Toxic Runoff from Parking Lots Polluting Waterways, Posing Health Risks
Runoff from parking lots can be polluted with heavy metals like Zn and Pb due to rainwater not soaking into the ground. A study looked at 17 rain events and found that Zn and Pb levels were highest in the first 30 minutes of runoff. The amount of Zn and Pb in the runoff was linked to the flow rate of water and the amount of rain. Zn levels were higher than Pb in all events. Pb levels were connected to the amount of solid particles in the water, while Zn levels were linked to solid particles and organic matter. This suggests that Zn and Pb are mostly found in solid form in the runoff. These findings can help manage pollution from parking lots and improve water quality in the surrounding area.