Retention of heavy metals and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons from road water in a constructed wetland and the effect of de-icing

► We studied an infiltration wetland for retaining PAHs and metals from road water. ► The system retained the PAHs very well, with retention efficiencies of 90-95%. ► Standards for PAHs were surpassed in the road water but never in the effluent. ► Most metal concentrations were lower than the standards in the effluent. ► De-icing salts strongly increased the concentrations of Cu and Zn in the effluent.