Roads as a source of pollution

Roads play a vital role in our mobility and are an integral part of everyday life. Yet at the same time, they are a source of chemical contamination in surface waters and soil. Whilst traditional pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals from asphalt and petrol were initially a cause for concern, tire wear later became an additional factor. The latter represents a major source of microplastics entering the environment, but also contains numerous chemicals. Several current projects at the Ecotox Centre demonstrate just how diverse the impacts of road traffic are – and how important it is to investigate them in a comprehensive manner.