Primary traffic related pollutants and urban stormwater quality

Abstract

Urbanisation introduces a range of pollutants to the urban environment. These pollutants include many toxic species. They are primarily sourced from traffic and land use related activities. The pollutants are directly deposited on ground surfaces or initially emitted to the atmosphere and subsequently deposited on ground surfaces via depositional processes. These pollutants are removed by stormwater runoff and transported to receiving water bodies, undermining the urban water environment. This chapter discusses the primary traffic related pollutants and their transport pathways. Pollutants discussed include solids, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and airborne particulate pollutants while their transport pathways include atmospheric build-up, dry and wet deposition, build-up and wash-off on road surfaces.