Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Stormwater Runoff from Sealcoated Pavements

Coal-tar based sealcoat has been identified as a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. This study measured the long-term release of PAHs in parking lot runoff and found that the presence of coal tar sealant increased the mass of PAHs released in runoff by over an orde...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2010-12, Vol.44 (23), p.8849-8854
Main Authors: Watts, Alison W, Ballestero, Thomas P, Roseen, Robert M, Houle, James P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Characterization of Natural and Affected Environments
Coal
Coal Tar - analysis
Concrete pavements
Construction Materials
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental science
Exact sciences and technology
Fresh Water - chemistry
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Pollution
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis
Principal components analysis
Rain - chemistry
Runoff
Sediments
Stormwater
Transportation
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Coal-tar based sealcoat has been identified as a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. This study measured the long-term release of PAHs in parking lot runoff and found that the presence of coal tar sealant increased the mass of PAHs released in runoff by over an order of magnitude. PAH concentrations in stormwater from two coal tar sealed parking lots and one unsealed parking lot (control) were monitored over a two-year period. The measured flow volume and concentrations were used to calculate a mass of 9.8−10.8 kg total Σ16 PAHs per hectare exported in stormwater runoff from the two sealed parking lots and 0.34 kg total Σ16 PAHs per hectare from the unsealed control. The study also measured sediment PAH concentration changes in a receiving drainage and found that even partial coverage of a drainage area by coal tar sealant resulted in measurable increases in PAH sediment concentrations; PAH concentrations in sediment in a stormwater swale receiving runoff from both sealed and unsealed lots increased near the outfall from less than 4 mg/kg prior to sealing to 95.7 mg/kg after sealing. Compound ratio plots and principal components analysis were examined and were able to clearly differentiate between pre- and postsealant samples.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es102059r