We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Characterization of tire and road wear microplastics and phthalates in inhalable PM10 road Dust: Implications for urban air pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Road dust (RD) is a major contributor to urban environmental pollution. Among its constituents, tire and road wear microplastics (TRWMPs) and phthalates are of increasing concern due to their adverse impacts on human health and ecosystems. This study presents the first integrated analysis of TRWMPs and phthalates in inhalable PM10 RD, collected from industrial and residential areas in Seoul, Korea. Mean TRWMP concentrations were higher in industrial areas (18 mg/g) than in residential areas (16 mg/g), reflecting the influence of truck-bus radial (TBR) vehicles, which have greater tire wear emission factors than passenger car radial (PCR) vehicles. However, elevated styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) to natural rubber ratios in PM10 compared to PM75 RD suggest that PCR vehicles contribute more to the formation of smaller TRWMP particles, as PCR tires generally contain more SBR than TBR tires. Phthalates were detected at notable concentrations (mean: 245 μg/g), with bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) as the dominant species, followed by diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). A moderate positive correlation between DEHP and TRWMPs indicates that traffic-related emissions may be a key source. Additionally, a pronounced DBP-SBR correlation in residential areas suggests PCR vehicles as major DBP contributors. Estimated atmospheric emissions of PM10 TRWMPs (61,194 kg/yr) and phthalates (756 kg/yr) underscore their significance as urban airborne contaminants. This study offers novel insights into the characteristics, spatial distribution, and co-occurrence of TRWMPs and phthalates in PM10 RD, providing a foundation for assessing their environmental and health impacts and for developing targeted mitigation strategies in urban environments.
More Papers Like This
Chemical composition and potential health risks of tire and road wear microplastics from light-duty vehicles in an urban tunnel in China
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Explorations of tire and road wear microplastics in road dust PM2.5 at eight megacities in China
AI summary Read the abstract
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-additive chemicals and their derivatives in urban road dust: Spatial distributions, exposures, and associations with tire and road wear particles
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured tire-related chemicals and tire wear particles in road dust from Hong Kong and Berlin, finding that highway dust contained up to five times more contamination than other road types. Several of these tire-derived chemicals are linked to health risks including hormone disruption and cardiovascular problems, and the study found that people living near busy roads face higher exposure through accidental dust ingestion.
Quantification and occurrence of 39 tire-related chemicals in urban and rural aerosol from Saxony, Germany.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified 39 tire-related chemicals in urban and rural aerosol samples from two German cities, finding that tire and road wear particles contribute a diverse mixture of organic chemicals — including toxic benzothiazoles and p-phenylenediamines — to urban air. The study establishes that tire particles are a significant source of chemical contamination in city air, with implications for human inhalation exposure.
Mass concentrations of common microplastics and tire wear rubbers in urban air
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured mass concentrations of common microplastics and tire wear rubber particles in urban ambient air, providing quantitative data for inhalation exposure assessment. Tire wear rubber dominated the airborne particle mass in traffic-influenced areas, exceeding concentrations of synthetic polymer microplastics.
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.