IARC Clears the Air

The asphalt industry breathed a sigh of relief earlier this month when IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, assigned road paving to its Group 2B (“possibly carcinogenic to humans”) classification, putting asphalt fumes in the same category as cell phones and coffee. NAPA President Mike Acott commented, “I participated in the IARC Monograph process as an official observer, representing the road paving industry – both U.S. and European. I was proud to be able to point out that our industry has played a proactive role in protecting the health and safety of our workers. Initiatives have included engineering controls on pavers and warm-mix asphalt. Between 1970 and 2010, we reduced exposure to fumes at the paving site by 93 to 98 percent,” he said.

Dr. Jim Melius, DrPH, MD, the top occupational physician at the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), was asked how workers should interpret IARC’s action. He responded, “People working in the asphalt paving industry should not be concerned about this new IARC classification. The two key animal studies on paving asphalt did not show any evidence of cancer risk, and the major IARC cancer study of people working in the paving industry in Europe did not show any increased risk for cancer.”

NAPA Chairman Kim Snyder (Eastern Industries Inc., Pennsylvania), said, “This process has been incredibly intense and complex. It has included both scientific research – always conducted in partnership with government agencies and labor unions – and fume reduction initiatives. None of this would have been possible without the help of NAPA Members and the vast majority of the state associations that, year after year, supported the program financially. Now we can all look forward to returns on our investment.”

Acott joined Snyder in thanking Members and the state asphalt pavement associations for their participation and support. For further information on this subject, contact Acott at the NAPA office, 888-468-6499.