Potential Toxic Effects of Airport Runoff Water Samples on the Environment

Anna Maria Sulej-Suchomska, Piotr Przybyłowski and Żaneta Polkowska
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Anna Maria Sulej-Suchomska: Department of Quality Management, Faculty of Management and Quality Sciences, Gdynia Maritime University, 81-225 Gdynia, Poland
Piotr Przybyłowski: Department of Quality Management, Faculty of Management and Quality Sciences, Gdynia Maritime University, 81-225 Gdynia, Poland
Żaneta Polkowska: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-18

Abstract: Despite the positive aspects of the intensive development of aviation, airports are considered large-scale polluters. Pollution caused by runoff water (stormwater) is one of the major problems related to airport operations. The aim of this study was to characterize the potential toxic impact on aquatic life from runoff water discharges from four international airports in Europe. Samples of stormwater were collected at airports with different capacities of passenger movement in four seasons of the year from 2011 to 2013. Within the ecotoxicological analyses, a battery of biotests incorporating organisms of different trophic levels (Microtox ® test, Thamnotoxkit F™) were used. A relatively high number of runoff water samples collected at the investigated airports in Europe was recorded as having very high acute hazard (16.8%), acute hazard (27.7%), and slight acute hazard (18.1%) levels. The results of the research indicate that winter and autumn present a greater toxic threat than the rest of the year. The highest number of toxic samples was observed for samples collected in the de-icing area, the runway and the vicinity of airport terminals. The ecotoxicological assessment applied in this research can be used as a tool for assessing the environmental effect of airports.

Keywords: airport runoff water; airport stormwater; toxicity; environmental quality management; sustainable development; water quality; Vibrio fischeri; Thamnocephalus platyurus; airport management; management of wastewater (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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