Transport and the environment: Effects of organic pollutants on water quality

The eighteenth report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution made no reference to any potential environmental impacts resulting from runoff pollution associated sith transport activities. This paper identifies the magnitude and extent of pollution associated with discharges from various transport sources and identifies solids, metals, hydrocarbons, herbicides and de-icing agents as the principal contaminants of environmental concern, The impacts of these pollutants on the receiving mater are reviewed, They are primarily associated with highways which have a high traffic density and herbicides are considered to be the only potential and widespread hazard to groundwaters. Highway and airport runoff are shown to have both acute and chronic effects on biotic diversity and organism mortality rates, although these effects appear to be largely confined to reaches Immediately downstream from the discharge outfalls.