Cities, states and businesses are banning a common pavement sealant linked to higher cancer risks and contaminated soil. These sealants, used mostly in the eastern half of the U.S. to beautify pavement and extend its life, contain up to 35% coal tar pitch, which the National Toxicology Program considers a human carcinogen. Officials are acting to limit the cost of removing and disposing of contaminated sediment in waterways. They've passed bans in recent years in dozens of cities and counties in Minnesota, Washington, DC, Illinois, Texas, New York, Maryland and Washington state.