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Ecotoxic potential of road-associated microplastic particles (RAMP)
Summary
Researchers characterised the ecotoxic potential of road-associated microplastic particles (RAMP) including tyre-wear particles, polymer-modified bitumen wear, and road marking particles, finding that tyre-wear particles are the dominant contributor and account for up to 5,000 of Norway's estimated 8,400 annual tons of microplastics. Multiple studies confirmed toxic effects from RAMP leachate, highlighting the diverse chemical hazards associated with this particle group.
Road-related microplastic particles (RAMP) is a group of particles in the microscale size range 0.1-1000 μm with plastic compounds (polymers) in them, which is present in road runoff. Tire-wear particles (TWP) are estimated as the largest single source of microplastic particles in Norway, contributing up to 5000 tons of microplasticp er year of a total of 8400 tons of microplastics per year. RAMP also includes road-wear particles from polymer-modified bitumen (RWPPMB) and road-wear particles from road marking (RWPRM). RAMP is a diverse particle group both when it comes to particle properties and chemical compounds. Several studies have confirmed toxicity effects in experiments using TWP leachates at environmentally relevant concentrations according to known concentrations. However, more research is needed on the concentrations in the environment, uptake in biota for all three types of RAMP and the toxicity effects from these.