Extensive Green Roofs as a Means to Capture Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

In order to evaluate the ability of green roofs to capture polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a study was conducted in Mexico 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 Mexico City that relate to PAHs and extensive green roof.