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Is road pavement wear a source of microplastics in stormwater runoff?
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This study investigated whether road pavement wear is a measurable source of microplastics in stormwater runoff, distinct from the better-characterized tire wear contribution. Pavement-derived particles were identified in stormwater samples, confirming that road surface material itself contributes to microplastic loading in urban runoff alongside tire wear and other sources.
Urban stormwater runoff is a major route by which microplastics are spread in the environment. This environmental compartment includes various sources of microplastics such as atmospheric deposition, plastic litter, paints, building materials, and textiles. Another source of microplastics in stormwater is tire wear, which is often included together with road wear despite the latter's unknown contribution of microplastics. Pavements like concrete and asphalt have plastic polymers incorporated in them in order to improve their physical performance. Waste plastics like crumb rubber and microfibers have been used in asphalt and concrete pavement mixes instead of virgin plastics as a sustainability practice. However, pavement becomes abraded and worn over time from weathering and traffic exposure which generates tire and road particles. In this study, three parking lots and one road within the same conservation facility in Ontario, Canada that were made of asphalt, concrete, and recycled rubber were sampled for stormwater and for pavement specimens. Pavement specimens underwent specialized testing with a Hamburg Wheel track test to simulate tire abrasion. The chemical signature of pavement abrasion effluent was also evaluated. It was found that asphalt generated the most microparticles in stormwater with a median above 600 microparticles/L compared to concrete which had 216 microparticles/L and rubber with 115 microparticles/L. Pavement testing which isolated the effect of pavement degradation from other environmental factors, however found that rubber pavement released the most microparticles. Many types of plastics were identified with ATR-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy from each pavement type including in particular polyester and rubber-associated plastics. The chemical signature of pavement abrasion effluent varied between pavement types. Our work demonstrates the need to consider microplastics generation during the selection of pavement additives and the choice of pavement types for different traffic loads. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/558531/document
More Papers Like This
Is road pavement wear a source of microplastics in stormwater runoff?
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Researchers investigated whether road pavement wear contributes microplastics to stormwater runoff, testing pavement materials and runoff samples from urban areas. The study found that pavement abrasion does release plastic-associated particles into stormwater, adding to the range of urban microplastic sources.
Pavement wear generates microplastics in stormwater runoff
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Researchers conducted a two-year field study showing that pavement wear is a distinct and previously underappreciated source of microplastics in urban stormwater, separate from tire wear. They found that asphalt pavement was most susceptible to degradation in the field, while recycled rubber pavers released the most microplastics in lab testing. The study emphasizes the need to consider microplastic generation during pavement material selection and urban infrastructure planning.
Relevance of tyre wear particles to the total content of microplastics transported by runoff in a high-imperviousness and intense vehicle traffic urban area.
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Researchers characterized microplastics and tire wear particles (TWPs) transported by urban stormwater runoff in a highly impervious catchment, finding that TWPs made up a substantial fraction of the total microplastic load in sediments of a stormwater detention reservoir. The study underscores the contribution of road traffic to microplastic pollution entering waterways.
Microplastics from tyre and road wear A literature review
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This literature review examines microplastics generated from tire and road wear, identifying road traffic as a significant but often overlooked source of plastic pollution in urban runoff and waterways. The authors assess what is known about tire particle composition, environmental fate, and potential ecological effects.
Microplastics and tyre wear particles in urban runoff from different urban surfaces
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Researchers measured microplastics and tire wear particles in stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots, and rooftops in Sweden. They found that road runoff carried the highest concentrations by far, with large variations between rainfall events. The findings highlight urban roads as a major source of microplastic pollution entering nearby waterways through stormwater.
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