PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS IN URBAN RUNOFF¹

Abstract

Estimates were made of petroleum hydrocarbon pollution loadings reaching the Delaware Estuary by determining storm event loadings of hydrocarbons from four storm sewers, draining areas of different land uses. Although refinery effluents constituted the largest source of petroleum pollution in 1975, it appears that after completion of currently required treatment processes urban runoff will be the largest remaining source of petroleum pollution. The petroleum in urban runoff resembles used crankcase oil in composition and contains toxic chemicals such as polynuclear hydrocarbons. Further research is clearly desirable. Remedial programs to control such pollution may be warranted on the basis of information now available.

Manmade organic compounds in the surface waters of the United States; a review of current understanding

“…Similarly, Heit (1985) determined that atmospheric deposition is the prime source of PAH's for Cayuga Lake, N.Y. Runoff into the Delaware River estuary between Trenton and Philadelphia has been found to contain both particulate and dissolved quantities of petroleum hydrocarbons, many of which were identified as PAH's (Whipple and Hunter, 1979). Naphthalene concentrations ranging from 1 to 4 mg!L have been reported by Jungclaus and others (1978) in the wastewater of a specialty chemicals manufacturing plant.…”

Fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Seine estuary, France: mass balance and role of atmospheric deposition

“…Once deposited, PAHs accumulate in soils of the Seine Basin (Motelay-Massei et al, 2004) and can be subsequently removed from soil by runoff. Several studies showed that runoff is a major source of hydrocarbons for the coastal environment Whipple & Hunter, 1979;Hoffman et al, 1983Hoffman et al, , 1984Hoffman et al, , 1985Barrick & Prahl, 1987;Latimer, 1990;Fulton et al, 1993;Ashley & Baker, 1999). PAHs contained in runoff waters to the lower Seine join fluvial inputs coming from upper reaches of the Seine (e.g., Paris), at the dam of Poses.…”

Provision of Parking Lot Pavement for Surface Water Pollution Control Studies

“…An this led to the observation that the level of watershed development had the single, greatest anthropogenic influence on the temperature regime of urban, headwater streams. Whipple and Hunter (1979) determined that urban runoff is the largest remaining source of petroleum pollution. The petroleum in urban runoff resembles used crankcase oil in composition, and contains toxic chemicals such as polynuclear hydrocarbons.…”