Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban stormwater in Queensland, Australia.
This paper reports the distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wash-off in urban stormwater in Gold Coast, Australia. Runoff samples collected from residential, industrial and commercial sites were separated into a dissolved fraction (<0.45 microm), and three particulate fractions (0.45-75 microm, 75-150 microm and >150 microm). Patterns in the distribution of PAHs in the fractions were investigated using Principal Component Analysis. Regardless of the land use and particle size fraction characteristics, the presence of organic carbon plays a dominant role in the distribution of PAHs. The PAHs concentrations were also found to decrease with rainfall duration. Generally, the 1- and 2-year average recurrence interval rainfall events were associated with the majority of the PAHs and the wash-off was a source limiting process. In the context of stormwater quality mitigation, targeting the initial part of the rainfall event is the most effective treatment strategy. The implications of the study results for urban stormwater quality management are also discussed.
Herngren
Lars
L
School of Urban Development, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia.
Goonetilleke
Ashantha
A
Ayoko
Godwin A
GA
Mostert
Maria M M
MM
D002947:Cities; D004323:Drainage, Sanitary; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D011793:Queensland; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical