Do You Know What Do You Know What Is In Your Is In Your Driveway?Driveway?

By: 6By: 6thth Grade Project Extra students Grade Project Extra students Mason Penn, Isabella Iacona and Mason Penn, Isabella Iacona and Madison Pagano (The Water Washers)Madison Pagano (The Water Washers)

We are competing in the Siemens We are competing in the Siemens Challenge. We are researching how PAH Challenge. We are researching how PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon) (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon)

is affecting our environment. This is affecting our environment. This chemical leaks from black top driveways chemical leaks from black top driveways into our storm sewers. The storm sewers into our storm sewers. The storm sewers lead into the channels, bays and ocean. lead into the channels, bays and ocean.

PAH is a chemical that is found in Coal PAH is a chemical that is found in Coal Tar Pitch sealant Tar Pitch sealant

PAH stands for (Polycyclic Aromatic PAH stands for (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon)Hydrocarbon)

PAH harms our ocean water PAH harms our ocean water Natural sources for PAH include forest Natural sources for PAH include forest

fires, volcanic eruptions, and degradation fires, volcanic eruptions, and degradation of biological materials (plants and animals)of biological materials (plants and animals)

When it rains, it runs into the storm sewersWhen it rains, it runs into the storm sewers The storm sewers lead to the oceans and baysThe storm sewers lead to the oceans and bays When the coal tar pitch goes into the water, When the coal tar pitch goes into the water,

shellfish consume it and gets stuck in the shellfish consume it and gets stuck in the shellfishshellfish’’s edible tissues edible tissue

If we eat the shellfish, we will get ill If we eat the shellfish, we will get ill It also makes fish sick which will harm the food It also makes fish sick which will harm the food

chainchain

Is sprayed onto blacktop to seal itIs sprayed onto blacktop to seal it Contains harmful chemicals Contains harmful chemicals Can be found in driveways to seal blacktopCan be found in driveways to seal blacktop Coal tar Pitch wears off and breaks down Coal tar Pitch wears off and breaks down

into piecesinto pieces The pieces are washed off by other bodies The pieces are washed off by other bodies

of waterof water

Use asphalt based sealers that contain only Use asphalt based sealers that contain only about .03% PAHsabout .03% PAHs

Use permeable asphalt, which does not need Use permeable asphalt, which does not need to be sealedto be sealed

Use gravel or concrete, which do not require Use gravel or concrete, which do not require sealantsealant

Promote shared driveways and parking lots to Promote shared driveways and parking lots to reduce the need for paved surfacesreduce the need for paved surfaces