Characteristics of Unorganized Emissions of Microplastics from Road Fugitive Dust in Urban Mining Base

Nowadays, plastic pollution attracts attention, while data on microplastic (MP) emissions to atmosphere from urban mining bases are rarely quantified. The emission characteristics of MPs in road fugitive dust from two urban mining bases were investigated in this study. The emission factors of MPs from road fugitive dust source were updated, and an emission inventory was established. It is estimated that the waste glass recycling base and the e-waste dismantling plant emit 1265.53g and 40.5g of MPs into atmosphere respectively each year. The roads with the most emissions are located in the middle of warehouses and workshops. Tire micro-rubber accounted for the highest proportion of MPs. Emission factors for MPs mainly depend on average vehicle weight, and heavy vehicles cause more MP emissions. Uncertainty analysis of the inventory found that the random error of MP emissions on a single road in waste glass recycling base was -79.1%~187.1%, while random error of e-waste dismantling plant was -62.7%~102.05%. Uncertainty is related to the silt loading. This study completes the quantitative data on the unorganized emissions of MPs from road fugitive dust in these two typical urban mining bases, and provides guidance for air pollution prevention and control