We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Thermal aging effects on tire wear particle migration and nitrogen and phosphorus removal in bioretention systems
AI summary Read the abstract
Lab column experiments tested how tiny tire wear particles, heated or unheated, move through soil-like filters used in stormwater systems. Heated particles stayed mostly near the surface while unheated ones moved deeper, and both reduced the system's ability to remove nitrogen, though phosphorus removal was unaffected.
Tire wear particles (TWP) are dominant microplastic pollutants in urban road runoff and continuously accumulate inside bioretention systems (BRS). Thermal aging changes TWP physicochemical features and environmental risks. Column experiments lasting 123 d were performed to compare migration and pollutant removal influences between virgin TWPs (VTWP) and thermally aged TWPs (HTWP). HTWP was prepared via 100°C oven aging for 3 d, and Zn tracer combined with ICP-MS quantified vertical TWP distribution. Results show 97.59% HTWP is trapped in the 0-5 cm top substrate, while VTWP easily migrates down to 5-15 cm layer. Both TWP types were associated with reduced NH4+-N removal during long-term operation, with a more pronounced decrease observed in the HTWP group. Compared with HTWP, the VTWP group exhibited greater fluctuations in NO3−-N removal, suggesting potential differences in subsurface nitrogen transformation processes. No significant difference of total phosphorus removal occurs between two groups (p>0.05), as phosphorus elimination depends on mineral adsorption and precipitation insensitive to TWP pollution. The pronounced accumulation of HTWP in the surface layer may increase the potential risk of substrate clogging and long-term contaminant accumulation in bioretention systems. Periodic surface filler replacement is advised to sustain the functional stability of field bioretention devices for sponge city projects.
More Papers Like This
Effect of tire wear particle accumulation on nitrogen removal and greenhouse gases abatement in bioretention systems: Soil characteristics, microbial community, and functional genes
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that tire wear particles, a major type of microplastic in road runoff, significantly reduced the ability of bioretention systems (rain garden-like structures) to remove nitrogen from stormwater. The tire particles changed the soil's microbial communities, reducing populations of bacteria that process nitrogen and altering greenhouse gas emissions. Since bioretention systems are widely used to treat urban stormwater before it enters waterways, this research shows that tire-derived microplastics can undermine water treatment efforts.
Effects of aged tire wear particles on nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands: Mechanistic insights into different aging pathways
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny particles worn off tires wash into constructed wetlands—engineered systems that use plants and microbes to filter pollutants from water—and this study found they can weaken the wetland's ability to remove nitrogen, a common water pollutant. Whether the tire particles were broken down by sunlight or heat mattered: both types harmed helpful bacteria and stressed plants, but through different mechanisms, with sun-degraded particles causing more damage. This matters because if these widely used water treatment systems become less effective at removing nitrogen, it could allow more pollution to reach rivers and drinking water sources, highlighting a
Concentrations and Retention Efficiency of Tire Wear Particles from Road Runoff in Bioretention Cells
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed tire wear particle concentrations and retention efficiency in a large-scale bioretention cell and laboratory column experiments, finding particles present across all soil size fractions with higher concentrations near the inlet, and demonstrating that engineered soil bioretention columns achieved 99.6% tire wear particle retention efficiency.
Aging of tire and road wear particles in terrestrial and freshwater environments - A review on processes, testing, analysis and impact.
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how tire and road wear particles (TRWPs) change after being released into the environment, covering processes like oxidation, UV degradation, and biodegradation. Researchers found that while some tire-aging knowledge applies to TRWPs, quantitative understanding of environmental aging remains largely lacking. The review outlines key knowledge gaps and next steps for future TRWP aging studies.
Effects of tire wear particles on the water retention of soils with different textures in the full moisture range
AI summary Read the abstract
Tire wear particles added to soils at concentrations of 1-16% by weight reduced soil water retention capacity across multiple soil textures, suggesting that tire-derived microplastic pollution may impair the hydrological function of contaminated soils.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.