In this report potential policy instruments and measures against microplastics from tyre and road wear are mapped, identified, and prioritised. The report has been produced within the framework of a Swedish government assignment that the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) received in December 2017 to develop and disseminate knowledge about microplastics from road traffic. The assignment states, among other things, that VTI should identify and evaluate potentially effective policy instruments and measures aimed at limiting emissions. 

The aim of the report is to identify potential policy instruments and measures that can reduce the load of microplastics from tyre and road wear on the environment, and to assess which should be prioritised for in-depth investigation or knowledge building. The report covers policy instruments and measures that reduce emissions, spread, and effects of microplastic particles from tyres and road markings in the environment, as well as those that contribute to increasing knowledge in the field. It contains 35 policy instrument and measure headings under which the potential policy instruments or measures concerned are specified. A total of 58 specified policy instruments and measures have been described and ranked based on assessed priority. The focus is on policy instruments and measures that help reduce the generation and emissions of tyre particles. This is motivated by the fact that tyre wear is by far the largest source of microplastics from road traffic and that it is generally most effective to take action at the source. 

Since there is insufficient knowledge on the impact of microplastics from tyre and road wear the risk, and thereby the need for action, cannot be assessed. Further, the lack of knowledge about the effectiveness of identified policy instruments and measures does not make it possible to set informed priorities between them on objective grounds. The assessments nevertheless made of which should be prioritised (due to assessed need of knowledge and preventive measures) are therefore more or less rough. 

The prioritisation of the policy instruments and measures has taken place at the levels highly prioritised, prioritised and not prioritised. In most cases, more knowledge is needed before they can be evaluated, or implemented, which is why proposals leading to direct action cannot be given. More than 40 percent of them are about promoting research or development in specific areas or in general. 

In conclusion, there are many potential instruments and measures to reduce the load of microplastics from tyre and road wear that have been considered to be more or less relevant for various reasons. Among the 20 that we have given high priority to, we find some particularly interesting. They are those relating to 1) reduced amount of road traffic, 2) driving behaviour, 3) tyre wear propensity 4) air pressure and wheel settings, 5) regulation of hazardous substances, 6) collection of tyre particles while driving, 7) sustainable handling of road surface water, and 8) knowledge building for the assessment of risks and need for action.

I denna rapport kartläggs, identifieras och prioriteras potentiella styrmedel och åtgärder mot mikroplast från däck- och vägslitage. Rapporten har tagits fram inom ramen för det regeringsuppdrag som Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut (VTI) fick i december 2017 för att ta fram och sprida kunskap om mikroplast från vägtrafiken. I uppdraget står det bland annat att VTI ska ”identifiera och utvärdera potentiellt effektiva styrmedel och åtgärder med syfte att begränsa utsläppen”. 

Syftet med rapporten är att identifiera potentiella styrmedel och åtgärder som kan minska belastningen av mikroplast från däck- och vägslitage på miljön, samt att bedöma vilka som bör prioriteras för fördjupad utredning eller kunskapsuppbyggnad. Rapporten omfattar styrmedel och åtgärder som minskar utsläppen, spridningen och effekterna av mikroplastpartiklar från däck och vägmarkeringar i miljön samt de som bidrar till att öka kunskapen inom området. Den innehåller 35 styrmedels- och åtgärdsrubriker under vilka det finns preciseringar som anger vad det är för potentiellt styrmedel eller åtgärd som avses. Totalt har 58 preciseringar beskrivits och rangordnats utifrån prioritering. Fokus ligger på styrmedel och åtgärder som bidrar till att minska uppkomst och utsläpp av däckpartiklar. Detta motiveras av att däckslitage utgör den allra största källan till mikroplast från vägtrafiken och att det generellt är effektivast att vidta en åtgärd vid källan. 

Eftersom det inte finns tillräckligt med kunskap om påverkan av mikroplast från däck- och vägslitage kan inte risken och därmed inte heller åtgärdsbehovet bedömas. Kunskapsbristen om effektiviteten hos identifierade styrmedel och åtgärder gör det inte heller möjligt att på sakliga grunder göra väl underbyggda prioriteringar mellan olika styrmedel och åtgärder. De prioriteringar som ändå görs (på grund av bedömt behov av kunskap och förebyggande åtgärder) bygger därför på mer eller mindre grova bedömningar. 

Prioriteringen av styrmedlen och åtgärderna har skett i nivåerna: högt prioriterad, prioriterad och inte prioriterad. I flertalet fall behövs mer kunskap innan de kan utvärderas, implementeras eller genomföras, varför förslag som leder till direkta åtgärder inte kan ges. Drygt 40 procent av dem handlar om att främja forskning eller utveckling inom specifika områden eller generellt. 

Sammanfattningsvis finns det många potentiella styrmedel och åtgärder för att minska belastningen av mikroplast från däck- och vägslitage som bedömts mer eller mindre relevanta av olika anledningar. Bland de 20 som vi har prioriterat högt anser vi några vara särskilt intressanta. De är de som handlar om 1) minskat trafikarbete, 2) körbeteende, 3) däckens slitagebenägenhet 4) lufttryck och hjulinställningar, 5) reglering av farliga ämnen, 6) uppsamling av däckpartiklar under färd, 7) hållbar hantering av vägdagvatten, och 8) kunskapsuppbyggnad för bedömning av risker och behov av åtgärder.

In this report potential policy instruments and measures against microplastics from tyre and road wear are mapped, identified, and prioritised. The report has been produced within the framework of a Swedish government assignment that the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) received in December 2017 to develop and disseminate knowledge about microplastics from road traffic. The assignment states, among other things, that VTI should identify and evaluate potentially effective policy instruments and measures aimed at limiting emissions. 

The aim of the report is to identify potential policy instruments and measures that can reduce the load of microplastics from tyre and road wear on the environment, and to assess which should be prioritised for in-depth investigation or knowledge building. The report covers policy instruments and measures that reduce emissions, spread, and effects of microplastic particles from tyres and road markings in the environment, as well as those that contribute to increasing knowledge in the field. It contains 35 policy instrument and measure headings under which the potential policy instruments or measures concerned are specified. A total of 58 specified policy instruments and measures have been described and ranked based on assessed priority. The focus is on policy instruments and measures that help reduce the generation and emissions of tyre particles. This is motivated by the fact that tyre wear is by far the largest source of microplastics from road traffic and that it is generally most effective to take action at the source. 

Since there is insufficient knowledge on the impact of microplastics from tyre and road wear the risk, and thereby the need for action, cannot be assessed. Further, the lack of knowledge about the effectiveness of identified policy instruments and measures does not make it possible to set informed priorities between them on objective grounds. The assessments nevertheless made of which should be prioritised (due to assessed need of knowledge and preventive measures) are therefore more or less rough. 

The prioritisation of the policy instruments and measures has taken place at the levels highly prioritised, prioritised and not prioritised. In most cases, more knowledge is needed before they can be evaluated, or implemented, which is why proposals leading to direct action cannot be given. More than 40 percent of them are about promoting research or development in specific areas or in general. 

In conclusion, there are many potential instruments and measures to reduce the load of microplastics from tyre and road wear that have been considered to be more or less relevant for various reasons. Among the 20 that we have given high priority to, we find some particularly interesting. They are those relating to 1) reduced amount of road traffic, 2) driving behaviour, 3) tyre wear propensity 4) air pressure and wheel settings, 5) regulation of hazardous substances, 6) collection of tyre particles while driving, 7) sustainable handling of road surface water, and 8) knowledge building for the assessment of risks and need for action.

This literature review concerns microplastics from tyre and road wear caused by road traffic. As there is limited knowledge about microplastics in general, and microplastics from road traffic in particular, the Swedish Government commissioned the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) to, during 2018-2020, develop and disseminate knowledge about microplastics from road traffic. The chapters in this report summarises existing knowledge about microplastics from road traffic with respect to the following aspects: sources, spread and presence; effects on and risk to the environment and human health; characteristics and chemical composition; tyre and road wear; sampling methods; analysis and sample preparation; and measures. The report also includes a chapter with overall conclusions, and a chapter about further research, development and investigation needs.

The purpose of this report is to provide a basis for reducing the generation and spread of microplastics from road traffic. One aim of the report is to collate and disseminate knowledge about microplastics generated by tyre and road wear, and to review the current level of knowledge. A second aim is to identify knowledge gaps and research requirements in relation to microplastics from road traffic. This literature review is based on a review of scientific articles and reports, as well as technical literature and some information from experts and industry.

Denna kunskapssammanställning handlar om mikroplast från vägtrafikens däck- och vägslitage. Eftersom kunskapen om mikroplaster från vägtrafiken är begränsad samtidigt som däckslitage bedöms vara den största källan till utsläpp av mikroplast i Sverige, gav regeringen inom ramen för sitt arbete med plast och mikroplast Statens väg- och transportforskningsinstitut (VTI) i uppdrag att under 2018– 2020 ta fram och sprida kunskap om mikroplast från vägtrafiken. Varje kapitel i denna rapport sammanfattar befintlig kunskap om mikroplast från vägtrafiken avseende en eller flera aspekter. Dessa aspekter är: källor, spridning och förekomst; miljö- och hälsoeffekter samt risker; egenskaper och kemisk sammansättning; däck- och vägslitage; provtagningsmetoder; analys- och provberedningsmetoder samt åtgärder. Dessutom finns ett kapitel med sammanfattande slutsatser och allra sist ett kapitel om forsknings-, utvecklings- och utredningsbehov.

Syftet med rapporten är att den ska utgöra ett underlag för att minska emissioner och spridning av mikroplast från vägtrafiken. Ett mål med rapporten är att sammanställa och sprida kunskap om mikroplast från däck- och vägslitage och att redogöra för nuvarande kunskapsläge. Ytterligare ett mål är att identifiera kunskaps- och forskningsbehov avseende mikroplast från vägtrafiken.

Underlaget till denna kunskapssammanställning utgörs av vetenskapliga artiklar och rapporter samt facklitteratur och information från branschen och från experter.

This literature review concerns microplastics from tyre and road wear caused by road traffic. As there is limited knowledge about microplastics in general, and microplastics from road traffic in particular, the Swedish Government has asked the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) to, during 2018-2020, develop and disseminate knowledge about microplastics from road traffic. The chapters in this report summarises existing knowledge about microplastics from road traffic with respect to the following aspects: sources, spread and occurrence; effects on and risk to the environment and human health; characteristics and chemical composition; tyre and road wear; sampling methods; analysis and sample preparation; measures. The report also includes a chapter with overall conclusions, and a chapter about further research, development and investigation needs.

The purpose of this report is to provide a basis for reducing the generation and spread of microplastics from road traffic. One aim of the report is to collate and disseminate knowledge about microplastics generated by tyre and road wear, and to review the current level of knowledge. A second aim is to identify knowledge gaps and research requirements in relation to microplastics from road traffic. This literature review is based on a review of scientific articles and reports, as well as technical literature and some information from experts and industry.