Storms mobilize organophosphate esters, bisphenols, PFASs, and vehicle-derived contaminants to San Francisco Bay watersheds
Katherine T. Peter, Alicia N. Gilbreath, Melissa Gonzalez, Zhenyu Tian, Adam Wong, Don Yee, Ezra Miller, Pedro Avellaneda, Da Chen, Andrew Patterson, Nicole J. M. Fitzgerald, Christopher P. Higgins, Edward P. Kolodziej, Rebecca Sutton
Abstract
). In six of eight urban stormwater samples analyzed for 6PPD-quinone (a tire rubber-derived transformation product), concentrations exceeded coho salmon acute toxicity thresholds, suggesting (sub)lethal impacts for sensitive species. Observed concentrations were generally significantly higher in highly developed watersheds relative to reference watersheds, but not statistically different in near-shore estuarine sites, suggesting substantial transient exposure potential at stormwater outfalls or creek outflows. Results emphasized the role of stormwater in contaminant transport, the importance of vehicles/roadways as contaminant sources, and the value of monitoring broad multi-analyte contaminant suites to enable comprehensive source and toxicity evaluations.