Abstract
During four rain events, stormwater runoff samples from Interstate Highway 95 in Rhode Island were collected and analyzed for petroleum hydrocarbons, 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and a variety of trace metals. The concentrations were variable throughout the storm events and some of the components responded similarly and others differently depending on the source and form of the component in the runoff. Loading factors as a function of area and traffic volume were developed from the concentration and flow data. Application of the highway runoff loading factors to the Pawtuxet River adjacent to this interstate highway suggests that highway runoff could be the source of over 50% of the annual pollutant loads of solids, PAHs, Pb, and Zn entering this river. It is recommended that highways as a source of non-point pollution to receiving waterbodies should be included as a part of any river and estuarine water quality management planning exercise.
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Hoffman, E.J., Latimer, J.S., Hunt, C.D. et al. Stormwater runoff from highways. Water Air Soil Pollut 25, 349–364 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283788
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283788