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The Effects of Road Transport on Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems

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93<br />

Notes: Sources: 2.1a,b are petrol <strong>and</strong> diesel exhaust respectively: 7.1 – fricti<strong>on</strong> linings; 8.1 – tyres.<br />

6.5.3.2 Invertebrates<br />

In New Zeal<strong>and</strong>, Nipper et al. (1995) examined the uptake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>taminants in stormwater by placing<br />

caged freshwater mussels (Hyridella menziesi) in the inlet, outlet <strong>and</strong> in the stormwater p<strong>on</strong>d at UNITEC<br />

(Mt Albert Auckl<strong>and</strong>). Organochlorine c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s (e.g., PCBs, pesticides) in the mussels from the<br />

p<strong>on</strong>ds were similar to those measured elsewhere in the Auckl<strong>and</strong> regi<strong>on</strong>. Some uptake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> PAHs was<br />

observed. However, no c<strong>on</strong>trol samples were examined.<br />

6.5.3.3 Fish<br />

In New Zeal<strong>and</strong>, there have been extensive studies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organochlorine compounds<br />

in eel <strong>and</strong> trout as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Ministry for the Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Organochlorines programme (Buckl<strong>and</strong> et al.<br />

1998). This work does not provide any specific informati<strong>on</strong> that related to road run<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f.<br />

6.5.3.4 Other organisms<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re does not appear to be any specific reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the assessment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uptake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organic compounds by<br />

organisms such as terrestrial or wetl<strong>and</strong> birds that relate to stormwater run<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f from roads.<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is little informati<strong>on</strong> in New Zeal<strong>and</strong> <strong>on</strong> the specific uptake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organic compounds by freshwater<br />

macro-invertebrates or fish that relates specifically to road stormwater run<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f. Work undertaken <strong>on</strong> the<br />

uptake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> PAHs in a car park stormwater p<strong>on</strong>d dem<strong>on</strong>strated some uptake.<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organic compounds emitted by vehicles <strong>and</strong> present in stormwater discharged<br />

to freshwater envir<strong>on</strong>ments that have potential for bioaccumulati<strong>on</strong>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> key groups are the PAHs <strong>and</strong><br />

substituted PAHs. Although uptake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these key groups <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>taminants has been identified no adverse<br />

effects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bioaccumulati<strong>on</strong> appear to have been identified <strong>and</strong> bioaccumulati<strong>on</strong> is not likely to occur to a<br />

level that would result in adverse effects to the suitability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fish such as eel becoming unsuitable for<br />

c<strong>on</strong>sumpti<strong>on</strong>.<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> role that the uptake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organic compounds play, in the health <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> freshwater organisms at a cellular<br />

<strong>and</strong> whole organism level, is not clear. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are, a complex range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organic compounds emitted to<br />

freshwaters from a variety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> sources. Many compounds are emitted from multiple sources.<br />

6.6 Summary<br />

In New Zeal<strong>and</strong> there are few specific studies that have assessed the effect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> stormwater from roads or<br />

highways in the absence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the c<strong>on</strong>founding that could arise from other urban stormwater sources (e.g.,<br />

industrial sites, residential properties, ro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> run<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f).<br />

Habitat<br />

Habitat changes in urban streams are <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the major changes that occurs in waterways within urban<br />

areas. Vehicles themselves do not c<strong>on</strong>tribute materials to stormwater that could result in identified<br />

habitat changes. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Road</str<strong>on</strong>g>s however do c<strong>on</strong>tribute coarse particulates such as gravel <strong>and</strong> asphalt fragments<br />

to stormwater. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se may become deposited at the point <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discharge in the case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> larger material<br />

resulting in relatively localised physical changes to substrates. In freshwater envir<strong>on</strong>ments the extent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

these changes do not appear to have been assessed.<br />

Kingett Mitchell Ltd<br />

Resource & Envir<strong>on</strong>mental C<strong>on</strong>sultants

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