Toxic, carcinogenic runoff from 25,000 road outflows in England releases microplastics, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants into rivers, harming aquatic life and reducing overall waterway health. Road runoff contributes about 18% of the causes for rivers failing ecological and chemical standards. There is not a single permit for a highways discharge in England and highways runoff is not systematically monitored or regulated by the Environment Agency, unlike water company sewage outflows. National Highways has identified 126 high-risk outfalls and plans mitigation by 2030, but funding and policy attention for road pollution remain minimal.
All 25,000 of these outflows are causing toxic pollution every time it rains. While sewage pollution attracts all the attention and coverage with 56bn earmarked to address it, just a few million is invested into addressing pollution from these 25,000 road outfalls. This pollution contains microplastics, hydrocarbons, toxic metals and chemicals. It is carcinogenic, it gets into the water system but no one is measuring these harms. No one is interested.
Toxic, carcinogenic pollution that pours from 25,000 road outflows into rivers in England is being ignored by politicians and regulators, MPs have been told. Road runoff containing toxic particles from tyres and brakes, and pollution from fuel and oil spills which washes into rivers after rainfall can devastate aquatic life and, by increasing toxicity, reduce the overall health of waterways.
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