Extensive Green Roofs as a Means to Capture Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

ABSTRACT

In order to evaluate the ability of green roofs to capture polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a study was conducted in México City of 16 PAHs established as priority pollutants by the US Environmental Protection Agency due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic activity. Their concentration was determined in both rainwater and infiltrated water caught by an extensive 10-year-old green roof over 12 rainfall events during a year in the rainy season. The PAHs that were always retained in the green roof were acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, phenanthrene, pyrene, fluoranthene, chrysene, and benzo[a]antracene. No prior studies have been conducted in México City that relate to PAHs and extensive green roof.

KEYWORDS:

• Contaminant capture
• green roofs
• México City
• PAH
• rainwater

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Jerónimo Reyes and Claudia Ponce de León, respectively, for their support at the EGR and for the use of Environmental Analysis Unit installations.

Funding

This research was financially supported by General Direction of Support to Academic Personal of National Autonomous University of México (PAPIIT No. IN-225510-3).