Sources and fate of water contaminants in roads

Abstract

This chapter gives an overview of sources, transport pathways and targets of road and traffic contaminants. Pollution sources include traffic and cargo, pavement and embankment materials, road equipment, maintenance and operation, and external sources. Heavy metals, hydrocarbons, nutrients, particulates and de-icing salt are among the contaminants having received the greatest attention. Runoff, splash/spray and seepage through the road construction and the soil are major transport routes of pollutants from the road to the environment. During their downward transport through road materials and soils, contaminants in the aqueous phase interact with the solid phase. In saturated media, diffusion, advection and dispersion are the major processes of mass transport. In unsaturated soil, mass transport strongly depends on soil-moisture distribution inside the pores. Sorption/desorption, dissolution/ precipitation and ion exchange reactions are the most significant chemical processes governing pollutant transport in soils. Redox conditions and acidity largely regulate heavy-metal mobility. Many heavy metals are more mobile under acidic conditions. Plants close to heavily trafficked roads accumulate traffic pollutants such as heavy metals. Heavy metals, organics, de-icing salt and other toxic substances disturb biological processes in plants, animals, micro-organisms and other biota and may contaminate water bodies and the groundwater. European legislation puts strong demands on the protection of water against pollution. Road operators are responsible for ensuring that the construction and use of roads is not detrimental to the quality of natural waters. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.