Comparison of traffic-related micro- and nanoplastic concentrations at three urban locations

IF 4.2 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Atmospheric Environment Pub Date : 2025-04-24 DOI:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2025.121257

E.S. Lenssen , L. Scibetta , M. Brits , M. Lamoree , L. Caiazzo , M.R. Montereali , S. Manzo , S. Chiavarini , R. Vermeulen , R.H.H. Pieters , G. Hoek

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

One predominant source of microplastics emitted into the atmosphere is tyre- and road wear particles (TRWPs). Only a handful of studies have quantified atmospheric TRWP concentrations. Our objective was to study variations in TRWPs, compared to other primary traffic pollutants, at locations with different traffic conditions.

In 2022–2023, three locations with different traffic-flow and speed (a stop-and-go busy road, highway and urban park), were repeatedly visited for 4-hrs resulting in 23 measurement days. Particles were collected on quartz filters using a high-volume sampler with PM₁₀-inlet and analyzed using double-shot pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the mass of synthetic- and natural rubbers (NR). Concentrations of combustion and brake-wear-related traffic air pollutants were measured, including PM₁₀, black carbon (BC), ultrafine particles (UFP) and trace elements. We calculated spatial contrasts and correlations.

We observed relatively low levels of sampling- and analysis rubber marker contamination. Synthetic- and NR levels ranged between 2.9 to 42.5 ng/m³ and 1.6 to 26.8 ng/m³, respectively. Compared to the park, rubber markers were 2.8 to 4.6 times higher at the stop-and-go and 2.0 to 2.7 times higher at the highway. These contrasts were larger than for UFP and PM₁₀, but similar to BC and brake-wear related components. Park synthetic rubber levels were modestly higher than field blanks. Rubber markers were highly correlated (r = 0.66 to 0.98) and weakly correlated with most other air pollutants, except for BC and brake wear-related trace elements (r = 0.36 to 0.77).

We found substantially increased atmospheric TRWP levels near major roads compared to a park. The measurements from this study will be used for testing associations with health effects.

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三个城市交通相关微塑料和纳米塑料浓度的比较

排放到大气中的微塑料的一个主要来源是轮胎和道路磨损颗粒（TRWPs）。只有少数研究量化了大气中TRWP的浓度。我们的目的是研究在不同交通条件下TRWPs与其他主要交通污染物的变化。在2022-2023年，在三个不同交通流量和速度的地点（走走停停的繁忙道路，高速公路和城市公园）重复访问4小时，共23个测量日。采用带pm10入口的大容量进样器在石英过滤器上收集颗粒，采用双枪热解-气相色谱-质谱法分析合成橡胶和天然橡胶（NR）的质量。测量了与燃烧和制动磨损相关的交通空气污染物的浓度，包括PM10、黑碳（BC）、超细颗粒（UFP）和微量元素。我们计算了空间对比和相关性。我们观察到相对较低水平的采样和分析橡胶标记污染。合成-和NR水平分别在2.9至42.5 ng/m3和1.6至26.8 ng/m3之间。与公园相比，走走停停处的橡胶标记高出2.8 ~ 4.6倍，高速公路上的橡胶标记高出2.0 ~ 2.7倍。这些对比大于UFP和PM10，但类似于BC和制动磨损相关成分。公园合成橡胶含量略高于野外空白。除BC和制动磨损相关的微量元素（r = 0.36 ~ 0.77）外，橡胶标记物与大多数其他空气污染物呈高度相关（r = 0.66 ~ 0.98），弱相关（r = 0.36 ~ 0.77）。我们发现，与公园相比，主要道路附近的大气TRWP水平大幅增加。这项研究的测量结果将用于测试与健康影响的关联。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Atmospheric Environment 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

9.40

自引率

8.00%

发文量

458

审稿时长

53 days

期刊介绍： Atmospheric Environment has an open access mirror journal Atmospheric Environment: X, sharing the same aims and scope, editorial team, submission system and rigorous peer review. Atmospheric Environment is the international journal for scientists in different disciplines related to atmospheric composition and its impacts. The journal publishes scientific articles with atmospheric relevance of emissions and depositions of gaseous and particulate compounds, chemical processes and physical effects in the atmosphere, as well as impacts of the changing atmospheric composition on human health, air quality, climate change, and ecosystems.