Occurrence and phase distribution of benzothiazoles in untreated highway stormwater runoff and road dust

The study about how tyre-derived particles can potentially worsen the water quality and how traffic pollution markers can affect the environment is crucial for environmental management. Road emissions are known to contribute to pollution in various environments, and benzothiazoles and their derivates can be used to trace pollutant inputs related to surface runoff in the aquatic system. A total of eight benzothiazoles were determined in highway stormwater runoff and road dust collected from February to August 2022 near Venice (Casale sul Sile, Veneto Region, Italy). A new analytical method was validated, by using an UHPLC system coupled to a mass spectrometer (triple quadrupole). The target compounds were determined in both dissolved phase and suspended particulate matter of runoff, and the road dust samples were divided into seven fractions depending on particle diameters to understand the fraction partitioning. The results indicate that 2-SO3H-BTH was the most concentrated benzothiazole in all the analysed substrates, suggesting tyre debris as the main source because it is usually used in the vulcanization process. 2-SO3H-BTH reached a mean concentration of 115 +/- 59 mu g L-1, 4 +/- 3 mu g L-1, and 411 +/- 441 mu g Kg(-1) for dissolved phase, suspended particulate matter, and road dust, respectively, while 2-OH-BTH and BTH showed values about an order of magnitude lower. The size distribution of most BTHs suggests that they are distributed in the finest fraction of road dust. An exception was given by 2-SCNMeS-BTH being present only in particles with a diameter > 1 mm.

Automated summary

The study on the impact of tyre-derived particles on water quality and the effects of traffic pollution markers on the environment is crucial for environmental management. This study identified eight benzothiazoles in highway stormwater runoff and road dust samples collected near Venice, Italy. The results revealed that 2-SO3H-BTH was the most concentrated benzothiazole in all analyzed substrates, indicating tyre debris as the main source. The size distribution of most benzothiazoles suggested that they are distributed in the finest fraction of road dust.