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Influence of road roughness and slope on the accumulation and distribution of tire-wear particles and heavy metals in road dust
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Researchers measured tire-wear particles and heavy metals in road dust across 57 segments in Seoul, finding that rougher roads (IRI >3.0) generated 11.9% more tire-wear particles per vehicle, that stop-and-go low-speed driving accumulated 24% more particles than high-speed roads, and that downhill grades increased brake-wear metals — providing empirical data linking road conditions and driving behavior to non-exhaust microplastic pollution.
Traffic-related non-exhaust emissions, particularly from tire wear and brake wear, significantly contribute to urban road dust pollution and heavy metal accumulation. Despite growing concerns over tire-wear particles (TWP) as a source of microplastic pollution, the influence of road roughness (International Roughness Index, IRI), driving speed, and road slope on TWP generation and heavy-metal deposition remains underexplored. This study systematically investigated these relationships; field measurements were conducted across 57 road segments in Seoul, incorporating IRI assessments, road-dust sampling, and elemental analysis. Roads with IRI >3.0 m/km exhibited 11.9 % higher TWP concentrations than smoother roads did. When normalized by traffic volume (TWP/traffic), the strong correlation between IRI and per-vehicle TWP emissions confirmed that road-surface deterioration amplified tire wear independent of traffic density. Low-speed roads (<25 km/h) accumulated 24 % more TWP than high-speed roads (>40 km/h) did, suggesting that stop-and-go driving conditions enhance mechanical degradation. Downhill segments exhibited 0.2-2.1 % higher magnetic content than uphill segments did due to increased braking forces. This trend aligns with known brake-wear emissions, where Fe-, Cu-, and Zn-rich particles from brake pads and discs contribute significantly to on-road dust pollution. These findings provide empirical evidence linking road conditions, traffic behavior, and non-exhaust emissions, emphasizing the necessity of road maintenance and traffic-management strategies to mitigate TWP and heavy-metal deposition. The study offers valuable data for urban planners and policymakers in developing sustainable road infrastructure and emission-control measures, particularly in the context of Euro 7 regulations targeting non-exhaust emissions.
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Concentration of Microplastics in Road Dust as a Function of the Drying Period—A Case Study in G City, Korea
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Microplastic concentrations in road dust were measured as a function of dry weather duration in a Korean city, finding that plastic levels increased with longer drying periods and were dominated by tire wear and road marking particles. The results suggest that dry periods followed by rainfall events create pulses of microplastic runoff from road surfaces.
Real-World Emission Dynamics of Tire and Road Wear Particles: Impacts of Micro-Driving Behaviors and Roadway Characteristics
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Tiny bits of rubber and road material fly off your tires every time you brake, turn, or speed up, and this study found that certain driving habits and road designs create more of this pollution than others. As electric vehicles (which are heavier) become more common, this tire dust could become a bigger source of breathable particle pollution than car exhaust, making smarter road design and driving habits matter more for air quality.
Realistic evaluation of tire wear particle emissions and their driving factors on different road types
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This study measured tire wear particle (TWP) emissions under realistic driving conditions on different road types and identified the key driving factors affecting emission rates. Tire wear particles are a major category of microplastic pollution in road runoff, and this data is needed to estimate their contribution to environmental contamination.
Characterization of tire and road wear microplastics and phthalates in inhalable PM10 road Dust: Implications for urban air pollution
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Researchers conducted the first combined analysis of tire wear microplastics and phthalate chemicals in breathable road dust from Seoul, Korea. They found higher concentrations in industrial areas compared to residential zones, and smaller airborne particles showed different rubber compositions than larger dust, suggesting they come from different wear processes. The study raises concerns about inhalation exposure to tire-derived microplastics and associated chemicals in urban settings.
Concentrations of tire wear microplastics and other traffic-derived non-exhaust particles in the road environment
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Researchers measured actual environmental concentrations of tire wear microplastics and other traffic-derived non-exhaust particles in a rural highway setting, providing field-based data to complement the theoretical estimates that dominate current literature.
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