Research Article Micropollutants Identification Affecting the Nearby Environment from Highway Runoff: the Case Study of Cyprus Highway
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Hindawi Publishing Corporation Journal of Chemistry Volume 2015, Article ID 301371, 12 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/301371 Research Article Micropollutants Identification Affecting the Nearby Environment from Highway Runoff: The Case Study of Cyprus Highway Antonis A. Zorpas,1 Lampis A. Ilia,1 Irene Voukkali,2 and Vassilis Inglezakis3 1 Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, Environmental Conservation and Management, Cyprus Open University, P.O. Box 12794, Latsia, 2252 Nicosia, Cyprus 2Department of Research and Development, Institute of Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (I.E.T.S), P.O.Box34073,5309Paralimni,Cyprus 3School of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan Correspondence should be addressed to Antonis A. Zorpas; [email protected] Received 20 December 2014; Revised 2 February 2015; Accepted 2 February 2015 Academic Editor: Meng Nan Chong Copyright © 2015 Antonis A. Zorpas et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Road/highway surfaces accumulate significant quantities of pollutants including nutrients, heavy metals, and polycyclic hydrocarbon aromatic (PHAs). Traffic characteristics (vehicle speed, traffic load, etc.), climate, long dry wet periods, and rainfall event intensity and duration are regarded as important factors in generating pollutants in high way runoff (HRO). Regarding rainfall control, most of the road is served by drainage ditches which collect the runoff and direct it to the nearest natural water courses. This paper focuses on the estimation of pollutant that is coming from two several highways (to the airport and to the biggest industrial area) in Cyprus. Overall, more than 100 different samples were collected and analysed over a period of two years. Several parameters were determined like PHA, COD, electronic conductivity (EC), total suspended solid (TSS), total dissolved solid (TDS), pH, fats and oils (FOG), T. Coliforms, NO3,NO2,NH4,SO4,Cl,As,Ba,Bi,Cd,Co,Cr,Cu,Fe,Hg,Mn,Mo,Ni,P,Pb,andZn.Theresults indicated that the first flush consists of major pollution due to the fact that all parameters are in high levels. As the rainfall continues the pollution decreases but the influence to the nearby areas of the runoff is high. 1. Introduction thequalityofaroadrunoff,butsincevehiclesarethemain source of pollution, traffic volume is usually proportional to During wet weather period, the surface deposited microp- the quantity of pollutants in runoff3 [ –5]. In Israel it was ollutants are washed off and drained into the pipe network, mentioned by some researchers [6, 7] that during autumn which finally enter the aquatic environment. Under heavy rain high concentrations of pollutants especially in first flush traffic conditions, the depositions of toxic pollutants are were found. When rain falls, the runoff washes pollutants usually more important than those of other nonpoint pollu- off streets, parking lots, construction sites, industrial storage tants such as nitrogen and phosphorus. During runoff, the yards, and lawns. Urban runoff carries a mixture of pollutants deposited pollutants are washed off mostly at the early stage from cars and trucks, outdoor storage piles, muddy construc- of runoff [1]. Road construction and traffic affect the nearby tion sites, and pesticide spills. Efficient systems of ditches, environment. Physical and chemical characteristics of nearby gutters, and storm sewers carry the polluted runoff to nearby land, air, cultivations, and water bodies [2] are mainly affected lakes and streams, bypassing wastewater treatment systems. by roads effluent (cars emission, runoffs). Water pollution by Motor vehicle emissions, drips of crankcase oil, vehicle road-borne chemicals has received little attention compared tyre wear, and asphalt road surfaces are all diffuse sources with other deleterious effects. Numerous factors (type of of chemical contaminants in urban environments. During vehicles, weather conditions, and type of road) may affect rainfall, these contaminants are washed from roofs, roads, 2 Journal of Chemistry and other surfaces into the stormwater system and then dis- It has been neglected for several decades, due to the fact that charged into surface waterways and estuarine environments. road runoff transports low concentrations of pollutants in Heavy metals copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) and huge volumes of water. The USA much earlier than Europe polycyclic hydrocarbon aromatics (PHAs) are of particular assessed that from 4 to 11% of impacts in the water quality concerninsuchrunoffduetotheirprevalence,toxicityto were caused by stormwater [16]. The US EPA [16]statedthat aquatic organisms, and persistence in the environment [8, 9]. diffuse sources were responsible for 70% of the presence of Urban storm runoff was identified as one of the leading causes COD, oil, and zinc, 90% of the presence of total Kjeldahl of degradation in the quality of receiving waters. Storm runoff nitrogenandfaecalcoliform,and95%oftheloadiniron. from urban area contains various pollutants and carries a It is interesting to notice that two studies on road runoff in largepollutantload,soitexertsagreatinfluenceonreceiving Portugal [17, 18]showedvaluesofTSSandCODthatsurpass waters [8]. the permitted level for discharge of point effluents (Annex Runoff from both urban and rural areas is loaded with XVIII of the Portuguese law, Dec.-Lei number 236/98) in nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen [10]. Phosphorus 15% and 50% of the samples, respectively, for COD, and in is the nutrient of greatest concern because it promotes 62% of the samples for TSS. TSS are important pollutants weed and algae growth in lakes and streams. Like sediment, in stormwater runoff degrading the quality of the receiving phosphorus concentrations are lower in urban runoff than water by making it turbid, inhibiting plant growth, and in rural runoff, but annual phosphorus loads per acre are reducing species diversity [1, 19]. at least comparable to rural areas. Because phosphorus This paper focuses on the estimation of pollutant that is compounds attach to soil particles, areas with high sediment coming from two several highways (to the airport and to the loads also produce high phosphorus loads. This means that biggest industrial area). construction sites are significant sources of phosphorus as well as sediment. Runoff may also contain a variety of 2. Materials and Methods chemicals, metals, and faecal material of human and animal origin. There are several impediments to reuse of runoff for Cyprus has developed one of the most modern road networks nonpotable and potable purposes in urban residential areas. in Europe. According to 2002 statistics, the road network in The most significant issue appears to be associated with the theRepublicofCyprus-administeredareasofCyprusconsists presence of pathogens [11, 12]. ofabout7206kmofpavedand4387kmofunpavedroads The levels of bacteria found in urban runoff almost always [20]. Although the first motorway in Cyprus, A1, was com- exceed public health standards [13]. Research shows these pleted as recently as October 1985, the country already has the high levels of bacteria are typical of runoff from small as most motorway km per capita (38.6 km/100000 inhabitants) well as large cities in Wisconsin. Sources of bacteria in amongst all European Union members [20]. The Public urban runoff include sanitary sewer overflows, pets, and Works Department of the Ministry of Communications and populations of urban wildlife. One of the special challenges Works is responsible for the maintenance, improvement, of urban watersheds is toxic pollution. Toxic pollutants are and construction of motorways, the majority of rural and substances that may cause death, disease, or birth defects interurban road network, and the main urban roads. The or that may interfere with reproduction, child development, Municipalities are responsible for the secondary and local or disease resistance. Metals are the best understood toxic urban roads; the District Administration Authorities are pollutants in urban runoff. It is recently indicated that cities responsible for the paved and unpaved district (tertiary) confirm that runoff from small as well as large cities is roads and village roads. The Forestry Department is respon- contaminated with metals such as lead and zinc [14]. Lead sible for most unpaved roads in forest areas; this is in order has historically been used as an “indicator” for other toxic to accommodate the administration and protection of forests pollutants in urban stormwater because it is relatively easy [20]. to monitor and its dangers are well documented. Lead is a The samplings were carried out in two points, A and problem for both humans and aquatic life. Its human health B(Figure 1). Area A is at the end of highway A3 (main effects include damage to the nervous system and kidneys, road Paralimni-Larnaca-airport) close to the entrance of the high blood pressure, and digestive disorders. Lead can also airport. Area A is used by private cars, taxi, motorcycles, be toxic to aquatic life. Zinc is another metal in urban runoff lorries, and heavy loads and belongs in SCI/SPA Natura. which commonly violates water quality standards. While zinc Area B belongs to industrial area. In an industrial area, there does not create human health problems, it can