I join Rick Nation in encouraging people in Wimberley to refrain from using Tarconite to seal/resurface driveways and parking lots.

Rick reported health problems he associates with breathing the fumes from this substance back in July of 1998. This makes perfect sense as one of its very toxic ingredients is the very same thing that poisoned him years ago, leaving him chemically injured and sensitive.

He remembers watching rain causing a foaming run-off for a few weeks after application back in 1998, which presumably made its way into the creek and river.

Now he reports that two parking lots in Wimberley have recently been treated with this product. If we care about our creeks and rivers, we must each be aware of the potential unwanted side effects of any product that we use, and choose the most environmentally benign.

From my experience of having suffered from chemical sensitivity for 20 years before I managed to regain my health, I urge everyone in the community to avoid exposure to the fumes from recently resurfaced parking lots for their own good. I know I will.

This particular study looked at Triclosan, "a very common antibacterial agent used in a number of products as diverse as toothpaste, detergents, household sponges, plastic cutting boards, socks, and underwear." It found Triclosan in human breast milk as well as in fish caged for three weeks outside a modern residential wastewater treatment plant that serves approximately 3500 persons.

"These findings indicate that substantial amounts of triclosan are released into the
environment, which can create unwanted effects. Due to its specific action, it can
foster resistant bacteria and it may also be connected with the increase in
allergies. Dioxins may be formed when manufacturing triclosan and when incinerating
products containing triclosan. It is difficult to estimate the flux of triclosan in the
Swedish environment, as unknown quantities are imported in products. Its
main use is probably in household products and thus it eventually turns up in
the sewage water. About 25% of the total amount of toothpaste sold in Sweden
contains triclosan, corresponding to 2 metric tons of active substance in
1998."

"The main manufacturer is Ciba-Geigy that uses the names Irgasan DP 300 and Irgacare MP. Impregnated fibres and polymers have names like Ultra-Fresh, Amicor, Microban, Monolith, Bactonix and Sanitized."

Source: Adolfsson-Erici, M., Pettersson, M., Parkkonen, J., Sturve, J., 2000.
Triclosan, a commonly used bactericide found in human milk and the aquatic environment. Organohalogen Cpds. 45:83-86