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Microplastics pathways in the urban environment: Urban roadside snowbanks
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Researchers sampled urban roadside snowbanks in a Canadian city and found high concentrations of microplastics, with tire wear particles and synthetic fibers most abundant. The study demonstrates that urban snowbanks accumulate microplastics throughout winter and release a pulse of contamination into waterways when they melt in spring.
The knowledge base concerning microplastics (MPs) in the environment is rapidly developing with the goal of closing the existing knowledge gaps. One of such gaps, the occurrence of MPs in roadside snowbanks in urban areas, was surveyed at 16 sites in two northern Swedish cities, Luleå and Umeå, with the objective of estimating the quantities of MPs in snowbanks and evaluating the influence of site characteristics on such estimates. The MPs extracted from the melted snow samples were classified into three categories (the mean particle concentrations are shown in the brackets): 1. Tire and pavement wear particles (19,300 particles/L), 2. Road marking paint particles (430 particles/L), and 3. Plastics particles (33 particles/L), No correlations were found between the MP concentrations and site characteristics. The study provided the evidence that urban snow stores MPs, which may reach the receiving waters either with direct snow disposal or snowmelt discharge via storm sewers.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics (MPs) in urban roadside snowbanks: Quantities, size fractions and dynamics of release
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Tire wear particles and road wear particles were found to dominate microplastic contamination in urban roadside snowbanks in northern Sweden, with MPs detected across multiple size fractions. The study documented a large pulse of MP release when snowbanks melt in spring, identifying snowmelt as a seasonal point source of microplastics entering urban waterways.
Occurrence of tire and road wear particles in urban and peri-urban snowbanks, and their potential environmental implications
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Researchers analyzed urban and peri-urban snowbanks in Norway and found significant concentrations of tire and road wear particles, confirming roads as a major source of microplastic pollution. The study is among the first to measure mass concentrations of these particles in snow, providing important data on how they accumulate and are transported in cold climates. The findings suggest that snowmelt may carry substantial loads of tire-derived microplastics into waterways each spring.
Characterisation and spatial distribution of tyre wear particles in Swedish highway snow: Loads into roadside ditches and risk of emissions with snowmelt
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Researchers measured tire wear particles (TWPs) — a major but underappreciated source of microplastic pollution — in snow alongside a Swedish highway and found concentrations up to 1,300 mg/L, with particles decreasing in concentration farther from the road. Because large amounts of TWPs can be rapidly released into waterways when snow melts, the study calls for better snow management practices to prevent this pulse of microplastic contamination.
Quality of snow deposited in urban areas : storage, load assessment and release of selected pollutants with snowmelt
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This study analyzed pollutants stored in urban snow deposits in Norway, including conventional contaminants and emerging pollutants such as microplastics. Researchers found that snow accumulates significant loads of traffic-derived particles, metals, and microplastics that are released in a pulse during spring snowmelt. The study highlights urban snow as a temporary pollution reservoir that can deliver microplastics to waterways during melt events.
Trafikrelaterade föroreningar i urban snö : Koncentrationer, storleksfördelning och spridning vid snösmältning
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This Swedish study found that urban snowbanks accumulate traffic-related pollutants — including microplastics, metals, and organic compounds — which are released in concentrated pulses when snow melts in spring, posing risks to urban waterways.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.