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Study on the Potential for Tire Tread Wear Particles on Roads to Enter Aquatic Systems
Original title: 도로 중 타이어 트레드 마모 조각의 수계 유입 가능성 연구
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This Korean study investigated the pathway by which tire tread wear particles from roads enter aquatic systems through rainwater sewers, examining microplastic abundance and type in road-sewer inlet samples. Researchers found that tire-derived particles were among the dominant microplastic types in road runoff and inferred that non-point and point source contributions both contribute to waterway contamination. The study provides insights for designing targeted controls to reduce tire wear microplastic inputs to water bodies.
Tread wear particles generated from tires enter the water system either from the road surface (non-point pollution source) or through a combined/separated sewer (point pollution source). In particular, inflow through separated (rainwater) sewers is discharged into the water system without being treated by a sewage treatment facility. Accordingly, this study investigated the microplastics in the rainwater inlet connecting the road and sewer. Especially, we assessed the abundance and type of dominant microplastics on the road and inferred possible inflow sources to the water system. Our results showed that tread wear particles contributed ≥60% of the total microplastic abundance, regardless of sampling location and time. Yellow and white dye particles as well red, blue, and green microplastics of various types were also identified.
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