Tyre and break-wear microplastics: degradation in soil and surface water

This PhD project will investigate the fate and transport of car tyre and brake wear related microplastics in freshwater and soil environments, analysing how particles interact with the soil and water environments and their constituents (biomolecules / natural organic matter, other particulate matter, microorganisms) while they are transported, how they degrade and what their residence times are under variable soil and flow conditions. The results of this PhD research will contribute to our understanding of the environmental exposure and risks formed by car tyre and break ware products, which is of critical interest to regulators as well as the transport, infrastructure and manufacturing industry sectors.