Do You Know What Is In Your Driveway? By: 6 th Grade Project Extra students Mason Penn, Isabella Iacona and Madison Pagano (The Water Washers)

We are competing in the Siemens Challenge. We are researching how PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon) is affecting our environment. This chemical leaks from black top driveways into our storm sewers. The storm sewers lead into the channels, bays and ocean. is affecting our environment. This chemical leaks from black top driveways into our storm sewers. The storm sewers lead into the channels, bays and ocean.

 PAH is a chemical that is found in Coal Tar Pitch sealant  PAH stands for (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon)  PAH harms our ocean water  Natural sources for PAH include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and degradation of biological materials (plants and animals)

 When it rains, it runs into the storm sewers  The storm sewers lead to the oceans and bays  When the coal tar pitch goes into the water, shellfish consume it and gets stuck in the shellfish’s edible tissue  If we eat the shellfish, we will get ill  It also makes fish sick which will harm the food chain

 Is sprayed onto blacktop to seal it  Contains harmful chemicals  Can be found in driveways to seal blacktop  Coal tar Pitch wears off and breaks down into pieces  The pieces are washed off by other bodies of water

 Use asphalt based sealers that contain only about.03% PAHs  Use permeable asphalt, which does not need to be sealed  Use gravel or concrete, which do not require sealant  Promote shared driveways and parking lots to reduce the need for paved surfaces