The chemical composition of highway drainage waters IV. Alkyllead compounds in runoff waters

Abstract

Alkyllead compounds have been analysed in road drainage water samples collected during seven storm events using a sensitive gas chromatography-atomic absorption technique. The most commonly observed alkyllead species were tetraethyllead, triethyllead and trimethyllead. Similar compounds were also observed in rainwater collected at the site, but not in road surface dust or bottom sediment from the drainage channel. In all samples analysed the concentration of alkyllead was < 5% of the dissolved (< 0.45 μm) inorganic lead. It is postulated that washout of alkyllead from the atmosphere is the major source of alkyllead compounds in the drainage waters analysed. Alkyllead species were also identified in rainwater collected at other sites.