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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Investigating the Potential Release of Microplastics from Recycled Plastic Modified Asphalt Pavement
ClearMicroplastics Generated from Recycled Plastic Modified Asphalt Pavement: Method Development and Laboratory Evaluation
This study developed laboratory methods to measure how much microplastic is shed by asphalt pavement made with recycled plastic, filling an important knowledge gap as recycled-plastic roads are promoted as a sustainability solution. The research raises the concern that pavements incorporating waste plastic could become a previously unrecognized source of microplastic pollution over their service life.
Exploring the effect on the environment of encapsulated micro- and nano-plastics into asphalt mastics for road pavement.
This study tested whether encapsulating waste plastic material into asphalt for road pavement reduces environmental release of micro- and nanoplastics compared to conventional asphalt. The results suggest that this approach can reduce plastic fragment release into the environment while providing a practical use for plastic waste in road infrastructure.
Engineering properties, microplastics and emissions assessment of recycled plastic modified asphalt mixtures
Researchers evaluated the mechanical performance and environmental impact of adding recycled low-density polyethylene and commingled plastics to hot-mix asphalt, finding reduced moisture resistance but also assessing microplastic release and emissions from these recycled plastic-modified road materials.
A systematic review on sustainable utilization of plastic waste in asphalt: assessing environmental and health impact, performance, and economic viability
Researchers systematically reviewed plastic-modified asphalt, finding that while recycled plastic waste can improve road performance in some cases, it also poses environmental health risks through microplastic release, carcinogenic compound emissions, and volatile organic compound off-gassing, with cost-effectiveness varying widely by plastic type and processing method.
Effects of marine microplastics on the mechanical performance of bituminous binder for road asphalt pavements
Researchers investigated the effects of marine-sourced microplastics as additives in bituminous binders used for road asphalt pavements, finding that incorporating marine microplastics into bitumen improved mechanical road performance while simultaneously providing a recycling pathway for plastic waste collected from marine environments.
Paving the road to a circular economy: Analysis of microplastic and plastic additive leachates from asphalt containing recycled plastics in Hawai'i
Researchers analyzed microplastic and chemical additive leaching from three asphalt formulations — standard polymer-modified asphalt, virgin HDPE-modified asphalt, and recycled post-industrial HDPE-modified asphalt — used in a pilot project on O'ahu, Hawai'i, providing the first assessment of contamination potential from recycled-plastic road infrastructure.
Paving the road to a circular economy: Analysis of microplastic and plastic additive leachates from asphalt containing recycled plastics in Hawai'i
Researchers conducted the first in-depth analysis of microplastic and plastic additive leaching from asphalt pavement containing recycled post-industrial high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic on O'ahu, Hawai'i, testing three asphalt mixes and finding that recycled-plastic-modified asphalt released measurable microplastics and chemical additives into leachate.
Optimization of Asphalt Concrete Performance Using Waste Plastic Bottles (WPB) as a Sustainable Bitumen Modifier: A Comprehensive Rheological and Mechanical Assessment
Not relevant to microplastics — this study evaluates waste plastic bottles as a bitumen modifier to improve asphalt road performance, testing mechanical and thermal properties; it addresses plastic reuse in construction rather than environmental microplastic pollution.
Incorporating Waste Plastics into Pavement Materials: A Review of Opportunities, Risks, Environmental Implications, and Monitoring Strategies
This review examines the opportunities and risks of incorporating waste plastics into pavement construction materials, critically assessing performance benefits, environmental implications including microplastic release, and future directions for sustainable integration of plastic waste in road infrastructure.
Is road pavement wear a source of microplastics in stormwater runoff?
Researchers investigated whether road pavement wear contributes microplastics to stormwater runoff, testing pavement materials and runoff samples from urban areas. The study found that pavement abrasion does release plastic-associated particles into stormwater, adding to the range of urban microplastic sources.
Is road pavement wear a source of microplastics in stormwater runoff?
This study investigated whether road pavement wear is a measurable source of microplastics in stormwater runoff, distinct from the better-characterized tire wear contribution. Pavement-derived particles were identified in stormwater samples, confirming that road surface material itself contributes to microplastic loading in urban runoff alongside tire wear and other sources.
Recycled Plastics in Asphalt Mixtures: A Systematic Review of Mechanical Performance, Environmental Impact and Practical Implementation
This systematic review evaluates using recycled plastics in road asphalt as a way to reduce plastic waste. The research found that incorporating recycled plastic can actually improve road durability while diverting waste from landfills. This approach matters for microplastic reduction because it locks plastic into road surfaces rather than allowing it to break down freely in the environment.
Recent advances in the construction of sustainable asphalt roads with recycled plastic
This review examines the growing use of recycled plastics in road asphalt, tracing the practice back to the 1980s and identifying key challenges around performance, durability, and the risk of microplastic release from plastic-modified road surfaces. The authors conclude that while promising for waste reduction, more research is needed on long-term environmental impacts.
Plastic Recycling in Asphalt Concrete Pavements: Preliminary Observations from Hawaii’s Pilot Project
This paper presents results from a Hawaii pilot project testing asphalt mixes containing recycled plastic waste, evaluating their pavement performance. Incorporating plastic waste into road surfaces permanently sequesters it, preventing these materials from fragmenting into microplastics in the environment.
Performance and environmental impacts of waste plastic-modified asphalt pavement: a comprehensive review
This review examined recent research on using waste plastic to modify asphalt pavement and found that it generally improves road durability while reducing harmful emissions during production. However, challenges remain around plastic-bitumen compatibility and potential microplastic release during the pavement's lifetime, and the authors call for more standardized environmental assessments to ensure the approach is truly sustainable.
Utilization of plastic waste in hot mix asphalt using dry mixing processes: Laboratory assessment of airborne microplastics
Researchers tested whether using recycled plastic waste in asphalt road construction releases harmful airborne microplastics during mixing, laying, and use. Lab tests confirmed that the recycled plastic asphalt did not produce detectable airborne microplastic particles, and pollutant emissions like fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds stayed within acceptable limits. The findings suggest this recycling approach can safely reduce plastic waste without creating new airborne microplastic health risks.
Developing Sustainable Asphalt Mixtures Using High-Density Polyethylene Plastic Waste Material
Researchers evaluated asphalt mixtures incorporating high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste as a sustainable road pavement material, assessing whether recycled plastic can improve or maintain pavement performance while addressing plastic waste disposal.
A Comprehensive Review of Applications and Environmental Risks of Waste Plastics in Asphalt Pavements
This comprehensive review examined the use of waste plastics (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET) as asphalt modifiers, covering modification mechanisms, incorporation techniques (wet and dry processes), and environmental risks. While waste-plastic asphalt can improve high-temperature stability and reduce landfill disposal, microplastic shedding from pavement wear remains an unresolved environmental hazard.
Evaluation of Properties and Mechanisms of Waste Plastic/Rubber-Modified Asphalt
This engineering study investigated using a mixture of waste polyethylene plastic and recycled rubber tire material to modify road asphalt, improving its performance while diverting waste from landfills. The modified asphalt showed improved resistance to rutting and cracking. While not directly about microplastic health risks, using waste plastics in road construction could reduce the amount available to fragment into environmental microplastics.
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.
Emerging Downstream Plastic Waste Disposal Solutions in the United States: A Review of Plastic-Modified Pavement
This review assessed plastic-modified asphalt pavement as an emerging downstream solution to plastic waste in the United States, where only about 5–6% of plastics are currently recycled. The authors found that incorporating plastic waste into road construction can improve pavement durability and reduce plastic entering the environment, but raised concerns about microplastic leaching from road surfaces.
Low-noise and pollutant-reducing asphalt mixtures
Researchers are developing asphalt road surfaces designed to reduce both traffic noise and pollution, evaluating mixtures that include photocatalytic materials to break down air pollutants and porous structures capable of trapping tire and road wear particles — tiny plastic-containing fragments that are a significant but often overlooked source of microplastic pollution in cities.
Recycling micro polypropylene in modified hot asphalt mixture
This study incorporated recycled polypropylene microplastics into hot asphalt mixtures and evaluated the resulting performance, finding that small additions of plastic waste can improve certain mechanical properties of asphalt while offering a pathway to reuse plastic waste in road construction.
Porous Asphalt Mixture with Improved Fatigue Resistance and Stormwater Pollutant Reduction in Urban Road Pavement
Not a microplastics paper — this study evaluates a highly modified porous asphalt mixture designed to improve road fatigue resistance and reduce stormwater runoff and associated pollutants in urban environments.