Tyre wear particles: an abundant yet widely unreported microplastic?

Owing to their physical and chemical properties, particles generated by the abrasion of tyre tread against road surfaces, or tyre wear particles, are recognised as microplastics. Recent desk-based studies suggest tyre wear to be a major contributor of microplastic emissions to the environment. This study aimed to quantify tyre wear in roadside drains and the natural environment near to a major road intersection.

Particle-water interactions of bismuth under simulated estuarine conditions.

Although the production and usage of bismuth (Bi) have been increasing, very little is known about the environmental behaviour of this heavy metal. In the present study, the particle-water interactions of Bi are examined under controlled conditions in which the metal is added as a tracer to estuarine sediment suspended in different, environmentally-relevant aqueous solutions. Adsorption isotherms were always linear over the Bi concentration range employed (up to 2000 μg L) and sediment-water distribution coefficients derived from isotherm gradients, K (L kg), displayed an inverse dependence on pH in river water (and ranging from K = 106,000 L kg at pH 5.