DIYbanter - View Single Post - Old Black Tar Floor Adhesive--Safety Question

HeyBub

wrote:
I'm living in a coastal area (I mean right on the Atlantic Ocean) in a
ground-floor apartment with a cement floor. Ever since relocating
here from Pennsylvania, my eyes have swollen, sagged, and aged at
least ten years. I thought the problem was moldy furniture, which my
landlady allowed me to get rid of (it's a furnished apartment). But
the problem didn't go away.

We (landlady and I) shampooed and rinsed the indoor/outdoor carpet,
which only made the problem worse. We tore up the rug and padding,
and we did find a little mold.

However, the problem smell is coming from ancient cove cement that now
makes the bedroom smell as if I were living on new asphalt. I have
difficulty believing this application is 50+ years old; it smells like
new cove cement.

Is it deadly?

If you're allergic to it, sure.

Paint over it with a non-permeable paint to seal it in. You should be able
to match the color exactly and a quart ought to be enough to paint to seal
up the cracks.