Burghardt Tomasz E, Pashkevich Anton, Piegza Adrian
M. Swarovski Gesellschaft m.b.H, Wipark, 14. Straße 11, 3363 Neufurth, Austria.
Politechnika Krakowska, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Kraków, Poland.
J Environ Manage. 2023 Oct 28;348:119183. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119183.
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.
道路标线有时被认为是微塑料污染的重要来源。为估算其磨损情况，对126处人行横道进行了分析，以亮度损失作为完全磨损的指标，人行横道被视为微塑料污染最严重的场景，因为所有过往车辆都会对其造成磨损。评估在瑞典进行，该国普遍使用热塑性道路标线材料，这种材料很独特，因为它可以用聚合物或非聚合物粘合剂制成。标线表面的平均损失率为19.1%；因此，在考虑纵向标线磨损较小的情况后，瑞典道路标线对微塑料污染的年贡献不应超过60吨（假设仅使用非聚合物粘合剂），或高达231吨（假设所有非挥发性有机物都是潜在的微塑料），相当于每人每年5.7至22.0克。环境科学家在确定污染源时应采用本研究的结果，监管机构和道路管理者也可利用这一结果推广最环保的道路标线。
