United States Department of Transportation
i
Assessing the Magnitude of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Loading from Road Surfaces and Its Effect on Algal Productivity
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2010-06-01
[PDF-843.15 KB]
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TRIS Online Accession Number:01166626
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Edition:Final Report
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Abstract:The hypotheses of the study were that PAHs washing off roads would retard the growth of aquatic life-supporting algae and promote the growth of harmful, toxin-producing algae in estuaries, such as the Chesapeake Bay. Runoff from various road surfaces was tested for PAH concentrations. The tests revealed PAHs but also heavy metals in various concentrations. The research results show that road surface runoff does not seem to affect algae detrimentally after a few days under normal summer conditions. Either the chemicals in the runoff degrade over time or bacteria in the runoff breaks down the chemical pollutants. In both cases, once the PAHs degrade, they seem to stimulate algal growth. The one exception is Chaetoceros, a beneficial algae, which was negatively affected by both 1 percent and full strength concentrations on newly paved and low traffic asphalt. Since PAH levels were relatively low for those two sites, it is possible that the response was not due to PAHs from these road surfaces but to heavy metals instead. Brackish water algae, such as Chaetoceros, may experience toxicity from the PAHs and heavy metals. Chaetoceros contains significant fat reserves in which PAHs and heavy metals could accumulate. As those algae are consumed by an aquatic organism, such as oysters, the PAHs and heavy metals may become concentrated in the organism.
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