Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Permeable pavement blocks as a sustainable solution for managing microplastic pollution in urban stormwater

Researchers tested whether permeable pavement, the kind of pavement that lets water drain through it, can filter out microplastics from urban stormwater runoff. They found it can trap microplastic particles effectively, suggesting permeable pavement could be a practical tool for reducing the amount of microplastics that wash into rivers and oceans from city streets.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal and fate of microplastics in permeable pavements: An experimental layer-by-layer analysis

Researchers tested permeable pavements as a way to capture microplastics from urban stormwater runoff and found they retained 89% to over 99% of microplastic particles. The microplastics accumulated mainly on the pavement surface and in geotextile filter layers, preventing them from reaching natural waterways. This type of sustainable urban drainage could be an effective tool for reducing the amount of microplastics that wash off roads and into the water sources people depend on.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Simultaneous Removal of Organic Pollutants and Pathogens from Stormwater by an Enhanced Ecological Gabion

Scientists developed an improved storm drain filter system that removes harmful chemicals and disease-causing bacteria from stormwater runoff much better than traditional systems. The new design uses special materials like biochar along with plants to clean polluted water before it reaches rivers and lakes that people use for drinking water and recreation. This could help protect public health by preventing contaminated stormwater from spreading pollution and germs into our water sources.

2026 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Application of Porous Concrete Infiltration Techniques to Street Stormwater Inlets That Simultaneously Mitigate against Non-Point Heavy Metal Pollution and Stormwater Runoff Reduction in Urban Areas: Catchment-Scale Evaluation of the Potential of Discrete and Small-Scale Techniques

This is a civil engineering review on using porous concrete in stormwater inlets to reduce runoff and filter heavy metals in urban areas; it is not a microplastics research paper.

2023 Water 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilization of Plastic Waste in Interlocking Paver Blocks for Sustainable Pavement Construction

Researchers found a way to turn plastic waste into strong concrete blocks for roads and walkways by mixing shredded plastic pieces with regular concrete ingredients. The plastic-concrete blocks were just as strong as normal concrete blocks, offering a promising solution to reduce the mountains of plastic waste that pollute our environment. This approach could help tackle two major problems at once: getting rid of plastic trash that can break down into harmful microplastics, and reducing the need to mine natural materials for construction.

2026 International Journal of Engineering Science
Article Tier 2

Eficiencia de los pavimentos permeables para la retención de microplásticos de la escorrentía urbana

Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of permeable pavements as sustainable urban drainage systems for retaining microplastics from urban stormwater runoff, testing their performance under controlled laboratory conditions calibrated to average rainfall patterns in Valencia, Spain. Results showed a significant reduction in microplastic particle counts in water passing through the permeable pavement layers.

2024
Article Tier 2

Análisis del comportamiento hidráulico y ambiental a largo plazo de pavimentos permeables y de su potencial para el control de microplásticos en la gestión avanzada de escorrentías urbanas

Researchers investigated the long-term hydraulic and environmental performance of permeable pavements for controlling microplastics in urban stormwater runoff, demonstrating their potential to prevent suspended solids and associated microplastic particles from reaching the environment.

2024
Article Tier 2

Contaminants in Urban Stormwater: Barcelona case study

Researchers analyzed contaminants in urban stormwater runoff in Barcelona, examining dissolved organics, metals, nutrients, and microplastics to assess risks to environmental and public health as cities consider stormwater as a potential groundwater recharge source.

2023 Advances in geosciences 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Long-term environmental performance of precast slabs in permeable pavements: hydraulic functionality and pollutant retention in a real-life installation

Researchers assessed the long-term environmental performance of precast permeable pavement slabs in a real-world installation, finding that accumulated contaminants including microplastics build up within the porous structure over time. The study highlights the dual role of permeable pavements as both stormwater management infrastructure and a potential reservoir for pollutants requiring periodic maintenance.

2025
Article Tier 2

Pervious Pavement Blocks Made from Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Fabrication and Engineering Properties

Researchers developed and tested pervious pavement blocks made from recycled PET plastic waste, finding they met engineering standards for strength and permeability. The study offers a dual benefit: diverting plastic waste from landfills while creating functional construction materials that help manage urban stormwater.

2020 Sustainability 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Characterization in Stormwater: Pavement Source Evaluation and Treatment Efficiency of a Bioretention Cell

Researchers characterised microplastics in stormwater from pavement sources and evaluated the treatment efficiency of a bioretention cell, finding that pavement surfaces contribute substantially to microplastic loading and that bioretention can reduce particle concentrations.

2024 TSpace
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the Potential: Selecting Optimal Materials for Physical Pools in a Pavement-Runoff-Integrated Treatment System

This paper is not about microplastics; it tests different gravel sizes and activated carbon types as filtration and adsorption materials for removing petroleum and heavy metals from pavement stormwater runoff.

2023 Water 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilization of plastic waste as replacement of natural aggregates in sustainable concrete: effects on mechanical and durability properties

Researchers tested concrete made with recycled polyethylene and PET plastic aggregates substituted for natural sand and gravel, finding that while plastic additions reduced compressive strength and increased water permeability, they improved impact resistance and chloride resistance, with PET concrete showing no microplastic leaching.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Pavement wear generates microplastics in stormwater runoff

Researchers conducted a two-year field study showing that pavement wear is a distinct and previously underappreciated source of microplastics in urban stormwater, separate from tire wear. They found that asphalt pavement was most susceptible to degradation in the field, while recycled rubber pavers released the most microplastics in lab testing. The study emphasizes the need to consider microplastic generation during pavement material selection and urban infrastructure planning.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Rening av dagvatten med en kompakt reningsanläggning

Researchers investigated compact underground stormwater treatment systems as a space-efficient alternative to conventional stormwater ponds in dense urban environments, evaluating their performance in removing pollutants including microplastics from urban runoff.

2025 KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution risks in bioretention systems: a case study

Researchers investigated plastic pollution in urban stormwater bioretention systems and found these green infrastructure features both accumulate microplastics from road runoff and risk leaching plastic particles into groundwater, raising concerns about their role as pollution pathways.

2022 Environmental Technology 20 citations
Article Tier 2

An examination of Nature-Based Solutions’ ability to retain New and Emerging Pollutants – Preliminary results from a UK field test

Researchers conducted a UK field test of nature-based solutions to evaluate their ability to retain new and emerging pollutants, including microplastics, from stormwater in informal settlements lacking formal drainage infrastructure. Preliminary results indicate that constructed wetland-type systems can intercept a range of contaminants that persist through conventional treatment, though performance varied across pollutant classes.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Analysis and study of the migration pattern of microplastic particles in saturated porous media pavement

This study modeled how microplastic particles migrate through porous pavement during stormwater runoff, providing insights for designing urban road surfaces that could reduce microplastic transport into groundwater and waterways.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 6 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A Review on the Application of Granular Filter Media and the Utilization of Agro-industrial Wastes for Stormwater Quality Improvement

This systematic review found that granular filter media including sand, biochar, and agro-industrial waste materials effectively remove heavy metals, nutrients, and suspended solids from stormwater runoff. Agricultural waste materials like coconut coir and rice husk showed promising performance as low-cost filter alternatives. These filtration approaches are relevant to microplastic pollution because stormwater is a major transport pathway for microplastics from urban surfaces to waterways, and granular filters can potentially capture microplastic particles.

2021 Jurnal Teknologi 8 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of different sustainable urban drainage systems in removing microplastics from urban runoff: A review

Researchers reviewed how nature-based drainage systems like wetlands, bioretention gardens, and permeable pavements can filter microplastics from urban stormwater runoff. These systems capture a significant portion of plastic particles, though smaller fibers remain the hardest to remove, and standardizing detection methods is still needed to compare results globally.

2023 Journal of Cleaner Production 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of a Modular Filter Concept to Reduce Microplastics and Other Solids from Urban Stormwater Runoff

Researchers developed and bench-tested a modular decentralized stormwater filter system using sieves, sedimentation barriers, floating barriers, and a magnetic module, demonstrating effective retention of microplastics, tire powder, and other particulate matter across a range of rain intensities.

2023 Water 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilization of Plastic Waste in Concrete Pavement

Researchers investigated the use of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste as an aggregate in concrete pavement mix designs, finding that incorporation of HDPE improved mechanical performance and durability while reducing landfill waste and energy consumption in the concrete sector.

2025 Processes
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Micropollutants in Urban Water Run-off

This study investigates the quality of urban stormwater runoff, focusing on concentrations of micropollutants including heavy metals and microplastics. The research evaluates how runoff from urban surfaces contaminates both groundwater and surface water, and assesses current stormwater management strategies in cities.

2023 International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM ...
Article Tier 2

Performance Study of Sustainable Concrete Containing Recycled Aggregates from Non-Selected Construction and Demolition Waste

Researchers investigated the mechanical performance of sustainable concrete made with recycled aggregates from non-selected construction and demolition waste in Iran. The study evaluates how incorporating waste materials into concrete production can reduce construction debris in landfills while maintaining acceptable structural performance.

2024 Sustainability 13 citations