MICROPLASTICS: AN URGENT PROBLEM


Microplastics (MPs) have been drawing increasing global attention due to their ubiquity and potential impacts on human health and environment. Although there are a wide variety of MPs sources in the environment, the quantitative information on the relevance of these sources is lacking. A better understanding of the concentration, sources and effects of MPs is essential to formulate effective strategies to control MPs levels and to protect human health


ROAD TRAFFIC AS A SOURCE OF MICROPLASTICS


Vehicle tyre wear has been considered as one of the most dominant sources of MPs in the environment. However, studies focused on determining the contribution of this source to the bulk ambient air MPs concentrations is lacking.


Aereal View


The iMPact project aims to:


  • investigate the contribution of the road traffic as a potential vector of MPs pollution in the environment;
  • extend the knowledge on MPs found in the air and to explore their occurrence in order to assess the potential personal exposure.

The expected outcomes of the iMPact project are:


  • contribution to the debate on sampling, sample processing and characterisation of MPs, which can be helpful for establishing standardised procedures;
  • quantification and characterisation of MPs in airborne and settled dust samples;
  • updating of emission inventories with the obtained emissions factors;
  • detailed source profiles of road traffic emissions with MPs data (a novel input) for accurate source apportionment studies;
  • estimation of the contribution of road traffic to total MPs levels in the environment, with a specific focus on tyre wear emission; and subsequently assess the potential for environmental impacts as a result of this contribution;
  • assessment of the potential toxicity of MPs, for a subsequent estimation of source-specific health effects.

The project iMPact – "Investigation of road traffic as a source of microplastics in the environment" (2022.03600.PTDC) is financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

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