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Long-term environmental performance of precast slabs in permeable pavements: hydraulic functionality and pollutant retention in a real-life installation
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Researchers assessed the long-term environmental performance of precast permeable pavement slabs in a real-world installation, finding that accumulated contaminants including microplastics build up within the porous structure over time. The study highlights the dual role of permeable pavements as both stormwater management infrastructure and a potential reservoir for pollutants requiring periodic maintenance.
Abstract Permeable pavements are increasingly integrated into the urban built environment as sustainable surface systems that enhance stormwater infiltration, mitigate runoff, and contribute to pollutant control. However, long-term accumulation of contaminants within their porous structure may impair hydraulic performance and compromise their environmental functionality, particularly regarding microplastics (MPs), a persistent and emerging pollutant of growing concern in cities. This study investigates the five-year environmental performance of porous concrete pavement slabs operating in a real urban setting, focusing on changes in infiltration capacity and the retention of nutrients, suspended solids, and MPs. A dual methodology, combining continuous on-site permeability monitoring with laboratory analyses of aged slabs, was employed to assess degradation patterns and recovery potential following maintenance. Results show a 48% decline in infiltration over five years, with a 42.5% recovery after pressure cleaning. Substantial pollutant accumulation was observed in used slabs, including increases of + 258% in COD, + 123% in total phosphorus, + 28% in total nitrogen, and + 48% in suspended solids. MP abundance reached 10272 ± 5829 MPs/m², 7.5 times higher than in new slabs, dominated by fibers (≈ 70%) and polymers such as PE, PP, and PET. These findings highlight the dual role of permeable pavements as hydraulic infrastructure and contaminant sinks within the built environment, providing evidence-based insights for improving maintenance strategies, enhancing urban resilience, and supporting the long-term sustainability of nature-based stormwater solutions.
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Environmental Performance of Mature Precast Slabs in Permeable Pavements: Hydraulic Functionality and Pollutant Retention Under Real-Life Conditions
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Researchers monitored porous concrete pavement slabs over five years of urban use, finding a 48% decline in infiltration capacity alongside 7.5-fold higher microplastic loading than new slabs — dominated by fibers of PE, PP, and PET — and demonstrated 42.5% hydraulic recovery after pressure cleaning, positioning the surface layer as a significant microplastic sink in urban stormwater systems.
Análisis del comportamiento hidráulico y ambiental a largo plazo de pavimentos permeables y de su potencial para el control de microplásticos en la gestión avanzada de escorrentías urbanas
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Researchers investigated the long-term hydraulic and environmental performance of permeable pavements for controlling microplastics in urban stormwater runoff, demonstrating their potential to prevent suspended solids and associated microplastic particles from reaching the environment.
Permeable Asphalt Pavements (PAP): Benefits, Clogging Factors and Methods for Evaluation and Maintenance—A Review
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This review examines permeable asphalt pavements as a stormwater management solution that allows water to infiltrate rather than run off urban surfaces. Researchers found that while these pavements effectively filter pollutants including microplastics from stormwater, their performance degrades over time due to sediment clogging. The study evaluates methods for assessing and maintaining pavement permeability to sustain their environmental benefits.
Eficiencia de los pavimentos permeables para la retención de microplásticos de la escorrentía urbana
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Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of permeable pavements as sustainable urban drainage systems for retaining microplastics from urban stormwater runoff, testing their performance under controlled laboratory conditions calibrated to average rainfall patterns in Valencia, Spain. Results showed a significant reduction in microplastic particle counts in water passing through the permeable pavement layers.
Permeable pavement blocks as a sustainable solution for managing microplastic pollution in urban stormwater
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Researchers tested whether permeable pavement, the kind of pavement that lets water drain through it, can filter out microplastics from urban stormwater runoff. They found it can trap microplastic particles effectively, suggesting permeable pavement could be a practical tool for reducing the amount of microplastics that wash into rivers and oceans from city streets.
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