Identifying and Quantifying Microplastics Generated from the Roadway Environment: Field Monitoring and Analysis

About the project

Microplastics (MPs) generated from roadway materials and vehicle activity are an emerging environmental concern, yet their sources, behavior, and impacts remain poorly quantified. Transportation agencies use plastics in erosion control netting, road markings, and increasingly in recycled plastic modified (RPM) asphalt, all of which have the potential to shed MPs through weathering and abrasion. Tire wear particles further dominate MP emissions. At the same time, the lack of standardized analytical methods limit reliable measurement of MPs in stormwater and roadside soils.

This research will improve understanding of roadway-derived MPs and advanced analytical consistency by (1) comparing TGA-FTIR and Py-GC-MS to develop a validated mass-based quantification workflow: (2) quantifying polymer-specific MPs across rural, urban, and RPM asphalt sites; (3) evaluating relationships between traffic volume and MP abundance; and (4) examining how antecedent dry periods influence MP mobilization during storm events. Integrated laboratory testing and field sampling will link analytical precision with real-world roadway conditions.

The results will provide transportation agencies, including VDOT, with robust methods, source-specific MP data, and insights needed to anticipate and inform future regulations and guide more sustainable roadway material and stormwater management practices.

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