Concentration of Microplastics in Road Dust as a Function of the Drying Period—A Case Study in G City, Korea

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles < 5 mm in diameter, which are detected in air, soil, and water, causing various environmental problems. In total, 37.3% of MPs are generated from point pollution sources and 62.7% from non-point sources; most of the non-point-source MPs are from vehicles tires, road-marking paint, and bitumen used in road pavements. In this study, the concentrations of MPs generated from roads in Goyang city, South Korea, were examined in terms of the drying period (0, 1, 2, or 3 d). Road dust sampling was performed at the kerb and quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted for each sample. The MP concentrations were 552 (±39) MPs g−1 for a 0 d drying period and 1530 (±602) MPs g−1 for a 3 d drying period, confirming that the MP concentration in road dust increased with the increase in drying period. Among the detected substances, black particles accounted for the highest proportion (72%) and were found to be bitumen and tyre particles. This study also confirmed that the MPs accumulated on roads were washed away when rainfall exceeded a certain amount.

Occurrence and characteristic of microplastics in suspended particulate, a case study in street of Yogyakarta

“…The majority of MPs found was black (47%), followed by brown (20%), clear/transparent (16%), yellow and red (each 6%), blue (2%), purple and green (each 1%) and the last is orange (<1%). The result are similar for street dust research for MPs, specifically by Abbasi [25] and Kang [8], stated that black MPs as the majority color of MPs, most likely come from tire, shoes sole and electrical insulation. This study was done in intersection and roadside where majority of vehicles push brakes to stop, this indicated that MPs in this study based on the color percentage come from the street area.…”

“…Because of their small size, microplastics can be consumed by a wide range of creatures, and multiple studies have confirmed their bioavailability in the environment [8]. The number of MPs swallowed per day based on average dust intake values for adults and children, respectively quite high.…”

“…Microplastic pollutants in the environment have risen steadily in recent decades, equivalent to expanding global plastic production, and are predicted to climb more in the future [7]. MPs can be found in soil, air, and water [6,[8][9][10]. As an emerging contaminant, it has sparked significant concern in society due to their extensive distribution and associated impacts on the environment [11][12][13].…”

Spatial and Temporal Distribution Characteristics and Potential Sources of Microplastic Pollution in China’s Freshwater Environments

“…In the dry season, microplastics accumulate on the soil surface or on roads covered with dust [58,59]. Kang et al conducted a study in Goyang city, South Korea, and found that microplastic concentrations in road dust increased with the drying period, suggesting a significant accumulation of these pollutants on road surfaces in dry conditions [60]. Their research indicated that after a three-day drying period, the concentration of microplastics was notably higher, with a significant portion originating from vehicle tires and road materials.…”

“…Monitoring road dust is an economical and effective method for preliminary screening of microplastic pollution levels from atmospheric or urban non-point source diffusion. Road dust has been proven to be an important site where microplastics enter the environment from non-point sources [60,79]. The second major source in transportation is tire and brake wear [81].…”