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Andersson-Sköld, YvonneORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-3075-0809
Publications (10 of 70) Show all publications
Gaggini, E. L., Polukarova, M., Bondelind, M., Rødland, E., Strömvall, A.-M., Andersson-Sköld, Y. & Sokolova, E. (2024). Assessment of fine and coarse tyre wear particles along a highway stormwater system and in receiving waters: Occurrence and transport. Journal of Environmental Management, 367(September), Article ID 121989.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Assessment of fine and coarse tyre wear particles along a highway stormwater system and in receiving waters: Occurrence and transport
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2024 (English)In: Journal of Environmental Management, ISSN 0301-4797, E-ISSN 1095-8630, Vol. 367, no September, article id 121989Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Tyre wear has been identified as a major road-related pollutant source, with road runoff transporting tyre wear particles (TWP) to adjacent soil, watercourses, or further through stormwater systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and transport of TWP along a stormwater system. Water and sediment have been sampled at selected points (road runoff, gully pots, wells, outlet to a ditch, and stream) through a stormwater system situated along a highway in Sweden during November and December 2022, and March 2023. As there is limited data on the size distribution of TWP in different environmental media, especially in the size fraction <20 μm, the samples were fractioned into a fine (1.6–20 μm) and a coarse (1.6–500 μm) size fraction. The samples were analysed using a combination of marker compounds (benzene, α-methylstyrene, ethylstyrene, and butadiene trimer) for styrene-butadiene rubbers with PYR-GC/MS from which TWP concentration was calculated. Suspended solids were analysed in the water samples, and organic content was analysed in the sediment samples. TWP was found at nearly all locations, with concentrations up to 17 mg/L in the water samples and up to 40 mg/g in the sediment samples. In the sediment samples, TWP in the size fraction 1.6–20 μm represented a significant proportion (20–60%). Correlations were found between TWP concentration and suspended solids in the water samples (r = 0.87) and organic content in the sediment samples (r = 0.72). The results presented in this study demonstrate that TWP can be transported to the surrounding environment through road runoff, with limited retention in the studied stormwater system. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2024
Keywords
Gully pot, Microplastics, Road runoff, Sampling, Tire, Tyre and road wear
National Category
Environmental Sciences Water Engineering Infrastructure Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-21122 (URN)10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121989 (DOI)001289301600001 ()2-s2.0-85200151667 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2019–00284J. Gust. Richert stiftelse, 2022–00807Adlerbertska Research Foundation
Note

Research funding also provided by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration [B11191 Ferjefri E39], Sveriges Ingenjörer Environmental fund and Greta Lissheds foundation. 

Available from: 2024-08-05 Created: 2024-08-05 Last updated: 2024-08-23Bibliographically approved
Mirzanamadi, R., Nyberg, E., Torstensson, P. & Andersson-Sköld, Y. (2024). Lateral Track Buckling in Sweden: Insights from Operators and Infrastructure Managers. CivilEng, 5(1), 136-149
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Lateral Track Buckling in Sweden: Insights from Operators and Infrastructure Managers
2024 (English)In: CivilEng, E-ISSN 2673-4109, Vol. 5, no 1, p. 136-149Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Rail transport is expected to become a key component in the development of a long-term sustainable transport system. The planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of railway infrastructure are crucial in this effort. Hence, it is essential to ascertain that the railway infrastructure withstands and is adapted to extreme weather conditions and climate change. This study focuses on evaluating climate adaptation measures for lateral track buckling in Sweden. Through a literature review and interview with an expert at Swedish Transport Administration, it is highlighted that the maintenance status of railway infrastructure plays a significant role in the occurrence of lateral track buckling. According to the expert, inadequate track maintenance is the primary cause of lateral track buckling rather than weather variables like air temperature. The interview also clarifies that the chain of events related to the handling of track buckling is mainly initiated by the observation of a discrete lateral irregularity by a train driver, whereupon the train dispatcher at the traffic management center stops traffic until the location in the track has been inspected by a track entrepreneur. During the inspection, up to half of the observed cases of track buckling turn out to be false.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2024
Keywords
lateral track buckling, climate change, climate adaptation, railway maintenance
National Category
Infrastructure Engineering Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-20330 (URN)10.3390/civileng5010007 (DOI)001237059000001 ()2-s2.0-85188046868 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Transport Administration
Available from: 2024-02-09 Created: 2024-02-09 Last updated: 2024-06-14Bibliographically approved
Johansson, G., Fedje, K. K., Modin, O., Haeger-Eugensson, M., Uhl, W., Andersson-Sköld, Y. & Strömvall, A.-M. (2024). Removal and release of microplastics and other environmental pollutants during the start-up of bioretention filters treating stormwater. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 468, Article ID 133532.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Removal and release of microplastics and other environmental pollutants during the start-up of bioretention filters treating stormwater
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2024 (English)In: Journal of Hazardous Materials, ISSN 0304-3894, E-ISSN 1873-3336, Vol. 468, article id 133532Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Untreated stormwater is a major source of microplastics, organic pollutants, metals, and nutrients in urban water courses. The aim of this study was to improve the knowledge about the start-up periods of bioretention filters. A rain garden pilot facility with 13 bioretention filters was constructed and stormwater from a highway and adjacent impervious surfaces was used for irrigation for ∼12 weeks. Selected plants (Armeria maritima, Hippophae rhamnoides, Juncus effusus, and Festuca rubra) was planted in ten filters. Stormwater percolated through the filters containing waste-to-energy bottom ash, biochar, or Sphagnum peat, mixed with sandy loam. Influent and effluent samples were taken to evaluate removal of the above-mentioned pollutants.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2024
Keywords
Road runoff, Microplastics, Tyre and road wear particles, Toxic trace metals, Rain garden, Bioretention, Biochar, Sphagnum peat, Ash
National Category
Environmental Sciences Infrastructure Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-20349 (URN)10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133532 (DOI)001194178500001 ()2-s2.0-85185838018 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2020-01123Interreg North Sea Region
Note

Research funding also provided by: COWIfonden (Ref. no. APE/knl/T-155.02) 

Available from: 2024-02-22 Created: 2024-02-22 Last updated: 2024-04-22Bibliographically approved
Norén, A., Strömvall, A.-M., Rauch, S., Andersson-Sköld, Y., Modin, O. & Karlfeldt Fedje, K. (2024). The effects of electrochemical pretreatment and curing environment on strength and leaching of stabilized/solidified contaminated sediment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(4), 5866-5880
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The effects of electrochemical pretreatment and curing environment on strength and leaching of stabilized/solidified contaminated sediment
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2024 (English)In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research, ISSN 0944-1344, E-ISSN 1614-7499, Vol. 31, no 4, p. 5866-5880Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Stabilization and solidification (S/S) is known to improve the structural properties of sediment and reduce contaminant mobility, enabling the utilization of dredged contaminated sediment. Further reduction of contaminants (e.g., tributyltin (TBT) and metals) can be done using electrochemical treatment prior to S/S and could potentially minimize contaminant leaching. This is the first study on how electrochemical pretreatment affects the strength and leaching properties of stabilized sediments. It also investigates how salinity and organic carbon in the curing liquid affect the stabilized sediment. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature, 2024
Keywords
TBT, Zn, Leaching, Compressive strength, Curing, Stabilization and solidification, Salinity, Dissolved organic carbon
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-20167 (URN)10.1007/s11356-023-31477-6 (DOI)001131529900002 ()2-s2.0-85182957591 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2015-01588
Note

Funding also provided by:

RE:Source (2018–002155), and IMMERSE—Implementing Measures for Sustainable Estuaries, an Interreg project supported by the North Sea Programme of the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union.

Available from: 2024-01-26 Created: 2024-01-26 Last updated: 2024-02-01Bibliographically approved
Trosvik, L., Takman, J., Björk, L., Norrman, J. & Andersson-Sköld, Y. (2023). A meta-evaluation of climate policy evaluations: findings from the freight transport sector. Transport reviews, 43(5), 867-887
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A meta-evaluation of climate policy evaluations: findings from the freight transport sector
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2023 (English)In: Transport reviews, ISSN 0144-1647, E-ISSN 1464-5327, Vol. 43, no 5, p. 867-887Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Knowledge about how implemented policy instruments have performed is important for designing effective and efficient policy instruments that contribute to reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. This paper carries out a meta-evaluation of ex-post evaluations of climate policy instruments in the freight transport sector. By analysing the outcomes and quality of evaluations, the aim is to identify whether estimated effects of policy instruments can be compared between evaluations and if the results are appropriate to use for evidence-based decision making. To analyse these aspects, commonly applied evaluation criteria are assessed and classified according to an assessment scale. We confirm that few ex-post evaluations are carried out and that there is a gap between evaluation theory and how ex-post policy evaluations are performed in practice, where evaluation criteria recommended in policy evaluation guidelines are found to often be neglected in evaluations. The result is a lack of systematic climate policy evaluation which hinders reliable conclusions about the effect of policy instruments. There is a need for more systematic monitoring and evaluation of implemented policy instruments and we suggest that evidence-based decision making can be improved by adjusting current policy evaluation guidelines and by introducing an evaluation obligation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Routledge, 2023
Keywords
climate policy instrument, evaluation criteria, freight transport, greenhouse gas emissions, Policy evaluation
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics Construction Management
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-19571 (URN)10.1080/01441647.2023.2175275 (DOI)000933010000001 ()2-s2.0-85147742281 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Transport Administration
Note

Research funding was provided by the Swedish Transport Administration via Lindholmen Science Park AB for the project Triple F: Policy Instruments for Fossil Free Freight (PIFF) (VTI project number 204918 and Triple F project number 2020.3.2.14).

Available from: 2023-03-01 Created: 2023-03-01 Last updated: 2025-02-14Bibliographically approved
Blomqvist, G., Järlskog, I., Gustafsson, M., Polukarova, M. & Andersson-Sköld, Y. (2023). Microplastics in snow in urban traffic environments. Linköping: Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Microplastics in snow in urban traffic environments
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2023 (English)Report (Other academic)
Alternative title[sv]
Mikroplaster i snö i urbana trafikmiljöer
Abstract [en]

Microplastics from road traffic, mainly from tyre wear, are globally considered to be one of the largest sources of microplastic contamination in the environment. Plastics can either be deposited in the road vicinity, at the roadside and in ditches or spread via stormwater and air to the environment and receiving water bodies. In cold climates, microplastics, as well as other traffic-related pollutants, can be temporarily stored in snow and ice on and around roads and streets. The location and concentration of these pollutants is influenced by winter operations, where ploughing and skid control contribute to redistribution, and by melting and compaction of ice and snow. This creates reservoirs of microplastics and other pollutants, which are released into stormwater or surrounding soil during thaws, but also provides an opportunity to reduce the spread of microplastics by managing snow and ice appropriately. In the present report, a case study of microplastics in snow has been carried out in the municipality of Karlstad in Sweden, to get an idea of the potential variation, both in terms of concentration and total amounts in relation to traffic and the location of the sampling in the street environment. Microplastics have been analysed by pyrolysis GC/MS to identify tyre-specific polymers in combination with eight commonly occurring plastic types. In addition, six municipalities in different parts of the country responded to a questionnaire on microplastics in snow and urban snowmelt management. The results show that microplastics related to tyre wear (rubber polymers) tend to be present in higher concentrations on and near the carriageway. Other plastics show a less clear link to traffic. Along a salted bicycle lane, an elevated level of polypropylene, from which the brush of the sweep-salting machine is made, could be detected in the surface layer of the snow. In general, knowledge about microplastics in urban snow is low in the municipalities that responded to the survey.

Abstract [sv]

Mikroplaster från vägtrafik, främst från slitage av däck, bedöms globalt vara en av de största källorna till kontamineringen av mikroplast i miljön. Plasterna kan antingen deponera i närområdet, vid vägkanten och i dikena eller spridas via dagvatten och luft till omgivning och recipienter. I kalla klimat kan mikroplaster, liksom andra trafikrelaterade föroreningar, komma att mellanlagras i snö och is på och kring vägar och gator. Var föroreningarna återfinns, och i vilka halter, som de påverkas av vinterdriften, där plogning och halkbekämpning bidrar till omfördelning, samt av smältning och kompaktering av is och snö. Detta skapar förråd av mikroplaster och andra föroreningar, som vid töväder frigörs till dagvatten eller omgivande mark men utgör även en möjlighet att minska spridningen av mikroplaster genom att hantera snö och is på ett anpassat sätt. I föreliggande rapport har en fallstudie av mikroplaster i snö genomförts i Karlstad för att få en bild av den potentiella variationen, både med avseende på koncentration och totala mängder i förhållande till trafik och var i gatumiljön proverna tagits. Mikroplaster har analyserats med pyrolys GC/MS för att kunna identifiera däckspecifika polymerer i kombination med åtta vanligt förekommande plasttyper. Vidare har sex kommuner i olika delar av landet besvarat en enkät om mikroplaster i snö och hantering av urbana snömassor. Resultatet visar att mikroplaster som kan relateras till däckslitage (gummipolymerer) tenderar att förekomma i högre halter på och nära körfälten. Övrig plast visar mindre tydlig koppling till trafik. Längs ett sopsaltat cykelstråk kunde en förhöjd halt av polypropen, som sopsaltmaskinens borste är tillverkad av, påvisas i snöns ytskikt. Generellt är kunskapen om mikroplaster i urban snö låg hos de kommuner som besvarade enkäten.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut, 2023
Series
VTI rapport, ISSN 0347-6030 ; 1171A
National Category
Environmental Sciences Infrastructure Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-19712 (URN)
Available from: 2023-05-16 Created: 2023-05-16 Last updated: 2023-05-16Bibliographically approved
Svensson, N., Engardt, M., Gustafsson, M. & Andersson-Sköld, Y. (2023). Modelled atmospheric concentration of tyre wear in an urban environment. Atmospheric Environment: X, 20, Article ID 100225.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Modelled atmospheric concentration of tyre wear in an urban environment
2023 (English)In: Atmospheric Environment: X, ISSN 2590-1621, Vol. 20, article id 100225Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Microplastics are emitted to the environment from many sources, and transported via water, soil and air. The airborne component is less well studied and measurements often focus on particles larger than 10 μm, while smaller particles are worse from a health perspective and likely more abundant. Measurement studies do often not include tyre wear, which is a large source of microplastics in urban areas. To improve the understanding of the microplastics concentration in urban areas, simulations of emissions and concentrations of atmospheric tyre wear particles (TWP) over Stockholm are performed. The results show that TWP are ubiquitous in urban areas, with highest concentrations along busy highways and in poorly ventilated street canyons. Yearly average roof level concentrations of TWP-PM10 range from 0.2 μg m−3 in areas with moderate traffic to 1.2 μg m−3 close to busy highways. Average yearly concentrations at three selected street canyons range from 0.7 to 1.1 μg m−3. The modelled concentrations correspond to 4–6% of the total measured PM10 concentration. TWP emissions are expected to increase with increasing traffic in future, and possibly also with the increase in vehicle weight with electric vehicles and SUV:s.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2023
Keywords
Airborne microplastics, Microplastics, Non-exhaust emissions, TWP, Tyre wear emissions, Stockholm [Sweden], Sweden, Tires, Wear of materials, Airborne microplastic, Exhausts emissions, Non-exhaust emission, Street canyon, Tire wear, Tire wear emission, Tire wear particles, Urban areas, atmospheric modeling, atmospheric pollution, concentration (composition), plastic, traffic emission, wear, Microplastic
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-19913 (URN)10.1016/j.aeaoa.2023.100225 (DOI)001081808600001 ()2-s2.0-85171332305 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, L506, NV-04000-21
Available from: 2023-09-28 Created: 2023-09-28 Last updated: 2023-11-16Bibliographically approved
Andersson-Sköld, Y., Mirzanamadi, R., Nyberg, E., Erlingsson, S., Torstensson, P., Göransson, G. & Nordin, L. (2023). Ramverk för att prioritera och bedöma nyttan av klimatanpassningsåtgärder. Linköping: Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Ramverk för att prioritera och bedöma nyttan av klimatanpassningsåtgärder
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2023 (Swedish)Report (Other academic)
Alternative title[en]
Framework for prioritising and assessing the benefits of climate change adaptation measures
Abstract [sv]

Klimatförändringarna är idag påtagliga och även om vi snabbt får ner utsläppen av växthusgaser kommer fler, mer omfattande och mer kostsamma klimatrelaterade händelser att inträffa alltmer ofta. Kostnaderna inom den svenska transportsektorn för klimatrelaterade händelser som skadar gator, vägar, spår-/järnväg, med flera sårbara delar av infrastrukturen är stora redan idag och förväntas öka. Översvämningar, bränder och skador till följd av väderrelaterade händelser på anläggningar resulterar bland annat i minskad framkomlighet och en ökad risk för olyckor. För att upprätthålla transportsystemets funktion är det därför viktigt att vi vidtar riskreducerande åtgärder för att minska sannolikheten och omfattningen av negativa konsekvenser av både dagens klimat- och väderrelaterade händelser men framför allt för att hantera framtida klimatrelaterade händelser. Det är nödvändigt att säkerställa transportsystemets funktion vid extrema väderhändelser, och under perioder av långvarig nederbörd, långvariga värmeböljor och förändrade nederbördsmönster. Det gäller också att redan idag möjliggöra anpassningsåtgärder för att hantera långsiktiga förändringar som höjd havsvattennivå och grundvattennivåer, som påverkar infrastrukturens framkomlighet och livslängd.

I denna rapport presenteras sammanfattande resultat och en sammanfattning av hur ett ramverk för att utvärdera klimatrelaterade effektsamband har använts. Med effektsamband avses att identifiera, bedöma och värdera klimatrelaterade risker och riskreducerande åtgärder. I denna rapport är fokus på att identifiera, bedöma och utvärdera effektiviteten av klimatrelaterade åtgärder. Resultatet av det framtagna ramverket kan användas för att analysera riskreducerande åtgärders effekter, det vill säga för att bedöma om det är relevant att genomföra en åtgärd, när i tiden den bör genomföras samt för att bedöma vilken åtgärd som är mest relevant att genomföra. De risker som beaktas genom fallstudier innefattar brandrisk, olycksrisk på gator och vägar på grund av nollgenomgångar eller värme, översvämning, erosion och skred och påverkan på vägkonstruktionen (spårbildning, bärighet och utmattning), solkurvor och risker vid kraftiga vindar. Testerna har innefattat faro- och riskidentifiering, riskanalys, identifiering och utvärdering av möjliga åtgärder. Exempel på fallstudier är Gävleregnet 2021, ett skyfall i Kungsbacka kommun 2019, erosionsrelaterade förändringar under lång tid vid Österdalälven och beräkningar av påverkan av temperatur, fuktighet och förändringar i tjälförändringsmönster på vägkonstruktionen vid E10 vid Svappavaara. I en av de fallstudier som sammanfattas i rapporten redovisas även en monetär värdering och känslighetsanalys. Ramverket har också legat till grund för en diskussion avseende klimatrelaterade risker kopplade till elförsörjning.

Abstract [en]

Even if the greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly reduced, the ongoing climate change will result in extensive and costly climate-related events that will occur more frequently. The costs in the Swedish transport sector for such events damaging streets, roads, rail/railways, and other vulnerable parts of the infrastructure are high today and are expected to increase. The consequences of weather-related events are, among other things, reduced accessibility, and increased risk of accidents. To maintain the functioning of the transport system, it is important to undertake risk-reducing measures related both to today's climate, but above all, to manage future climate-related events. It is necessary to ensure the functioning of the transport system during extreme weather events, and during periods of prolonged precipitation, prolonged heatwaves and changing precipitation patterns. It is also important to enable adaptation measures to deal with long-term changes such as rising sea levels which affect the accessibility and lifespan of the infrastructure.

This report presents a summary of results and a summary of how a framework for evaluating climaterelated impact relationships has been used. Effect relationships refer to identifying, assessing, and evaluating climate-related risks and risk reduction measures. In this report, the focus is on identifying, assessing, and evaluating the effectiveness of climate-related measures. The results is a framework for assessing the effect of risk-reducing measures, i.e., to assess whether it is relevant to implement a measure, when in time it should be implemented and to assess which measure is most relevant to implement. The risks have considered in case studies and include fire risk, risk of accidents on streets and roads due to zero crossings or heat, flooding, erosion and landslides and impact on road construction (rutting, bearing capacity and fatigue), track buckling and risks related to high winds. The tests have included hazard and risk identification, risk analysis, identification, and evaluation of possible measures. Examples of case studies are a torrential rain in Kungsbacka municipality in 2019, erosion-related changes over a long period of time at Österdalälven and calculations of climate impact on the road construction at the E10 at Svappavaara. A case study has also included monetary valuation and sensitivity analysis. The framework has also formed the basis for a discussion regarding climaterelated risks linked to electricity supply.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut, 2023. p. 185
Series
VTI rapport, ISSN 0347-6030 ; 1186
Keywords
Climate-related risks and adaptation measures, impact relationships, fire risk, risk of accidents caused by slipperiness/heat, flooding, erosion, landslides, rutting, bearing capacity, track buckling curves, risks from strong winds, Klimatrelaterade risker och anpassningsåtgärder, effektsamband, brandrisk, olycksrisk halka/värme, översvämning, erosion, skred, spårbildning, bärighet, solkurvor, risker vid kraftiga vindar
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-20061 (URN)
Projects
Metod för att prioritera och bedöma nyttan av klimatanpassningsåtgärder – rätt åtgärd på rätt plats och i rätt ordning
Funder
Swedish Transport Administration
Available from: 2023-12-12 Created: 2023-12-12 Last updated: 2024-04-25Bibliographically approved
Wilkinson, T., Järlskog, I., de Lima, J. A., Gustafsson, M., Mattsson, K., Andersson-Sköld, Y. & Hassellöv, M. (2023). Shades of grey: tire characteristics and road surface influence tire and road wear particle (TRWP) abundance and physicochemical properties. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, Article ID 1258922.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Shades of grey: tire characteristics and road surface influence tire and road wear particle (TRWP) abundance and physicochemical properties
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2023 (English)In: Frontiers in Environmental Science, E-ISSN 2296-665X, Vol. 11, article id 1258922Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

There is mounting evidence that tire wear particles can harm natural systems, but worldwide trends in car weight and car usage, mean emissions are set to increase. To control tire wear emissions and help understand fate and transport, detailed characterisation of the particles, and the relationship between road surface properties and emission profiles is needed. This study deployed a suite of experiments utilising the advanced road simulator of the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute to compare seasonal tire types from three brands. An extraction method was developed for a coarse (>30 µm) fraction of tire and road wear particles (TRWP), and a comprehensive physicochemical characterisation scheme applied to both TRWP and tire-tread, including microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and pyrolysis-GC/MS. Road simulator dusts and hand-picked TRWP showed differences in shape, numbers, and mass between tire types and brands, and between asphalt and cement concrete road surfaces. Contrary to accepted perceptions, tactile analyses revealed that firm-elastic TRWP comprised only a minor proportion of TRWP. Fragile and chemically distinct tire-road-derived particles, termed here sub-elastic TRWP, comprised 39–100% of TRWP. This finding raises urgent questions about overall TRWP classification and identification features, resistance to weathering, and environmental fate. At the same time, differences in TRWP generation between tire formulations, and road surfaces, show potential for controlling emissions to reduce global impacts.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers Media S.A., 2023
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-20011 (URN)10.3389/fenvs.2023.1258922 (DOI)001106816300001 ()
Available from: 2023-11-17 Created: 2023-11-17 Last updated: 2024-06-26Bibliographically approved
Gustafsson, M., Polukarova, M., Blomqvist, G., Järlskog, I. & Andersson-Sköld, Y. (2023). Street sweeping: a source to, or measure against, microplastic emissions?. Linköping: Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Street sweeping: a source to, or measure against, microplastic emissions?
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2023 (English)Report (Other academic)
Alternative title[sv]
Gatustädning : en källa till, eller åtgärd mot, emissioner av mikroplaster?
Abstract [en]

Microplastics from road traffic are mainly caused by tyre wear, which is globally considered to be one of the largest sources of microplastics. Tyre wear particles have been shown to occur in all media (road surface, air, soil, stormwater, lakes and rivers and coastal sediments) and are dispersed both by runoff and by atmospheric transport. To reduce the dispersion and possible effects of road traffic microplastics emissions, measures can be taken to prevent the formation of particles and to prevent their dispersion through treatment measures. This study focuses on street cleaning as a method to reduce emissions, but as many street cleaning methods are based on the use of plastic brushes, cleaning as a source of microplastics has also been considered. The study was carried out in collaboration with the municipality of Karlstad and included a review of how street cleaning is carried out in Karlstad in relation to uptake and dispersion of microplastics. 

Furthermore, a comparison between two cleaning machines (elevator and vacuum) has been made and a monitoring of microplastic amounts on the road surface during different phases of spring sweeping has been carried out. In order to estimate the amount of plastic torn from the brushes, weighing of the brushes has been carried out. In order to gain knowledge about the work of more municipalities on street sweeping from a microplastic perspective, a questionnaire study was sent out to six municipalities in different parts of the country. The results show that both cleaning machines have the capacity to reduce the amount of microplastics on the road surface. However, during spring sweeping, the amount of polypropylene (the most common plastic in the brushes) on the road surface increases. The distribution of analysed plastics differs significantly between the road surface and the material collected by the machines. This is thought to be due to the fact that the machines mainly collect coarser fractions, while finer fractions remain on the road surface. Knowledge of, and thus consideration of, microplastics in relation to operational measures such as street cleaning is currently low among the municipalities surveyed, but awareness exists, as does the need for support in implementing possible measures. 

The present study shows a complex problem picture and represents a first step in understanding how street cleaning can be used as a measure, but also indicates that the wear of plastic brushes leads to a net emission of microplastics.

Abstract [sv]

Mikroplaster från vägtrafik har i huvudsak däckslitage som källa, vilket globalt bedöms vara en av de största källorna till mikroplaster. Däckslitagepartiklar har visat sig förekomma i alla medier (vägytan, mark, luft, dagvatten, sjöar och vattendrag och kustnära sediment). Partiklarna sprids både genom avrinning och genom lufttransport. För att minska spridning och eventuella effekter av vägtrafikens mikroplastutsläpp kan åtgärder vidtas för att dels förhindra bildningen av partiklar, dels för att förhindra spridningen genom reningsåtgärder. Denna studie fokuserar på gatustädning som metod för att minska emissionerna, men då många gatustädmetoder baseras på användning av plastborstar, har även städningen som källa till mikroplaster undersökts. Studien har genomförts i samverkan med Karlstads kommun och omfattat en genomgång av hur gatustädningen genomförs i Karlstad i relation till upptag och spridning av mikroplaster. 

Vidare har en jämförelse mellan två städmaskiner (elevator och vakuum) gjorts och en uppföljning av mikroplastmängder på vägytan under olika moment av vårsopning genomförts. För att uppskatta hur mycket plast som slits från borstarna har vägning av borstar genomförts. För att få kunskap om fler kommuners arbete med gatusopning ur ett mikroplastperspektiv, har en enkätstudie skickats ut till sex kommuner i olika delar av landet. Resultaten visar att båda städmaskinerna har kapacitet att minska mängden mikroplast på vägytan. Under vårsopningen framgår dock att mängden polypropylen (den vanligaste plasten i borstarna) ökar på vägytan. Fördelningen av analyserade plaster skiljer sig markant mellan vägytan och det material som maskinerna samlat in. Detta bedöms bero på att maskinerna huvudsakligen samlar in grövre fraktioner, medan finare fraktioner blir kvar på vägytan. Kunskapen om, och därmed också beaktandet av just mikroplaster i relation till driftåtgärder som gatustädning, är i dagsläget låg bland tillfrågade kommuner, men kännedom finns liksom behov av stöd i implementering av eventuella åtgärder. 

Föreliggande studie visar på en komplex problembild och utgör ett första steg i att förstå hur gatustädning kan användas som åtgärd, men indikerar också att slitage av plastborstar medför en nettoemission av mikroplaster.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut, 2023. p. 80
Series
VTI rapport, ISSN 0347-6030 ; 1170A
National Category
Environmental Sciences Infrastructure Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-19697 (URN)
Available from: 2023-05-11 Created: 2023-05-11 Last updated: 2023-05-11Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-3075-0809

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