Asphalt, IARC, and Evotherm WMA
Oct 24, 2011
When the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) issued the long-awaited evaluation on asphalt and asphalt emissions, it assigned occupational exposures to straight-run asphalt cement and its emissions during road paving a Group 2B ("possibly carcinogenic to humans") classification.
NAPA and the asphalt industry have a long history of working to reduce worker exposure. NAPA President Mike Acott highlights that these efforts have "led to technology advances such as warm-mix asphalt that are improving the work environment even further."
The Asphalt Institute has dedicated significant time and financial resources to fill data gaps so that IARC would have the relevant data to make its decision.They worked closely with Eurobitume and the Bitumen International Health Forum (BIHF) to reach consensus on issues that would be raised during the monograph.
Evotherm makes it easy to achieve the lowest production and placement temperatures. Low temperatures minimize fumes at the asphalt plant and at the jobsite. Studies have demonstrated that Evotherm warm mix technology reduecs emissions of total organics by 41% and benzene solubles to below detection limits. The proven performance of Evotherm can be added to the asphalt binder at the terminal or at the mix plant with minimal capital investment.
Regardless of emissions categories, Evotherm warm mix asphalt makes sense. There are plenty of reasons to choose from: lower energy costs, higher recycled content, better workability, and ditching fibers just to get started. You can find out more by contacting mailto://[email protected] and see how you can save with Evotherm using our online calculator.
Author: Heather Dolan
