Why does brand "X" burn more than brand "Y"? What conditions aggravate burning? What precautions shall be taken to avoid burning? What is the industry doing about it?

Sealcoatings based on coal tar are manufactured using refined coal tar within a very narrow range of properties. Coal tar suppliers remove most of the lighter components (potential irritants), quite effectively.

It is the opinion of STAR, that the ambient conditions or improper skin protection causes the skin irritation and burning sensation. On hot humid days the vapors coming out of the sealer do not dissipate fast enough and have a tendency to deposit on the skin, causing the irritation. People with lighter skin are, therefore, affected more than people with darker pigmentation. Protective clothing and equipment are a must for safe handling of sealcoatings. Wear long sleeved shirts, pants, impervious boots and gloves and use safety goggles. Use a skin cream with a high sun screen factor on face and other exposed body parts. Read the Material Safety Data Sheet (M.S.D.S.) supplied by the manufacturer.

The industry professionals association, Pavement Coatings Technology Center

(PCTC) at University of Nevada at Reno is currently researching into the components in the refined coal tar that cause skin irritation and possibly reducing those components, without jeopardizing the sealcoating properties.