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Abstract

Urban runoff carries a variety of compounds many of which are largely unknown organic pollutants occurring in low concentrations. This study combines analyses targeting known contaminants (metals, phthalates and nonylphenols, octylphenols and their ethoxylates) with effect-based methods that indicate the mixture effects of known and unknown substances. The potential chemical hazard of roof runoff was investigated during a rain event sampled in June in Lule & aring;, northern Sweden. The investigation included measures of oxidative stress response, aryl hydrocarbon (AhR) activation, and endocrine disruption (androgenic, antiandrogenic and estrogenic effects) of the dissolved and the particulate phases in the water. In the runoff, significant metal release from copper (5320 mu g Cu/L), zinc (8690 mu g Zn/L) and galvanized roofs (8050 mu g Zn/L) was observed, whereas for organic compounds only DINP (280 mu g/L) and DEHP (1.8 mu g/L) were detected from one of the PVC roofs. Results on biological effects showed cytotoxic interference for most samples and genotoxicity for all samples. For each assay, specific effects were detected in >= 50 % of the samples except for androgenic activity. Most commonly, oxidative stress and AhR activity were observed. For oxidative stress, the range of BEQ concentrations was <14-131 mu g/L tBHQeq (dissolved phase) and 9.04-50.8 mu g/L tBHQeq (particulate phase). For AhR activity, the range was <0.427-5.8 ng/L TCDDeq (dissolved phase) and 0.383-23.5 ng/L TCDDeq (particulate phase). Particles accounted for a high share of activity in runoff for the AhR assay (>70 % for majority of samples), whereas for the other assays the share was more variable. Results of this study suggest that chemicals present in the roof runoff may cause biological effects that are higher compared to drinking water samples and in similar ranges to those previously reported for stormwater from larger catchments for oxidative stress and AhR activity.

Keywords

Bioassay; Stormwater; Effect-based monitoring; Bioanalytical tools; In vitro

Published in

Environmental Pollution
2026, volume: 391, article number: 127545
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127545

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/145732