Contribution of urban runoff to hydrocarbon pollution

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5308948

Hunter, J V ^[1]; Sabatino, T; Gomperts, R; MacKenzie, M J

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1. Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ

Runoff from an urban, northern Philadelphia, Pa., area was found to contain on the average 3.69 mg/l total hydrocarbons. This concentration indicates a loading of 25.7 kg/ha/y (22.9 lb/yr/acre) from urban areas on the lower Delaware Estuary. Of the total hydrocarbons, 69.9% were aliphatic and 30.4% aromatic. In addition, 86.4% were associated with the particulate materials present and only 13.6% with the soluble constituents. However, as the runoff increased the fraction of hydrocarbons associated with the particulates also increased. No relationship was found between load and the time since prior rainfall, but a relationship was observed between runoff and load. Preliminary analysis indicates that the primary source of these hydrocarbons may be crankcase oil.

• OSTI ID: 5308948
• Journal Information: J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States) Vol. 51:8; ISSN JWPFA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CENTRAL REGION
DELAWARE RIVER
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ESTUARIES
HYDROCARBONS
MASS TRANSFER
NORTH AMERICA
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
POLLUTION
RIVERS
RUNOFF
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
URBAN AREAS
USA
WASTE OILS
WATER POLLUTION