City of Austin, TX. 2005. PAHs in Austin, Texas Sediments and Coal-Tar Based Pavement Sealants Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Draft. City of Austin, Austin, Texas.

impacts, impervious, pollutant, rural, source area, monitoring

Investigations in the Austin area have identified parking lot sealants as a concentrated source of particulate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the stream sediment environment. Data showed elevated levels of PAHs in stream sediment. A monitoring study to identify the sources of PAHs focused on parking lots. Documenting the connection between sealed parking lots and stream sediment PAHs was the first step in ongoing investigations to determine the potential for impacts to aquatic life from this previously un-identified pollutant source.