Microplastics: a review of the research

Sweden’s VTI and Chalmers University have catalogued the available literature.
By David Arminas June 4, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
Here, there and everywhere: even road markings give off microplastics that get into the ecosystem

Researchers from the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) and Chalmers University of Technology have published a report on the literature concerning microplastics.

Tyre and road surface wear generates significant emissions of microplastic particles. However, knowledge about them is very limited, according to the authors of the report, Microplastics from tyre and road wear: a review of the literature.

The 146-page report is available as a free download.

Despite research, there is a lack of understanding about parameters such as how particles are dispersed, levels at which they occur in environments, how quickly they degrade and how best to sample and analyse them.

Although these microplastic particles are largely the result of tyre wear, they can also be traced to worn road markings and surfaces containing polymer modified bitumen – PMBs. It is estimated that at least half of Sweden’s total emissions of microplastics come from tyre wear, notes the report.

Studies have shown that microplastics are present in watercourses and water treatment works, in soil, plants, food and drink, organisms and even humans. Microplastics specifically traceable to road traffic have been found in road dust, waterways, surface water and sediments in areas including the Swedish west coast.

“We know that emissions of microparticles from tyre wear are very large, that they are likely to degrade extremely slowly in nature and that they contain substances hazardous to living organisms,” said Mikael Johannesson, research director at VTI. “We, therefore, have every reason to limit both the generation and dispersal of tyre-wear particles.”

The researchers have also compiled knowledge on possible measures to reduce both the generation and dispersal of microplastic particles. Measures that can lower the generation of microplastics include lower speeds, limited vehicle mileage, reduced use of studded tyres, calmer driving behaviour, a transition to lighter vehicles and optimised wheel balancing.

A number of these measures also bring other benefits, such as reduced emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, lower noise levels, fewer serious traffic accidents and reduced road maintenance. Measures that reduce the dispersal of microplastics include street cleaning and various types of plant to treat road surface water.

Materials

For more information on companies in this article

VTI

Related Content

  • IRF recommends action for greener roads
    July 4, 2012
    IRF's 2nd International Conference on Roads and Environment reveals how to make roads greener, cleaner and healthier, and follows through with action recommendations IRF's Conference in Geneva on 10-11 November, 2008 put three issues in sharp focus: innovative materials to save energy and other resources, inspiring solutions for water management; an integrated approach to noise and air pollution; and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions monitoring, accounting and offsetting. Some 140 delegates from 36 countries l
    Read More
  • Rubber recycling for South African roads
    November 5, 2012
    South Africa takes crumb rubber use to the next level - *Anders Marschall Jensen The preservation of the environment is a global concept, and in the road construction industry, it is all about preservation of roads. In earlier days, roads were built with the primary goal of moving passenger traffic from one place to another, but these days, roads are very different. Not only is there passenger traffic, and more of it, but roads must also deal with extensive movement of products in heavy vehicles. Therefore,
    Read More
  • A new event is preparing the asphalt industry for tomorrow’s world
    September 11, 2018
    An inaugural event for the European bitumen industry urged attendees to look to the future - Kristina Smith reports What will tomorrow’s roads look like? Will lanes be narrower, will the road charge vehicles as they drive on them, will they collect data, will they be self-cleaning and de-polluting? All these questions and more were pondered at a two-day conference in Berlin, entitled ‘Preparing the asphalt industry for the future’. It was the first such event for Eurasphalt & Eurobitume (E&E), and set a
    Read More
  • TRA 2018: pavement additives can stretch a road’s lifespan
    May 9, 2018
    Glass fibre and old tyres can help reduce road wear, according to recent research. Alan Dron reports from the Transport Research Arena – TRA 2018 – event in Vienna. Environmental issues were close to the heart of many presentations at this year’s event at the Reed Exhibition Messe in the Austrian capital from April 16-19. This included decarbonisation – such as making engines more environmentally friendly – and the challenge of digitalisation to create a more efficient transport system.
    Read More

Highlighted Content