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

Heejun Kang, Saerom Park, Bokjin Lee, Ilho Kim and Seogku Kim
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Heejun Kang: Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
Saerom Park: Department of Environment Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Goyang 10223, Korea
Bokjin Lee: Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
Ilho Kim: Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
Seogku Kim: Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-11

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.

Keywords: microplastics; road dust; tyre wear; non-point pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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