Thermoplastic road markings – description and microplastic pollution estimate in Sweden
Authors:
- Tomasz E. Burghardt,
- Anton Pashkevich,
- Adrian Piegza,
- Antoni Krawiec
Abstract
Road markings were sometimes reported as meaningful contributors to microplastic pollution. To estimate their wear, 126 pedestrian crossings, which constitute the worst-case scenario because all passing vehicles encroach on them, were analysed for luminance loss as an indicator of complete abrasion. The assessment was done in Sweden, where thermoplastic road marking materials prevail – unique because they can be made with polymeric or non-polymeric binders. Average loss of marked surface was 19.1%; hence, after adjusting for lower abrasion at longitudinal lines, the annual contribution of road markings to microplastic pollution in Sweden should not exceed 60 t (assuming the exclusive use of non-polymeric binders) or up to 231 t (assuming all non-volatile organics being potential microplastics), corresponding to 5.7−22.0 g/person/year. The outcome of this study should be utilised by environmental scientists assigning sources of pollution and should be useful for regulators and road administrators to promote the most environmentally friendly road markings.
- Record ID
- CUT21d19204bf9247809d90b37cfa4298ee
- Publication categories
- ;
- Author
- Journal series
- Journal of Environmental Management, ISSN 0301-4797, e-ISSN 1095-8630
- Issue year
- 2023
- Vol
- 348
- Pages
- [1-11]
- Article number
- 119183
- Other elements of collation
- fot.; tab.; rys.; Bibliografia (na s.) - 10-11; Oznaczenie streszczenia - Abstr.; Numeracja w czasopiśmie - Vol. 348
- Keywords in English
- polymeric additives, studded tyres, pedestrian crossings, luminance, abrasion
- ASJC Classification
- ; ; ;
- DOI
- DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119183 Opening in a new tab
- URL
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479723019710 Opening in a new tab
- Language
- eng (en) English
- Score (nominal)
- 200
- Score source
- journalList
- Score
- Publication indicators
- Uniform Resource Identifier
- https://cris.pk.edu.pl/info/article/CUT21d19204bf9247809d90b37cfa4298ee/
- URN
urn:pkr-prod:CUT21d19204bf9247809d90b37cfa4298ee
* presented citation count is obtained through Internet information analysis, and it is close to the number calculated by the Publish or PerishOpening in a new tab system.