Are TRWP a form of microplastic?
Microplastics’ is a generic term used to describe small pieces of plastic in the environment originating from a variety of sources. According to UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) definition no. 12, microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size, which can originate from primary sources (e.g., industrial pellets, microbeads) or secondary sources (e.g., breakdown of larger plastic debris) or both.
Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) are particles unintentionally generated at the frictional interface between the tyre and roadway during vehicle use.
TRWP differ from most microplastics in their chemical and physical properties, as they contain both mineral and elastomer-based materials. This results in TRWP having distinct size, density, and persistence characteristics as compared to most microplastics, necessitating different methods for their proper characterization.
Our mission is to better understand the distribution of these particles in the environment and their potential impact on human health and the environment, as well as to support effective mitigation measures.