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Explorations of tire and road wear microplastics in road dust PM2.5 at eight megacities in China
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Researchers measured tire and road wear microplastics in road dust from eight major Chinese cities. They found the highest concentrations in northern cities like Lanzhou and Xi'an, likely due to drier conditions increasing road friction, with levels ranging from 86 to 175 micrograms per gram. The study also found correlations between these microplastics and markers of cellular damage, suggesting potential health implications from exposure to tire-derived particles in urban road dust.
Tire and road wear microplastics (TRWMPs) in road dust are a key source of atmospheric particulate matter and have an adverse impact on human health and the environment. In this study, samples of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM) in road dust were collected from eight megacities in China to determine the TRWMP content, including that of natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and butadiene rubber (BR). The total abundance of TRWMPs was the highest in Lanzhou (174.7 ± 17.0 μg g), followed by Xi'an (169.3 ± 23.8 μg g), Beijing (107.5 ± 7.5 μg g), Changchun (102.2 ± 8.4 μg g), Chengdu (101.6 ± 12.9 μg g), Guangzhou (98.8 ± 6.5 μg g), Wuhan (96.0 ± 5.3 μg g), and Shanghai (86.1 ± 30.1 μg g). A considerably higher TRWMP fraction in road dust PM was observed in the northern cities than in the southern cities and is attributable to the higher frictional resistance of roads subjected to less precipitation. The abundance of TRWMPs in the southern cities was dependent on road type, but this dependence was not observed in the northern cities. In the south, road dust PM on main roads contained more TRWMPs than that on branch roads. Correlation analysis indicated that TRWMPs were associated with tire, road, and break wear. In relation to intracellular oxidative stress factors, higher correlations were observed between TRWMPs and lactate dehydrogenase (r = 0.83) than between TRWMPs and reactive oxygen species (r = 0.59), possibly because TRWMPs destroy the integrity of the cell membrane, with NR exhibiting a higher cytotoxicity than SBR or BR. This study provides evidence that TRWMPs have an adverse impact on human health by inducing cellular oxidative stress. Therefore, further research on TRWMPs in respirable road dust is required.
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Researchers collected tire and road wear microplastics from a traffic tunnel in China and analyzed their chemical makeup, finding high levels of phthalates, rubber compounds, and other potentially harmful substances. Concentrations varied by time of day, peaking during rush hours when traffic was heaviest. The study suggests that tire-derived microplastics carry a cocktail of chemicals that could pose health risks to people who live or work near busy roads.
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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.
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Scientists measured microplastics and nanoplastics in the air of two major Chinese cities and found concentrations reaching hundreds of thousands of particles per cubic meter. Road dust being kicked up by traffic and rainfall washing particles out of the sky were the two biggest drivers of atmospheric plastic pollution. These findings suggest that city residents are inhaling significant amounts of plastic particles every day, with potential implications for respiratory and overall health.
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