United States	EPA/600/R-16/166 I October 2016 | www.epa.gov/research
Environmental Protection
Agency
Research Findings: Data
Collection on Toxicity of Dust
Palliatives Used in Alaska
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

-------

-------
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
*ERG
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), through its Office of Research and
Development (ORD), funded and managed the research described here in under contract EP-C-12-029 to
Eastern Research Group. It has been subjected to EPA's review and has been approved for publication as
an EPA document. Mention of trade names and commercial products does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Washington, DC 20460

-------
ii

-------
Tabk at
1.0 Introduction	1
2.0 Background	2
2.1	Overview of Issues	2
2.2	Research Goals	2
2.3	Proj ect Obj ectives	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
in

-------
iv

-------
List of Figures
Figure 1. Process to Collect Information on Palliatives Used in Alaska

-------
vi

-------
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
vii

-------
viii

-------
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
IX

-------
X

-------
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 (PMio), 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:
•	Water
•	Salt-based
•	Petroleum-based
•	Organic Nonpetroleum-based
•	Enzymes
•	Polymers
•	Synthetic Fluids
•	Electrochemical
1

-------
• Clay Additives
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:
•	Identifying the specific types of palliatives used in Alaska.
•	Exploring the environmental fate and transport of the chemical constituents of each
palliative.
•	Researching the potential human and environmental toxicity of these palliatives, with a
focus on the potential unique impacts to Alaska Native villages.
2

-------
•	Analyzing federal, state, and/or other regulations associated with palliative use in Alaska.
2.4 Research Questions
•	How safe are palliatives for humans?
•	What are the potential health risks from exposure to palliatives?
•	Are existing regulations and advisories adequate to protect Alaska Native communities
from harmful exposures?
•	Are existing regulations and advisories adequate to protect the environment?
3 J 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.
3

-------
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 Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
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:
1.	Do you know when palliatives started being used in Alaska?
2.	Do you have, or know where I could find, a list of palliatives (and their chemical makeup)
currently used in the state and those used in the past?
3.	Can you point to any existing regulations related to applying palliatives in Alaska? If not,
do you know a good resource that might have this information?
4.	Are you aware of any studies or other data that evaluate potential health risks of palliative
exposure to tribal communities or others (via ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact)?
4

-------
5.	Are you aware of environmental sampling data related to palliative application in Alaska
or elsewhere? For instance, testing to see the chemical concentrations in subsistence
resources, such as roadside berries, or in the ambient air in areas where palliatives have
been applied?
6.	Are there any palliatives you or your organization/company consider to be safe, or that you
recommend for use in road or runway applications?
7.	Are there data gaps you are aware of, which you think need investigation now or in the
future?
8.	Can you point to any resources or published papers that we should consider?
9.	Is there anyone else you recommend we contact on this topic?
10.	As our research progresses, would it be okay for ERG to contact you again if other
questions arise?
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:
•	Google Scholar (https: //schol ar. goo gl e.com/).
•	RefSeek (http ://www. refseek. com/).
•	Scientific search engines Pub Med (http: //w w w. n cb i. n 1 m. n i h. go v/pub m ed) and the
U.S. National Library of Medicine's Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB;
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?HSDB).
•	State reference sources: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
(http://dec.alaska.gov/). University of Alaska Fairbanks/Alaska University
Transportation Center (http://ine.uaf.edu/autc/). and Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (http://www.dot.state.ak.us/).
•	Palliative-specific safety data sheets (SDSs), searching chemical manufacturing
websites and Google using product names.
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.
• General search terms comprised some combination of the words listed below.
•	Who and where: Alaska, Alaska tribes, Alaska Native villages.
5

-------
•	What: dust palliative, dust suppressant, dust control, dust abatement.
•	Details: fate and transport, toxicity, environmental effect, environmental impact,
human health, subsistence, regulation.
•	Palliative type search terms consisted of some assemblage of the words listed below.
•	Palliative type: salt, petroleum, organic nonpetroleum, electrochemical, polymer,
synthetic fluid, enzyme, clay additive.
•	What: dust palliative, dust suppressant.
•	Details: fate and transport, toxicity, environmental effect, environmental impact,
human health.
•	Chemical search terms comprised information specific to each chemical associated with
particular palliative(s). The purpose of searching for specific chemicals was to identify the
particular "Details" associated with each one, as identified below.
•	Chemicals: Chemical name* + dust palliative, Chemical Abstracts Service Number
(CASRN)* + dust palliative, calcium chloride + dust palliative, magnesium chloride +
dust palliative.
•	Details: fate and transport, toxicity, environmental effect, human health.
*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.
•	Additional specific project-related keyword strings were searched in online websites and
databases. These included:
•	Alaska + control combined with one of the following: fugitive dust, rural dust, dust
emission, unpaved road, road dust, PMio (e.g., Alaska + control + fugitive dust).
•	Alaska + manage combined with one of the following: rural dust, dust emission,
unpaved road, road dust, PMio (e.g., Alaska + manage + dust emission).
•	Dust palliative, dust suppressant, dust suppression, road dust management, dust
abatement, and dust control product were each combined with one of the following:
Alaska, subsistence, regulation, environment, health, toxicity, fate and transport (e.g.,
dust palliative + Alaska, dust suppression + regulation).
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
6

-------
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
l
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.
7

-------
Figure 1. Process to Collect Information on Palliatives Used in Alaska
Contact subject matter experts
Review information provided by experts and add new
source documentation to bibliographic database
Compile list of specific palliatives based on expert
input/resources and other available information
Obtain SDSs to identify chemical makeup of identified
palliatives
Create list of search words/strings using
palliative/chemical names and other relevant terms
Search online databases (e.g., Google Scholar,
Pubmed) to look for potentially useful information
Review identified summaries/abstracts
Obtain full versions of publications identified as
potentially relevant (if not readily available online)
Review source documentation and track those
deemed relevant in bibliographic database

-------
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).
9

-------
Table 3. Palliatives Used in Alaska: Categories, Products, Manufacturers, and Chemical Compositions
Category
Products Used
in Alaska
Manufacturer
Chemical Composition1
Water
N/A



Dowflake™
(Calcium Chloride)
Occidental
Chemical
Corporation
•	Calcium chloride (83-87%, CASRN 10043-52-4)
•	Water (8-14%)
•	Potassium chloride (2-3%, CASRN 7447-40-7)
•	Sodium chloride (1-2%, CASRN 7647-14-5)
Salt-Based
Liquidow™
(Calcium Chloride)
Occidental
Chemical
Corporation
•	Water (53-72%)
•	Calcium chloride (28-12%, CASRN 10043-52-4)
•	Potassium chloride (<3%, CASRN 7447-40-7)
•	Sodium chloride (<2%, CASRN 7647-14-5)

Dust-Off®
(Magnesium
Chloride)
Cargill
•	Water (63-70%)
•	Magnesium chloride (29-33%, CASRN 7786-30-3)
•	Magnesium sulfate (1-3.8%, CASRN 7487-88-9)
•	Proprietary corrosion inhibitor (0.02)

Earth Armour™
Midwest Industrial
Supply, Inc.
• Severely hydrotreated paraffinic liquids (100%,
proprietary mixture)
Petroleum-
Based
PennzSuppress® D
(Asphalt Emulsion)
American Refining
Group, Inc.
•	Heavy resins (50-60%, CASRN 8052-42-4)
•	Water (10-30%)
•	Water soluble anionic surfactant (20-25%,
proprietary)
•	Non-ionic surfactant (1-5%, proprietary)

Alastac
(Lignosulfonate)
Apun. LLC
• Lignosulfonate (CASRN 8062-15-5) (no percentage
provided)
Organic
Nonpetroleum-
Based
Lignosite® 458
Sodium
Lignosulfonate
Georgia-Pacific
West, Inc.
• Lignosulfonic acid, sodium salt (CASRN 8061-51-6)
(no percentage provided)
AlastaSeal (Tall Oil)
Apun, LLC
•	Water (34.5-64.5%)
•	Proprietary pitch/rosin blend (30-60%, CASRN 8016-
81-7)
•	Additives (5.5%)
10

-------
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.
• 100% biodegradable recycled oil base (base stock of
100% non-toxic, recycled cooking oil) (Denali
Materials, Inc., 2015)
Soybean Oil
Soapstock
N/A - Specific
Products Not
Identified

Beet Juice
N/A - Specific
Products Not
Identified

Enzymes3
Penna-Zyme
Pacific
Enzymes, Inc.
• Proprietary blend of enzymes
Top Seal®
Soils Control
International, Inc.
•	Copolymers, vinyl acrylic, water, and proprietary
formulations
•	Vinyl acetate (<0.1%, CASRN 108-05-4)
Polymers
Soil-Sement®
Midwest Industrial
Supply, Inc.
•	Water (50-95%)
•	Acrylic and vinyl acetate polymer (5-50%, non-
hazardous)
Soiltac
Soilworks
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)
•	Water (45%)
LSP-400
3M™
•	Water (44-54%)
•	Olefin acrylate polymer (33-39%, proprietary
CASRN) '
•	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)
11

-------
Category
Products Used
in Alaska
Manufacturer
Chemical Composition1

DirtGlue®
GeoCHEM, Inc.
•	Water (<52%)
•	Aqueous acrylate polymer (>45%, non-hazardous)
•	Additive (<3%, proprietary)
•	Aqueous ammonia (<1%)
Synthetic
Fluids4
EK35®
Midwest Industrial
Supply, Inc.
•	Tall-oil pitch (<60%, CASRN 8016-81-7)
•	Severely hydrotreated, high viscosity, synthetic iso-
alkane (>10%, CASRN 72623-86-0)
•	Alkyl polyamines (<4%, proprietary CASRN)
EnviroKleen®
Midwest Industrial
Supply, Inc.
•	Polyolefin (<60%, CASRN 9003-27-4)
•	Severely hydrotreated, high viscosity, synthetic iso-
alkane (>10%, CASRN 72623-86-0)
Durasoil®
Soilworks
•	Non-petroleum synthetic alkane fluid
•	A complex mixture of synthetic linear, branched and
cyclic alkanes; "proprietary" component
•	% composition is a trade secret
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	Hie 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:
• Soybean oil soapstock
12

-------
•	Beet juice
•	Electrochemical products
•	A vegetable oil-based product called Denali Dust Control Concentrate.
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).
13

-------
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
^ .	Products Used in	.
Category	., ,	Chemical Characteristics
J	Alaska
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).
14

-------
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 enviromnent
and does not bioaccumulate (NIH, 2015).
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).
Dust-Off® (Magnesium
Chloride)
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 (USD A, 2013).
Lignosite® 458 Sodium
Lignosulfonate
AlastaSeal (Tall Oil)
Tall oils have a high biological oxygen demand when they
break dow n, so they may deplete dissolved oxygen in water
if leaching or spilling occurs (ADEC, 2008).
Freedom Binder 400 (Tall Oil)1
15

-------
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
Penna-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).
16

-------
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). Enviromnental
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
17

-------
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
•	Water is non-toxic, and its use as a palliative does not have any negative health or
environmental implications.
Salt-Based
•	No major human health concerns are associated with handling salt-based palliative products.
Irritation may occur in the event of skin or eye contact (Barnes and Connor, 2014).
•	As with salt water, there are potential impacts to freshwater fish and plants due to the
accumulation, potential leaching, and runoff of chloride (ADEC, 2008).
•	Health/environmental impact data identified for magnesium chloride are highlighted below
(note: none of these studies were conducted in Alaska):
o A study of magnesium chloride's effects on roadside vegetation found a higher prevalence
of plant damage in areas where magnesium chloride applications were relatively high and
where plants were located downslope from roads and could receive runoff (Goodrich et al.,
2008).
o High concentrations of magnesium chloride ions in the soil may be toxic or inhibit regular
plant water and nutrient uptake. If a plant takes up chloride through its roots, the chloride
can accumulate, killing leaves and possibly the plant itself (Goodrich and Jacobi, 2008,
2012).
o One study detected no environmental effects following the application of a magnesium
product during a 12-month monitoring period (Kunz and Little, 2015). However, this study
did not address the potential longer term effects or effects associated with residual buildup
of product from repeated applications.
o Another study observed that magnesium chloride moved into roadside streams, but the
concentrations detected were below the levels determined to harm aquatic organisms
(Goodrich et al., 2009).
Petroleum-Based
•	Some petroleum-based products may be carcinogenic. They contain semi-volatile PAHs and
VOCs, some of which are known human carcinogens (ADEC, 2008).
•	No ingredients in Earth Armour™ are classified as carcinogenic. Fumes from the product may
be irritating to breathing passages upon excessive heating, but inhalation is highly unlikely.
Repeated inhalation of fumes or mists may cause irritation to the respiratory tract, and buildup
18

-------
of product deposits in the lungs may lead to fibrosis and reduced pulmonary function (Midwest
Industrial Supply, Inc., 2010).
•	Asphalt emulsions, such as PennzSuppress®D, are often heated to allow for smooth
application. The heated emulsion releases PAH- and VOC-containing vapors that can be
inhaled or absorbed through the skin of the people applying the product (ADEC, 2008).
PennzSuppress® D may cause irritation in the respiratory tract if fumes generated from heating
are inhaled, but there are no data to indicate that the product is carcinogenic (American
Refining Group, Inc., 2012).
Organic Nonpetroleum-Based
•	Toxicological studies have shown that lignosulfonates are non-toxic, and are generally
recognized as safe under 21 CFR 582.99 (Apun, LLC, 2009).
•	There is a low order of toxicity towards fish and plants, but no human health problems are
expected (Apun, LLC, 2009).
•	Testing for Lignosite® 458 Sodium Lignosulfonate showed no mortality or observable signs
of toxicity in rats after four hours of inhalation exposure (Georgia-Pacific West, Inc., 2000).
•	Tall oils have a high biological oxygen demand when they break down so these types of
products may deplete dissolved oxygen in water if leaching or spilling occurs. The resulting
lack of oxygen may in turn lead to fish kills (ADEC, 2008).
•	The product AlastaSeal may cause irritation to the respiratory tract if fumes or mists are
inhaled. If inhaled, product deposits may build up in the lungs, leading to fibrosis and reduced
pulmonary function (Apun, LLC, 2015).
•	When applied properly, AlastaSeal is not known to pose any ecological problems (Apun, LLC,
2015).
•	While marketed as safe and non-toxic, Denali Dust Control Concentrate has little
documentation to support these claims (Denali Materials, Inc., 2015). In general, there appears
to be a lack of literature on the environmental impacts and potential toxicity of vegetable oil-
based palliatives.
•	Very little is known about the toxicity of soybean oil soapstock or beet juice as palliatives. As
noted, these products are used infrequently, if at all, in Alaska (Hickman, 2015a).
Enzymes
•	Perma-Zyme is a proprietary blend of enzymes produced from food products and contains no
hazardous constituents (Pacific Enzymes, Inc., 2015). Specific information regarding toxicity
is unavailable.
19

-------
•	Top Seal® is non-biodegradable and non-hazardous based on Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act regulations. Ecotoxicity testing of similar materials indicates compliance with
most standards for aquatic life (Soils Control International, Inc., 2006).
Polymers
•	Soil-Sement® has been tested by various independent agencies, and testing results show that,
when applied properly, it will not negatively impact soil or water quality in terms of toxicity
(Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2013, 2015c). Fish toxicity studies have demonstrated the
product meets requirements, and animal studies were not carried out due to this absence of
aquatic toxicity. Other environmental data indicated the presence of seven metals and one VOC
in Soil-Sement®, but all were detected at levels lower than EPA's soil risk based
concentrations (Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2015c).
•	Human exposure to Soiltac is considered unlikely, and human toxicity information is
unavailable. When applied properly, Soiltac is not expected to pose any ecotoxicity or
ecological problems (Soilworks, 2015b, 2015c).
•	Vinyl acetate and acrylic polymer based palliatives, such as Soiltac and Soil-Sement®, are
stable in soils after curing; they 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 and the potential for inhalation exposures, which have not been studied
extensively, if at all (Steevens et al., 2007).
•	No information on toxicity and chemical fate of LSP-400 was found.
•	DirtGlue® is relatively non-toxic, including to aquatic life (GeoCHEM, Inc., 2010).
Synthetic Fluids
•	Testing shows that EK35®, when applied properly, will not negatively impact soil quality or
pose any ecological problems. EK35® was tested independently through EPA's
Environmental Technology Verification program, and aquatic toxicity testing shows a range
of toxicity from non-toxic to moderately toxic depending on the species and the exposure time
(MRI and RTI, 2006). In a study of hydrologic impacts, EK35® had a higher concentration of
contaminants than polymer products such as Soil-Sement® (Piechota et al., 2002). Inhalation
is unlikely, but repeated inhalation of fumes or mists may cause irritation to the respiratory
tract. Product deposits may also build up in the lungs and lead to fibrosis and reduced
pulmonary function. EK35® is not known to be carcinogenic or pose a reproductive risk to
humans (Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2015a). EK35® does not contain PAHs (Nabess,
2014).
•	EnviroKleen® was tested independently through EPA's Environmental Technology
Verification Program. Comparison of EPA guidelines to the LC50s of all species tested shows
that EnviroKleen® is practically non-toxic to all species (RTI and MRI, 2005). Inhalation is
unlikely, but repeated inhalation of fumes or mists may cause irritation to the respiratory tract.
If inhaled, product deposits may build up in the lungs and lead to fibrosis and reduced
20

-------
pulmonary function. EnviroKleen® is not known to be carcinogenic or pose a reproductive
risk to humans (Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., 2015b).
•	Durasoil® is not classified as a carcinogen, and does not pose a reproductive risk to humans.
According to Durasoil®'s SDS, it is practically non-toxic to all species based on EPA
guidelines, and there are no known significant impacts in the environment (Soilworks, 2015a).
Electrochemical
•	Use of specific electrochemical products is not documented in Alaska, but the category is
included in this report because an electrochemical product was tested once in the state. It
performed poorly, however, and was not used again (Connor, 2015a).
•	Environmental impacts, chemical fate and transport, and toxicity levels are not well studied.
Clay Additives
•	No toxic impact from the use or application of natural clay additives is expected (ADEC,
2008).
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):
21

-------
•	Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in any detectable concentration
•	Total volatile aromatics in 5000 parts per million by weight or greater
•	Total halogenated volatile organics in 100 parts per million by weight
•	Lead in 300 parts per million by weight or greater
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 (iOncorhynchus 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.
22

-------
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
•	Alaska DOT&PF provided information regarding the locations in which they know
palliatives have been applied in Alaska. However, no central database or other information
source was identified to pinpoint all the locations and Alaska Native villages where
palliatives are obtained and applied.
Characteristics of Palliatives Used in Alaska
•	There is a lack of reliable information on the environmental fate and transport of most
palliatives.
•	The limited available environmental sampling data tend to come from the palliative
manufacturers, rather than from third-party testing.
•	There have been several studies focused on devising a methodology for testing the
environmental impacts of dust palliatives, but no standardized procedures have been
established.
•	Most environmental sampling data come from measuring raw undiluted product, rather than
from field sampling in the open environment where accurate indicators, such as levels of
palliative uptake, can be measured.
•	Many palliatives lack precise data on their chemical compositions and batch-to-batch
consistency.
•	Many palliative ingredients are proprietary, which prohibits the ability to search for
information related to those particular unspecified chemicals.
•	Very little is known about products that have not been used widely in Alaska, such as Perma-
Zyme and vegetable oil.
•	Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has raised some concerns over the fate and
transport of vegetable oil because it turns into a powder in the presence of sunlight; research
continues to investigate this further.
•	No or extremely limited information is available to assess any aspects of certain palliatives
applied in Alaska: soybean oil soapstock, beet juice, electrochemical products, and
23

-------
vegetable-oil based palliatives, such as a new product called Denali Dust Control
Concentrate.
Toxicity of Identified Palliatives
•	Most toxicity testing is conducted by palliative product manufacturers, with the majority of
these tests occurring in lab trials on fish. Only a few types of palliatives have been assessed
for their impacts on vegetation. Thus, there are data gaps on the toxicity of many palliatives
to other organisms, such as emergent and established plants, soil invertebrates, and terrestrial
vertebrates (i.e., reptiles, aquatic organisms other than those tested, and mammals).
•	There is a lack of field studies in varying climates, which may be useful for assessing not
only the effectiveness of products, but also their impacts on water, air, plants, and animals
not already tested in lab trials.
•	No data were found on direct human health effects associated with exposure to palliatives
applied in the environment.
•	The question of palliative effects on human health is relatively unexplored in comparison to
the known health risks of exposure to dust itself.
•	The health effects associated with inhaling the powder generated when vegetable oil breaks
down in the presence of sunlight are largely unknown.
•	Knowledge gaps exist for certain categories of palliatives, such as polymers. While
inhalation is unlikely for many palliatives at the time of application, there are lingering
concerns regarding the degradation of polymer products and the potential for inhalation
exposures at a later time.
•	The possible effects of palliatives on subsistence food sources are not well understood or
documented in the literature. The only knowledge that exists is anecdotal or gained through
conversations with local residents; to date, no formal collection of this information has
occurred.
Palliative Regulations Applicable to State-Used Palliatives
•	There are very limited federal, state, or other regulations that pertain to palliative toxicity and
use in Alaska. While there are some rules that generally apply to the use of palliatives, there
are no data available to determine whether these are adequate to protect human health and the
environment.
Other Gaps/Research Needs
•	Gathering feedback from communities in Alaska where palliatives have been applied may
provide valuable information about the concerns some communities have expressed and what
may help or negatively impact them.
24

-------
6 J 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/Preliminary0 o20resul ts ADEC dust control s
urvevs.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° o20Alaska.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.mvftpupload.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://vvvvvv7.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. ecv. vva. gov/b ibli o/9643 3 .html.
25

-------
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://vvvvvv.facebook.com/3502503 1 1778220/photos/ms.c.eJvvzM7YvvszA\MTGvNDaxMDDR
M4PwLUF8c0tLAGa5BnM—.bps./638684442934804/'?tvpe= 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/EckhoftT-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 Polviner/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-drv.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/sl 1270-
011-0907-5.
Goodrich, B., and Jacobi, W. 2008. Magnesium Chloride Toxicity in Trees. Colorado
State University Extension. Fact Sheet No. 7.425.
26

-------
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/ieci/abstracts/38/6/2373.
Goodrich, B., Koski, R., and Jacobi, W. 2008. Roadside Vegetation Health Condition and
Magnesium Chloride (MgCh) Dust Suppressant use in Two Colorado, US Counties.
Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, 34(4), 252.
http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wv/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/200307/200307150Q827KAH.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://trrioumalonline.trb.org/doi/abs/10.3 141/2204-21.
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://trrioumalonline.trb.Org/doi/abs/10.3 141/2473-22.
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://trrioumalonline.trb.Org/doi/abs/10.3 141/2473-22.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2015a. EK35® safety data sheet. Revised May 21, 2015.
http://vvvvvv.midvvestind.com/vvp-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.
27

-------
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://vvvvvv.midvvestind.com/vvp-content/uploads/2015/06/MW Soil-Sement SDS.pdf.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2014. EnviroKleen®: Frequently Asked Questions.
http://vvvvvv.midvvestind.com/vvp-content/uploads/2014/11 /MW EnviroKleen-FAO.pdf.
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. 2013. Soil-Sement® Brochure.
http://vvvvvv.midvvestind.com/vvp-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/si s/ search2/r? db s+hsdb: @term+@DOCNO+923
Occidental Chemical Corporation. 2015a. Dowflake™ Safety Data Sheet. Revised June
9, 2015.
http://vvvvvv.oxv.com/OurBusinesses/Chemicals/Products/Documents/CalciumChloride/SDS/SDS
DOWFLAKE XTRA.pdf.
Occidental Chemical Corporation. 2015b. Liquidow™ Safety Data Sheet. Revised
February 9, 2015.
http://vvvvvv.oxv.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://vvvvvv.pacificenzvmes.com/specifications-reports/.
28

-------
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-04/03 1. http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockev=P 10096FY.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-705 13.pdf.
Soilworks. 2015a. Durasoil® Safety Data Sheet. Revised June 29, 2015. Revised January
19, 2015. http://vvvvvv.soilvvorks.com/media/101965/SDS1501001 -Durasoil-Safetv-Data-
Sheet.pdf.
Soilworks. 2015b. Powdered Soiltac Safety Data Sheet.
http://vvvvvv.soilvvorks.com/media/23410/2015-sps 1307073-powdered-soiltac-material-data-
safety-sheets-en-.pdf.
Soilworks. 2015c. Soiltac Safety Data Sheet. Revised May 12, 2015.
http://vvvvvv.soilvvorks.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.armv.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://vvvvvv.ltap.Org/login/resource/entrvupload/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%20Aciuatic0 o20Animals
%20TR.pdf.
29

-------
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

-------

-------
&EPA
United Stales
Environmental Protection
Agency
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
Please make all necessary changes on the below label,
detach or copy, and return to the address in the upper
left-hand corner.
If you do not wish to receive these reports CHECK HERE ~;
detach, or copy this cover, and return to the address in the
upper left-hand corner.
PRESORTED STANDARD
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA
W
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with vegetable-based ink on
paper that contains a minimum of
50% post-consumer fiber content
processed chlorine free

-------