–6%, proprietary CASRN) Ethyl lactate (1–5%, CASRN 97-64-3) |
|
|
|
• |
Alkyl ester (1–5%, proprietary CASRN) |
|
|
|
• |
Sodium alkyl ether sulfate (1–2%, proprietary |
|
|
|
|
CASRN) |
Category |
Products Used in Alaska |
Manufacturer |
Chemical Composition1 |
|
DirtGlue® |
GeoCHEM, Inc. |
|
Synthetic Fluids4 |
EK35® |
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. |
|
EnviroKleen® |
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electrochemical |
N/A |
|
|
Clay Additives |
Montmorillonite |
N/A – Specific Products Not Identified |
|
1 Information on chemical compositions is taken from SDSs for all products except for Denali Dust Control Concentrate. As cited, information for Denali Dust Concentrate was taken from an informational sheet provided by the manufacturer.
2 This product was discontinued.
3 Enzymes may be categorized under electrochemical products by some entities but are considered as their own category in this report.
4 The synthetic fluids category has been debated among product manufacturers. While many products market themselves as “synthetic,” the synthetic fluids category should be reserved for products that are fluids derived through chemical transformation. This definition separates this fluid from the category of petroleum-based organic fluids produced by physical separation (fractionation, distillation) in the refining process. Fluids that have gone through physical separation along with a minor chemical reaction such as cracking and hydroprocessing, as would be the case with mineral oils, are also excluded from the class of fluids considered synthetic (U.S. EPA, 1996; Federal Register, 2001). Midwest Industrial Supply, the manufacturer of synthetic fluids EK35® and EnviroKleen®, invented the patented product category Synthetic Organic Dust Control (Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2014). This report follows the new definition of synthetic fluids agreed upon by Midwest Industrial Supply and Soilworks, two major manufacturers of synthetic fluid dust palliatives. EK35®, EnviroKleen®, and Durasoil® fall under this definition.
Interviews and the literature pointed to other types of palliatives, but we were unable to identify sufficient documentation to research them further. These include:
We obtained information on locations of palliative application regarding Alaska DOT&PF’s use of palliatives in the state, but data are lacking on locations where application may occur by other entities. Specifically, Alaska DOT&PF uses dust palliatives for various state projects, including those dealing with city roads, highways, and airports. According to subject matter experts and published documentation, calcium chloride has been the main type of product used on roads managed by Alaska DOT&PF; Alaska DOT&PF records show that calcium chloride was applied to more than 800 miles of roads and highways each year from 2005 to 2010 (ADEC, 2010b; EcoPlan Associates, Inc., 2007).
Based on research conducted for this project, it appears that Alaska DOT&PF has applied palliatives at more than 50 airports since 2001 (Milne, 2015b). Documentation indicates the following have been used for airport projects: EK35®, EnviroKleen®, Perma-Zyme, Lignosite® 458 Sodium Lignosulfonate, and Durasoil® (ADEC, 2010b; EcoPlan Associates, Inc., 2007).
Though the documentation is limited on other entities using palliatives in the state and locations where application might occur, there has been at least one project that involved testing palliatives on village roads. In 2009, the Alaska legislature awarded the DOT&PF $650,000 to run palliative trials in what was referred to as the “8 Villages” project. For this project, the DOT&PF picked eight Alaska Native villages with known dust problems (Ambler, Buckland, Kiana, Kotzebue, Noorvik, Noatak, Bethel, and St. Mary’s), applied palliatives to the unpaved roads there, and monitored the efficacy and longevity of the palliatives. However, the villages were inconsistent in their application methods, and the DOT&PF was unable to determine which palliatives performed best (Milne, 2015c). Another study by Eckhoff (2012) looked at palliatives applied by Alaska DOT&PF to other parts of the state, involving gravel roads in Eagle and North Pole and a gravel runway in Tetlin. The conclusion from the results of the tests conducted in Eagle were that the dust palliative application provided a reduction in PM10 emissions compared to the untreated control section over a two year time period. The results of tests conducted in North Pole determined that the dust palliative’s effectiveness began to decrease within two months of the initial application and its longevity was less than one year. Testing in Tetlin was inconclusive, additional testing is required before the effectiveness and longevity of the dust palliative can be evaluated.
Based on public Alaska DOT&PF records, the following palliatives were applied to village roads at least once during the 2005 to 2010 time period: EnviroKleen®, Earth Armour™, Soil- Sement®, LSP-400, Alastac, and AlastaSeal (ADEC, 2010b). During the same time period, the following were applied on other non-village roads (i.e., roads not specified as village roads in the source document) at least once: EK35®, EnviroKleen®, Durasoil®, Soiltac®, Top Seal®, Dustaway, and the now discontinued Freedom Binder 400 (ADEC, 2010b). Note: Other products have been used in Alaska since 2010, such as the application of EK35® and Durasoil® at airports, but documentation of these uses is not readily available to the public (Milne, 2015b).
Application of palliatives can vary by the specific product used, but they are typically applied either topically or mixed into the top layer of the soil (Piechota et al., 2004). If applied topically, palliatives are generally applied as liquids using sprayer equipment attached to the back of a vehicle. Salt-based and polymer palliatives may also be applied in solid form as flakes that are spread and then mixed into the soil. Petroleum-based asphalt emulsions, such as PennzSuppress® D, are often heated first to ensure smooth application. Product information will specify mixing requirements, application rates, and proper storage. Many liquid palliative products are diluted with water to create the correct concentration for application (Piechota et al., 2004).
4.2 Characteristics of Palliatives Used in Alaska
This section discusses chemical properties of the various identified palliative types, including how long the chemicals may stay in the environment after product application and how they move through environmental media (e.g., air, soil). Rettinger (2015) indicated that the available environmental sampling data for state-used palliatives are typically only documented by manufacturers in their product SDSs. While most of the SDSs obtained for palliatives used in Alaska do include some information about environmental fate and transport, the level of detail was limited in most cases. The relevant information that could be located for each palliative category is highlighted in Table 4.
The fate and transport of salt-based products are perhaps the best understood among these palliative categories. For many products, the extent of what is known may be limited to whether the substance is soluble in water. Moreover, though potential bioaccumulation was documented for a few products, little information was found on the environmental fate and transport of palliatives used in Alaska.
Table 4. Available Information on Chemical Characteristics of Palliatives Used in Alaska
Category |
Products Used in Alaska |
Chemical Characteristics |
Water |
N/A |
Very short longevity, requiring repeated applications due to evaporation (ADEC, 2008). |
Salt-Based |
Dowflake™ (Calcium Chloride) |
Products control dust by absorbing moisture from the air, thereby causing dust particles to bind together with the extra moisture (ADEC, 2008). Water soluble and can be transported in water in the form of calcium, magnesium, and chloride ions (Piechota et al., 2004). |
Category |
Products Used in Alaska |
Chemical Characteristics |
|
Liquidow™ (Calcium Chloride) |
Calcium ions may remain in soil by binding to other particles or ions, but chloride ions eventually drain into surface water (Occidental Chemical Corporation, 2015a, 2015b). Calcium chloride does not biodegrade in the environment and does not bioaccumulate (NIH, 2015). |
Dust-Off® (Magnesium Chloride) |
A study of the fate of magnesium chloride brine detected chloride in soils far below the road surface even after five years (Hull and Bishop, 2003). Since these salts are water soluble and prone to leaching, application must occur every year (Bolander and Yamada, 1999). |
|
These salts are also corrosive to steel (Milne, 2015c). |
||
Petroleum- Based |
Earth Armour™ |
Liquid petroleum-based products may end up in groundwater or surface water from stormwater runoff or by leaching from areas of application (ADEC, 2008). |
PennzSuppress® D (asphalt emulsion) |
Degradability, bioaccumulation, and soil mobility are not determined (American Refining Group, Inc., 2012). Asphalt emulsions are often heated to allow for smooth application. The heated emulsion releases vapors, which contain polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (ADEC, 2008). |
|
Organic Nonpetroleum- Based |
Alastac (Lignosulfonate) |
As lignosulfonate products, such as Alastac and Lignosite® 458 Sodium Lignosulfonate, break down in water, they consume dissolved oxygen in the water due to their high biological oxygen demand (USDA, 2013). Lignosulfonate is water soluble and forms acids that may decrease the pH of waters it contaminates (USDA, 2013). |
Lignosite® 458 Sodium Lignosulfonate |
||
AlastaSeal (Tall Oil) |
Tall oils have a high biological oxygen demand when they break down, so they may deplete dissolved oxygen in water if leaching or spilling occurs (ADEC, 2008). |
|
Freedom Binder 400 (Tall Oil)1 |
Category |
Products Used in Alaska |
Chemical Characteristics |
|
Denali Dust Control Concentrate (Vegetable Oil) |
Low life expectancy of about a month (Barnes and Connor, 2014). Rapidly oxidizes, and there is some evidence that it turns into a powder in the presence of sunlight. The fate of this powder is not known (Connor, 2015b). Effective ingredient is not water soluble, so it will remain in the road surface even after rain events. If applied properly, the product can last through the summer dust season (Denali Materials, Inc., 2015). |
Soybean Oil Soapstock |
No information found. |
|
Beet Juice |
||
Enzymes |
Perma-Zyme |
A proprietary blend of enzymes produced from food products that reportedly contains no hazardous constituents (Pacific Enzymes, Inc., 2015). The product is completely soluble in water and readily biodegradable (Pacific Enzymes, Inc., 2015). |
Top Seal® |
Water soluble and non-biodegradable (Soils Control International, Inc., 2006). |
|
Polymers |
Soil-Sement® |
Increases the cohesive strength of clay roads and only needs to be applied once every few years. However, tends to break down under moist and freezing conditions (ADEC, 2008). Soil-Sement® is dilutable in water (Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2015d). Vinyl acetate and acrylic polymer-based palliatives, such as Soiltac® and Soil-Sement®, are stable in soils after curing and are thus unlikely to be available to terrestrial organisms or be transported in runoff water. However, there are lingering concerns regarding the degradation of polymer products (Steevens et al., 2007). Soiltac® comes in liquid and powder form. The powder is completely soluble in water, and the liquid is dispersible until cured (Soilworks, 2015b, 2015c). |
Soiltac® |
||
LSP-400 |
Chemical fate information is not determined (3M™, 2010). |
|
DirtGlue® |
Miscible in water (GeoCHEM, Inc., 2010). |
Category |
Products Used in Alaska |
Chemical Characteristics |
Synthetic Fluids |
EK35® |
Insoluble in water (Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2015a). In a study of hydrologic impacts, EK35® had a higher concentration of contaminants than polymer products such as Soil-Sement® (Piechota et al., 2002). |
EnviroKleen® |
Insoluble in water (Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2015b). |
|
Durasoil® |
Major constituents are expected to be readily biodegradable (Soilworks, 2015a). If Durasoil® reaches surface water, it will float on water, but if it enters soil, the liquid will adsorb to soil particles and become immobile (Soilworks, 2015a). |
|
Electrochemical |
N/A |
Electrochemical products generally work best with clay soils and act by reducing the water content of the soil, thus increasing compaction. Some products are water soluble while others are highly acidic oxidizers and can react violently with metals (ADEC, 2008). Environmental impacts and chemical fate and transport are not well studied. |
Clay Additives |
Montmorillonite |
Work best under dry conditions and act by agglomerating fine dust particles. Wet conditions reduce their effectiveness (ADEC, 2008). |
1 This product was discontinued.
4.3 Toxicity of Identified Palliatives
This section summarizes the toxicity information that was found for the palliatives used in Alaska by category. It also discusses documented human health effects associated with product use, potential environmental impacts from palliatives, and some very limited findings associated with dust palliative application and adverse effects on subsistence food sources. Information below is presented for each overall palliative category, and for the specific palliatives within that category when information is available. Most of the toxicity information about palliative products in this section comes from manufacturer SDSs. Where possible, ERG cited relevant toxicity and health effects data from the peer-reviewed scientific literature was cited, but reference to the SDSs was necessary in most cases because that was the only information available.
Generally, we identified limited research or documentation describing the toxicity and potential health impacts of dust palliatives, particularly related to resultant exposures to the general public. Existing studies have been carried out in a variety of environments and geographical
settings, therefore, findings cannot necessarily be extrapolated to apply to Alaska’s environment, where factors such as soil type and climate may vary from those present in a palliative study conducted elsewhere (Kunz, 2015).
Water
Salt-Based
Petroleum-Based
of product deposits in the lungs may lead to fibrosis and reduced pulmonary function (Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2010).
Organic Nonpetroleum-Based
Enzymes
Polymers
Synthetic Fluids
pulmonary function. EnviroKleen® is not known to be carcinogenic or pose a reproductive risk to humans (Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2015b).
Electrochemical
Clay Additives
No information was found in the literature that specifically documented the effects of palliatives on subsistence food sources. Knowledge that exists is anecdotal or gained through conversations with local residents. Calcium chloride, for example, is sometimes not accepted in villages because it may negatively affect the taste of subsistence berries and fish (Connor, 2015b). Without moisture, chloride salts can break down into dust, become airborne, and then land on berries and fish that have been left outside to dry (Hickman, 2015a). The subject matter experts contacted for this project did not know of similar complaints associated with other types of palliatives.
4.4 Palliative Regulations Applicable to State-Used Palliatives
Information obtained from subject matter experts and the literature review identified few federal or state regulations that directly apply to palliative toxicity and use in Alaska, but there are some general guidelines that outline what can and cannot be used.
At the federal level, there is one regulation and one law, respectively, that apply: 1) waste oil (i.e., oil derived from crude oil or synthetic oil that has been contaminated through use) is prohibited for use as dust control (federal regulation 40 CFR Part 279, Standards for the Management of Used Oil, Subpart I), and 2) a dust palliative cannot contain hazardous materials, which are defined as chemical substances that present “an imminent and unreasonable risk of serious or widespread injury to health or the environment” (Federal Toxic Substances Control Act [15 U.S.C.§ 2606]) (Kunz, 2015).
State regulations pertaining to clean air, clean water, and management of hazardous waste and materials can apply to dust control (Benedict, 2003). In Alaska, state regulation 18 AAC 75 pertains to oil and other hazardous substances and prohibits the use of oil as a dust suppressant if the oil contains any of the following (ADEC, 2015a):
Alaska DOT&PF has regulations for palliative use on state-funded construction projects. Item P-167 in the agency’s standard specifications outlines requirements for runway stabilization and dust palliative use. These specifications state that in order for a product to be used, the manufacturer must certify the product is environmentally safe for aquatic species and requires no specialized response or cleanup if a spill occurs (ADOT&PF, 2015a). The Central and Northern Alaska DOT&PF Regions have regional specifications that follow the general P-167 outline. Environmental testing requirements for the Northern Region include bulk analysis, toxic characteristic leaching procedures, and testing for aquatic toxicity with three or more of these species: Cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), mysid shrimp, and 7-day rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (ADOT&PF, 2015b). All Alaska state- funded projects must have specifications similar to the P-167 or applicable regional template. While no governing body officially regulates how specifications are written, DOT&PF may review them (Hickman, 2015b).
Although they are not laws or regulations, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) specification standards are applied in Alaska for road use for two palliatives: calcium chloride and asphalt emulsion (Jones, 2015).
No guidelines and specifications were available specific to other palliative products used in the state, and as Jones (2015) points out, there are no official guidelines that specify how agencies and entities maintaining roads should obtain and apply palliative treatments. There are some guidance documents to help practitioners select dust palliatives best suited to their particular site conditions, such as the U.S. Forest Service’s Dust Palliative Selection and Application Guide (Bolander and Yamada, 1999). The Federal Highway Administration is currently sponsoring the preparation of a new guideline with specifications for obtaining and selecting chemical palliative treatments for unpaved roads, but it has yet to be finalized (Jones, 2015).
As evidenced herein, very limited regulations specific to palliative use, application, and toxicity exist in Alaska at this time. For the regulations and guidance that are in place, no documentation was found to indicate whether they are adequate to protect human health and subsistence resources in Alaska.
5.0 Data Gaps/Research Needs
The previous sections of this document summarize the relevant information identified for palliatives used in Alaska. The data collection effort revealed several remaining information gaps and research needs. The bullets below highlight those gaps identified in available documentation and by the experts we contacted. These are organized to generally align with the following categories used in Section 4, “Findings: Palliatives Used in Alaska” (Section 4.1), “Characteristics of Palliatives Used in Alaska” (Section 4.2), “Toxicity of Identified Palliatives” (Section 4.3), and “Regulations Applicable to State-Used Palliatives” (Section 4.4).
Palliatives Used in Alaska
Characteristics of Palliatives Used in Alaska
vegetable-oil based palliatives, such as a new product called Denali Dust Control Concentrate.
Toxicity of Identified Palliatives
Palliative Regulations Applicable to State-Used Palliatives
Other Gaps/Research Needs
6.0 References
3M. 2010. LSP-400 Material Safety Data Sheet. Revised February 24, 2010.
ADEC (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation). 2015a. 18 AAC 75 Regulations for Oil and Other Hazardous Substances Pollution Control. Updated June 17, 2015. https://dec.alaska.gov/spar/csp/reg_rev.htm.
ADEC. Division of Air Quality. 2010a. ADEC Rural Dust Survey Preliminary 2010 Results. https://dec.alaska.gov/air/anpms/Dust/Dust_docs/Preliminary%20results_ADEC_dust_control_s urveys.pdf.
ADEC. Division of Air Quality. 2010b. Dust Palliative Products used on Alaska’s (DOT&PF) Roads & Airports from 2005–2010. https://dec.alaska.gov/air/anpms/Dust/Dust_docs/Dust%20Palliative%20Products%20Used%20i n%20Alaska.pdf.
ADEC. 2008. Division of Air Quality, Air Non-Point Source Mobile Section. Dust Suppressants & Toxicity.
ADOT&PF (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities). 2015a. Item P-
167. Provided to ERG (an EPA Contractor) by Cheryl Detloff, Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. August 26, 2015.
ADOT&PF. Northern Region. 2015b. Non-Soluble Liquid Dust Palliative Product(s) Specifications. Provided to ERG (an EPA Contractor) by Jason Sakalaskas, ADOT&PF. September 8, 2015.
American Refining Group, Inc. 2012. PennzSuppress® D Material Safety Data Sheet.
Revised March 7, 2012. http://b8b.17f.myftpupload.com/PS%20-
%20MSDS%20Pennz%20D%20-%20Revised%20FINAL.pdf.
Apun, LLC. 2015. AlastaSeal Material Safety Data Sheet. Provided to ERG (an ERG Contractor) by Clark Milne, DOWL. September 16, 2015.
Apun, LLC. 2009. Alastac Material Safety Data Sheet. Revised July 7, 2009. Provided to ERG (an ERG Contractor) by Clark Milne, DOWL. September 16, 2015.
Barnes, D., and Connor, B. 2014. Managing Dust on Unpaved Roads and Airports. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska University Transportation Center. Report Number: INE/AUTC 14.14. http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/ntaa/docs/tribal-air-resources/NTAA- ManagingDustUnpavedRoadsandAirports.pdf.
Benedict, M. 2003. Techniques for Dust Prevention and Suppression. Washington State Department of Ecology. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/96433.html.
Bolander, P., and Yamada, A. 1999. Dust Palliative Selection and Application Guide.
Report No. 9977 1207-SDTDC. USDA.
Connor, B. 2015a. Information Provided in an Email to ERG (an EPA Contractor) by Billy Connor, UAF/AUTC. September 14, 2015.
Connor, B. 2015b. Information Provided in an Email to ERG (an EPA Contractor) by Billy Connor, UAF/AUTC. July 31, 2015.
Denali Materials, Inc. 2015. Denali Dust Control. Last Accessed July 2015. https://www.facebook.com/350250311778220/photos/ms.c.eJwzM7YwszAxMTGyNDaxMDDR M4PwLUF8c0tLAGa5BnM~-.bps./638684442934804/?type=1&theater.
Detloff, C. 2015. Information provided in an email to ERG (an EPA contractor) by Cheryl Detloff, Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. August 21, 2015.
Eckhoff, T. 2012. Evaluating dust palliative performance and longevity using the UAF- DUSTM: A thesis presented to the faculty of University of Alaska Fairbanks in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. http://ine.uaf.edu/autc/files/2013/03/EckhoffT-Thesis-Final-Submission.pdf.
EcoPlan Associates, Inc. 2007. Memorandum: Dust Abatement Products. Provided to ERG (an ERG Contractor) by Clark Milne, DOWL. August 5, 2015.
Federal Register. 2001. Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards for the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category; OMB Approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act: Technical Amendment, 40 CFR Parts 9 and 435. Vol 66, No. 4, Washington, D.C.: 70p.
Freedom Industries. 2009. Freedom Binder 400 Material Safety Data Sheet. Prepared October 6, 2009. Provided to ERG (an ERG Contractor) by Clark Milne, DOWL. August 5, 2015.
GeoCHEM, Inc. 2010. DirtGlue® Material Safety Data Sheet. Effective November 1, 2010. http://www.geocheminc.com/dirtglue/DirtGlue_Polymer/DG-MSDS-DirtGlue.pdf.
Georgia-Pacific West, Inc. 2000. Lignosite® 468 Sodium Lignosulfonate Powder Material Safety Data Sheet. Effective January 1, 2000. http://www.hillbrothers.com/msds/pdf/n/lignosite- 458-dry.pdf.
Goodrich, B., and Jacobi, W. 2012. Foliar Damage, Ion Content, and Mortality Rate of Five Common Roadside Tree Species Treated with Soil Applications of Magnesium Chloride. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 223(2), 847–862. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11270- 011-0907-5.
Goodrich, B., and Jacobi, W. 2008. Magnesium Chloride Toxicity in Trees. Colorado State University Extension. Fact Sheet No. 7.425.
http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07425.pdf.
Goodrich, B., Koski, R., and Jacobi, W. 2009. Monitoring Surface Water Chemistry Near Magnesium Chloride Dust Suppressant Treated Roads in Colorado. Journal of Environmental Quality, 38(6), 2373–2381. https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/jeq/abstracts/38/6/2373.
Goodrich, B., Koski, R., and Jacobi, W. 2008. Roadside Vegetation Health Condition and Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2) Dust Suppressant use in Two Colorado, US Counties.
Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, 34(4), 252. http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wy/programs/reclamation.Par.56197.File.dat/magchlorid e-roadside_veg.pdf.
Hickman, S. 2015a. Information provided in an email to ERG (an EPA contractor) by Steve Hickman, Polar Supply. August 3, 2015.
Hickman, S. 2015b. Information provided to ERG (an EPA contractor) in a phone call with Steve Hickman, Polar Supply. August 5, 2015.
Hull, L., and Bishop, C. 2003. Fate of Magnesium Chloride Brine Applied to Suppress Dust from Unpaved Roads at the INEEL Subsurface Disposal Area. INEEL/EXT-01-01173, Rev. 0, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. https://ar.icp.doe.gov/images/pdf/200307/2003071500827KAH.pdf.
Jones, D. 2011. Toward Establishment of Industry Associations to Represent Nontraditional Road Stabilizer Suppliers. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2204), 165–171. http://trrjournalonline.trb.org/doi/abs/10.3141/2204-21.
Jones, D. 2015. Development of Provisional Specification Language for Chemical Treatments for Unpaved Roads. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2473), 189–199. http://trrjournalonline.trb.org/doi/abs/10.3141/2473-22.
Kunz, B. 2015. Information Provided in an Email to ERG (an EPA Contractor) by Bethany Kunz, USGS. August 28, 2015.
Kunz, B., and Little, E. 2015. Dust Control Products at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Texas: Environmental Safety and Performance. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2472), 64–71. http://trrjournalonline.trb.org/doi/abs/10.3141/2473-22.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2015a. EK35® safety data sheet. Revised May 21, 2015. http://www.midwestind.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MW_EK35_Series_SDS.pdf.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2015b. EnviroKleen® Safety Data Sheet. Revised May 22, 2015. http://www.midwestind.com/wp- content/uploads/2015/06/MW_EnviroKleen_Series_SDS.pdf.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2015c. Soil-Sement® Environmental Data. Last Accessed October 12, 2015. http://www.midwestind.com/wp- content/uploads/2014/11/MW_SoilSement-EnvData-Sheet.pdf.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2015d. Soil-Sement® Safety Data Sheet. Revised May 21, 2015. http://www.midwestind.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MW_Soil-Sement_SDS.pdf.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2014. EnviroKleen®: Frequently Asked Questions. http://www.midwestind.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/MW_EnviroKleen-FAQ.pdf.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2013. Soil-Sement® Brochure. http://www.midwestind.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/MW_SoilSement-Brochure.pdf.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2010. Earth Armour™ Material Safety Data Sheet.
Revised May 5, 2010. http://www.rocksolidsolutionsinc.com/docs/Earth_Armour-MSDS.pdf.
Milne, C. 2015a. Information Provided in an Email to ERG (an EPA Contractor) by Clark Milne, DOWL. September 11, 2015.
Milne, C. 2015b. Information Provided in an Email to ERG (an EPA Contractor) by Clark Milne, DOWL. August 5, 2015.
Milne, C. 2015c. Information Provided to ERG (an EPA Contractor) in a Phone Call with Clark Milne, DOWL. August 5, 2015.
MRI (Midwest Research Institute) and RTI (RTI International). 2006. Environmental Technology Verification Program Report. Dust Suppressant Products: Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc.’s EK35®.
Nabess, S. 2014. Characterization of Hydrocarbons Found in the Arctic Aquatic Environment Near the Ekati Diamond Mine. Doctoral Dissertation. Royal Roads University. NIH (National Institutes of Health), HSDB (Hazardous Substances Data Bank). 2015. Calcium Chloride. Last Accessed October 2015. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi- bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+923
Occidental Chemical Corporation. 2015a. Dowflake™ Safety Data Sheet. Revised June 9, 2015.
http://www.oxy.com/OurBusinesses/Chemicals/Products/Documents/CalciumChloride/SDS/SDS
_DOWFLAKE_XTRA.pdf.
Occidental Chemical Corporation. 2015b. Liquidow™ Safety Data Sheet. Revised February 9, 2015. http://www.oxy.com/OurBusinesses/Chemicals/Products/Documents/CalciumChloride/SDS/SDS
_LIQUIDOW_TECHNICAL_GRADE.pdf.
Pacific Enzymes, Inc. 2015. Perma-Zyme Material Safety Data Sheet. Last Accessed October 12, 2015. http://www.pacificenzymes.com/specifications-reports/.
Piechota, T., van Ee, J., Batista, J., Stave, K., and James, D. 2004. Potential Environmental Impacts of Dust Suppressants: “Avoiding another Times Beach.” U.S. EPA Report 600/R-04/031. http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P10096FY.TXT.
Piechota, T., Batista, J., Loreto, D., Singh, V., and James, D. 2002. Water Quality Impacts from Surfaces Treated with Dust Suppressants and Soil Stabilizers. http://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/fac_articles/67/.
Rettinger, P. 2015. Information Provided in an Email to ERG (an EPA Contractor) by Paul Rettinger, Federal Highways Administration Tribal Program. August 5, 2015.
RTI (RTI International) and MRI (Midwest Research Institute). 2005. Environmental Technology Verification Program Report. Dust Suppressant Products: Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc.’s EnviroKleen®.
Soils Control International, Inc. 2006. Top Seal® Material Safety Data Sheet. Revised May 8, 2006. http://dust-control-inc.com/Dust-Control-Documents/6-MSDS-70513.pdf.
Soilworks. 2015a. Durasoil® Safety Data Sheet. Revised June 29, 2015. Revised January 19, 2015. http://www.soilworks.com/media/101965/SDS1501001-Durasoil-Safety-Data- Sheet.pdf.
Soilworks. 2015b. Powdered Soiltac Safety Data Sheet. http://www.soilworks.com/media/23410/2015-sps1307073-powdered-soiltac-material-data- safety-sheets-en-.pdf.
Soilworks. 2015c. Soiltac Safety Data Sheet. Revised May 12, 2015. http://www.soilworks.com/media/101948/SST1507020-Soiltac-Safety-Data-Sheet.pdf.
Steevens, J., Suedel, B., Gibson, A., Kennedy, A., Blackburn, W., Splichal, D., and Pierce, J. 2007. Environmental Evaluation of Dust Stabilizer Products (No. ERDC/EL-TR-07- 13). Engineer Research and Development Center. Vicksburg, MS Environmental Lab. http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/trel07-13.pdf.
Trost, B. 2015. Information Provided to ERG (an EPA Contractor) in a Phone Call with Barbara Trost, ADEC. September 10, 2015.
UAF (University of Alaska Fairbanks)/AUTC (Alaska University Transportation Center).
2013. Dust Control for Unpaved Roads and Runways in Rural Alaska. http://www.ltap.org/login/resource/entryupload/uploads/419744138_resources_20141229150701 Dust%20Control%20for%20Unpaved%20Roads%20in%20Alaska%20Tech%20Brief%20001.p df.
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). 2013. Technical Evaluation Report: Lignin Sulfonate. http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Lignin%20Sulfonate%20Aquatic%20Animals
%20TR.pdf.
U.S. EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Office of Water. 1996. Development Document for Final Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Coastal Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category. EPA-821-R-96-023.
Withycombe, E., and Dulla, R. 2006. Alaska Rural Dust Control Alternatives. Prepared for ADEC. Report No. SR2006-03-03. Sacramento, CA: Sierra Research, Inc. https://dec.alaska.gov/air/anpms/Dust/Dust_docs/DustControl_Report_032006.pdf.
30
|
Office of Research and Development (8101R)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business Penalty for Private Use
$300
EPA/600/R-16/166
October 2016 www.epa.gov
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with vegetable-based ink on paper that contains a minimum of 50% post-consumer fiber content processed chlorine free
Copyright Soilworks, LLC 2003-. All Rights Reserved. Soilworks®, Soiltac®, Gorilla-Snot®, and Durasoil®are registered trademarks of Soilworks, LCC.
Copyright Soilworks, LLC 2003-. All Rights Reserved. Soilworks®, Soiltac®, Gorilla-Snot®, and Durasoil® are registered trademarks of Soilworks, LCC.