The release of pollutants from roofing materials in laboratory experiments

Diffuse pollution sources have been recognised by the European Water Framework Directive to significantly contribute to pollution of stormwater receivers. Stormwater runoff is considered to represent diffuse pollution sources. The aim of this study was to clarify the contributions of specific sources in the urban environment to the content of organic and inorganic pollutants in stormwater. This was done by conducting laboratory screening tests of several conventional roofing materials and coatings to determine which pollutants they release and how they might contribute to the deterioration of stormwater quality. The studied pollutants include metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, pesticides, nonylphenols and – ethoxylates. Many of the studied roofing materials, e.g. roofing shingle, a PVC sheet and a bitumen paste for felt roof maintenance, exhibited the potential to release several of these substances into stormwater runoff. However, phthalates were not released from any of the studied materials under the tested conditions. In addition, quite similar materials exhibited rather different substance release profiles.