Water quality guidelines for metal contaminants in stormwater runoff: insights and considerations

[Extract] Stormwater runoff can result in significant temporal fluctuations in the concentration of metal contaminants in receiving waterways. The quality of stormwater runoff during rainfall events can be highly degraded with metal concentrations that may exceed toxicity thresholds. Metals in storm water can be present in a range of different forms, with the partitioning of these forms controlled by a variety of factors that display strong interstorm variability. Of particular importance are metals that exist in a bioavailable form, which is influenced by lability from dissolved complexes, colloidal and particulate forms. As a result, resident aquatic organisms in these environments are exposed to pulses of metal contaminants at high concentrations and short-term changes in physicochemical conditions.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

41

1552-8618

N/A

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