Ecotoxicological risk of asphalt pavements to aquatic animals associated with pollutant leaching

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2024-09, Vol.944, p.173985, Article 173985
• Main Authors: Zou, Fuliao, Wu, Margaret M.H., Tan, Zhifei, Lu, Guoyang, Kwok, Kevin W.H., Leng, Zhen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Asphalt pavement; bitumen; bottom ash; carcinogenicity; Construction Materials; Danio rerio; Ecotoxicity; Ecotoxicology; environment; environmental impact; Environmental Monitoring; Gene expression; genes; heat-shock protein 70; heavy metals; Hydrocarbons - toxicity; inflammation; interleukin-10; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; mortality; necrosis; neoplasms; pavements; Pollutant leaching; pollutants; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - toxicity; reactive oxygen species; risk; rubber; stormwater; temperature; traffic; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; water pollution; Zebrafish
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173985

Contaminants such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be released from asphalt pavement and transported through stormwater runoff to nearby water bodies, leading to water pollution and potential harm to living aquatic animals. This study characterizes the heavy metal and PAH leaching from various asphalt paving materials and their potential ecotoxicological effects on zebrafish Danio rerio. Artificial runoffs were prepared in the laboratory concerning the effects of water, temperature, and traffic. The concentrations of heavy metals and PAHs in the leachates were quantified, while the toxicity assessment encompassed mortality, metal stress, PAH toxicity, inflammation, carcinogenicity, and oxidative damage. Gene expressions of related proteins or transcription factors were assessed, including metallothionines, aryl hydrocarbon receptors, interleukin-1β, interleukin-10, nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor-α, tumor suppressor p53, heat shock protein 70, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The findings demonstrate that leachates from asphalt pavements containing waste bottom ash, crumb rubber, or specific chemicals could induce notable stress and inflammation responses in zebrafish. In addition, potential carcinogenic effects and the elevation of ROS were identified within certain treatment groups. This study represents the first attempt to assess the ecotoxicity of pavement leachates employing a live fish model, thereby improving the current understanding of the environmental impact of asphalt pavements. [Display omitted] •Pollutant leaching from asphalt pavements under near-true conditions was simulated.•Ecotoxicological effects of leachates on aquatic vertebrates were assessed.•The integration of bottom ash induced pro-inflammatory responses in zebrafish.•The incorporation of waste rubber chemicals induced considerable stress in zebrafish.•Potential carcinogenic effects were identified that need further investigation.