Skip to main content

Road markings can be 'microplastics risk' - new report

Sweden’s VTI and Chalmers University of Technology have catalogued the available literature
By David Arminas May 26, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
Here, there and everywhere: even road markings give off microplastics that get into the ecosystem (© David Arminas)

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

Tyre and road surface wear generates significant emissions of microplastic particles, which are linked to environmental damage such as corruption of the food chain.

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.

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.

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

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Sustainable mobility in Europe 'needs €1.5 trillion' by 2050
    October 4, 2024
    EIT Urban Mobility report says money is required for continent to reach Green Deal goals
  • Volvo participates in self-driving car project
    December 3, 2013
    Volvo Cars will play a leading role in the world's first large-scale autonomous driving pilot project in which 100 self-driving Volvo cars will use approximately 50 kilometres of selected public roads in everyday driving conditions around the Swedish city of Gothenburg. These roads are typical commuter arteries and include motorway conditions and frequent queues. The project also includes fully automated parking, without a driver in the car. The ground-breaking project 'Drive Me - Self-driving cars f
  • New report indicates reduction in London’s pollution
    July 20, 2015
    A new report, produced by experts at King's College London, for the first time quantifies the health and economic effects of the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2), where all previous studies have focused on particulate matter (PM2.5). Combined together the effects of both pollutants reveal a higher health impact than previously estimated after taking into account this further pollutant. The study also found that nearly half the health impacts are caused by air pollution outside London such as diesel
  • Arizona DoT trials dust-warning system along I-10
    November 21, 2019
    Arizona Department of Transportation (ADoT) has developed a system to tell drivers to slow down on part of Interstate 10 (I-10) where blowing dust reduces visibility.