“Microplastics and Polymers in Construction Materials: Sources, Fate, and Structural/Environmental Impacts”

Construction practices increasingly rely on polymer additives and recycled plastics to enhance durability and reduce material footprints, but these benefits carry environmental and structural tradeoffs. This review synthesizes evidence that polymer fragments and fibers generated during manufacturing, placement, maintenance, and demolition rapidly produce microplastic particles that partition among airborne dust, surface deposits, and stormwater runoff. We present a practical sampling framework and compare extraction and spectroscopic identification methods, highlighting strengths and limitations of density separation, controlled digestion, μ FTIR, Raman, and microscopy approaches for size classes and matrices common to building sites. Combining field studies and modeling, we map fate and transport pathways from site scale emission hotspots to downstream retention basins and sediments, showing how particle size, density, and biofouling control whether fragments remain airborne, move with surface flow, or deposit in soils and sediments. We summarize structural consequences of intentional and unintentional polymer inclusion, noting that well engineered fiber additions can improve flexural behavior while heterogeneous plastic fragments often increase porosity and reduce compressive strength and durability under freeze thaw and chemical exposure. We review evidence for additive leaching, documenting that plasticizers, stabilizers, and some flame retardants can mobilize into stormwater and porewater at concentrations that are environmentally relevant in poorly flushed settings. Human and ecological exposure pathways are evaluated: occupational airborne loads during cutting and demolition are high, community downwind exposures are measurable, and aquatic organisms show adverse responses to particle and chemical mixtures in laboratory tests. Life cycle assessments paired with durability metrics reveal context dependent tradeoffs between embodied carbon benefits and pollution risks when plastics are incorporated into materials. Finally, we offer a tiered mitigation strategy: source control, enclosed handling, targeted sampling, engineered on site controls, and procurement standards to reduce emissions and protect workers and receiving ecosystems. The synthesis provides practical research priorities, monitoring guidance, and policy considerations to make construction practices both resilient and environmentally responsible. We recommend standardized reporting, recovery testing, combined particle and chemical monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration to close knowledge gaps and guide regulation. Adopting these measures will reduce environmental loads and enhance material longevity. and public health.

Microplastics; Construction materials; Polymer additives; Fiber reinforcement; Fate and transport; Sampling and analysis; Spectroscopic identification; Chemical leaching; Occupational exposure

1. Bekturganova NY, Kolesnikova IV. Effect of polymer additives on improvement of concrete properties. Adv Polym Technol. 2025; 2025:6235216. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2025/6235216 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Zvekic M, Richards LC, Tong CC, Krogh ET. Characterizing photochemical ageing processes of microplastic materials using multivariate analysis of infrared spectra. Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2022;24(1):52‑61. doi: https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00392E [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Pfohl P, Santizo K, Sipe J, Wiesner M, Harrison S, Svendsen C, et al. Environmental degradation and fragmentation of microplastics: dependence on polymer type, humidity, UV dose and temperature. Microplastics Nanoplastics. 2025;5:7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00118-9 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Ross MS, Loutan A, Groeneveld T, Molenaar D, Kroetch K, Bujaczek T, et al. Estimated discharge of microplastics via urban stormwater during individual rain events. Front Environ Sci. 2023;11:1090267. doi: https:// doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1090267 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Mashaan NS, Ouano CAE. An investigation of the mechanical properties of concrete with different types of waste plastics for rigid pavements. Appl Mech. 2025;6(1):9. doi: https://doi.org/10. 3390/ applmech6010009 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Qaidi S, Al‑Kamaki Y, Hakeem I, Dulaimi AF, Özkılıç Y, Sabri M, et al. Investigation of the physical‑mechanical properties and durability of high‑strength concrete with recycled PET as a partial replacement for fine aggregates. Front Mater. 2023; 10:1101146. doi: [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2023.1101146 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Ross MS, Loutan A, Groeneveld T, Molenaar D, Kroetch K, Bujaczek T, et al. Estimated discharge of microplastics via urban stormwater during individual rain events. Front Environ Sci. 2023; 11:1090267. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1090267 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Ahmad T, Gul S, Peng L, Mehmood T, Huang Q, Ali H, et al. Microplastic mitigation in urban stormwater using green infrastructure: a review. Environ Chem Lett. 2025; 23:999‑1024. doi: [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-025-01833-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Cirino E, Curtis S, Wallis J, Thys T, Brown J, Rolsky C, et al. Assessing benefits and risks of incorporating plastic waste in construction materials. Front Built Environ. 2023; 9:1206474. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1206474 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Shaw KR, Sandquist R, Fairclough C, Black J, Fitzgerald A, Shaw JT, et al. Separation of microplastics from deep‑sea sediment using an affordable, simple to use, and easily accessible density separation device. Microplastics Nanoplastics. 2024;4:16. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-024-00093-7 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Pfeiffer F, Fischer EK. Various digestion protocols within microplastic sample processing—Evaluating the resistance of different synthetic polymers and the efficiency of biogenic organic matter destruction. Front Environ Sci. 2020;8:572424. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2020.572424 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Bonita JD, Gomez NCF, Onda DF. Assessing the efficiency of microplastics extraction methods for tropical beach sediments and matrix preparation for experimental controls. Front Mar Sci. 2023 ;10:1285041. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1285041 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Gao Y, Yuan C, Cheng S, Sun J, Ouyang S, Xue W, et al. Current methods and prospects for sampling, separation, detection, and removal of microplastics in different environmental media. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 2025;263:23. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44169-025-00090-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Ivleva NP. Chemical analysis of microplastics and nanoplastics: challenges, advanced methods, and perspectives. Chem Rev. 2021;121(19):11886‑11936. doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00178 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Kozloski R, Cowger W, Arienzo MM. Moving toward automated µFTIR spectra matching for microplastic identification: addressing false identifications and improving accuracy. Microplastics Nanoplastics. 2024;4:27. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-024-00106-5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Jalón‑Rojas I, Sous D, Marieu V. A wave‑resolving two‑dimensional vertical Lagrangian approach to model microplastic transport in nearshore waters based on TrackMPD 3.0. Geosci Model Dev. 2025;18:319‑336. doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-319-2025 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Huang Y, Yang Z, Wang T, Liu M, Li Y, Zhang C, et al. Quantifying the influence of size, shape, and density of microplastics on their transport modes: a modeling approach. Mar Pollut Bull. 2024;203:116461. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116461 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Bigdeli M, Mohammadian A, Pilechi A, Taheri M. Lagrangian modeling of marine microplastics fate and transport: the state of the science. J Mar Sci Eng. 2022;10(4):481. doi: https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ jmse1 0040481 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Cirino E, Curtis S, Wallis J, Thys T, Brown J, Rolsky C, et al. Assessing benefits and risks of incorporating plastic waste in construction materials. Front Built Environ. 2023;9:1206474. doi: [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1206474 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Gunat MB, Sanusi A, Ndububa EE, Obianyo II, Mambo AD. Transforming plastic waste into durable concrete: a pathway to sustainable infrastructure. Discover Mater. 2025;5:127. doi: [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-025-00272-0 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Werbowski LM, Fahrenfeld NL, Rickabaugh K, O’Shea A, DeCarolis JF, Higgins CP. Urban stormwater runoff: a major pathway for anthropogenic microparticles. ACS ES&T Water. 2021;1(4):909‑918. doi: https:// doi .org/10.1021/acsestwater.1c00017 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Reshadi MAM, Rezanezhad F, Shahvaran AR, Ghajari A, Kaykhosravi S, Slowinski S, et al. Assessment of environmental and socioeconomic drivers of urban stormwater microplastics using machine learning. Sci Rep. 2025;15:6299. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90612-0 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Ochoa L, Chan J, Auguste C, Arbuckle‑Keil G, Fahrenfeld NL. Stormwater runoff microplastics: polymer types, particle size, and factors controlling loading rates. Sci Total Environ. 2024;929:172485. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172485 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Stang C, Mohamed BA, Li LY. Microplastic removal from urban stormwater: current treatments and research gaps. J Environ Manage. 2022;317:115510. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115510 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Duraiswamy S, Neelamegam P, VishnuPriyan M, Alaneme GU. Impact of plastic waste fiber and treated construction demolition waste on the durability and sustainability of concrete. Sci Rep. 2024;14:27221. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78107-w [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Ojeda JP, Mercante IT. Sustainability of recycling plastic waste as fibers for concrete: a review. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag. 2023;25:2753‑2765. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01729-1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Nikpay M, Toorchi Roodsari S. Crafting a scientific framework to mitigate microplastic impact on ecosystems. Microplastics. 2024;3(1):165‑183. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics3010010 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Hoang HG, Nguyen NSH, Zhang T, Tran HT, Mukherjee S, Naidu R. A review of microplastic pollution and human health risk assessment: current knowledge and future outlook. Front Environ Sci. 2025;13:1606332. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1606332 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Borgatta M, Breider F. Inhalation of microplastics—A toxicological complexity. Toxics. 2024;12(5):358. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050358 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Gou Z, Wu H, Li S, Liu Z, Zhang Y. Airborne micro‑ and nanoplastics: emerging causes of respiratory diseases. Part Fibre Toxicol. 2024;21:50. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12989-024-00613-6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Andjelković T, Bogdanović D, Kostić I, Kocić G, Nikolić G, Pavlović R. Phthalates leaching from plastic food and pharmaceutical contact materials by FTIR and GC‑MS. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2021;28:60644‑60656. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12724-0 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Nagorka R, Goral T, Scholz U, Meinecke S. Release of high‑molecular‑weight plasticizers from PVC: mesocosm experiments under near‑natural conditions. Environ Sci Eur. 2025;37:75. doi: https:// doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01117-6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Henkel C, Hüffer T, Peng R, Gao X, Ghoshal S, Hofmann T. Photoaging enhances the leaching of di(2‑ethylhexyl) phthalate and transformation products from PVC microplastics into aquatic environments. Commun Chem. 2024;7:1310. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-024-01310-3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Agrela F, Rosales M, Alonso ML, Ordóñez J, Cuenca‑Moyano GM. Life‑cycle assessment and environmental costs of cement‑based materials manufactured with mixed recycled aggregate and biomass ash. Materials. 2024;17(17):4357. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174357 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Longendyke GK, Katel S, Wang Y. PFAS fate and destruction mechanisms during thermal treatment: a comprehensive review. Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2022;24(2):215‑232. doi: [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00465D [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. Winchell LJ, Wells MJM, Ross JJ, Kakar F, Teymouri A, Bessler SM, et al. Fate of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances through two full‑scale wastewater sludge incinerators. Water Environ Res. 2024;96(6):e11009. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/wer.11009 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. Alibeigibeni A, Stochino F, Zucca M, López Gayarre F. Enhancing concrete sustainability: a critical review of the performance of recycled concrete aggregates in structural concrete. Buildings. 2025;15(8):1361. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081361 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

44. Sánchez García A, Zhou H, Gomez‑Avila C, Hussain T, Roghani A, Reible D, et al. Microplastics in stormwater: sampling and methodology challenges. Toxics. 2025;13(6):502. doi: [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

45. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13060502 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

46. Loganathan N, Ashby L, Schumm CE, Wilson AK. Interfacial adsorption and dynamics of fluorotelomers with soil minerals: mechanistic insights. Environ Sci Nano. 2025;12:850‑862. doi: https:// doi.org/ 10. 1039/D4EN00465E [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

47. Brown TN, Armitage JM, Sangion A, Arnot JA. Improved prediction of PFAS partitioning with PPLFERs and QSPRs. Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2024;26:1986‑1998. doi: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EM00485J [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

48. Douglas GB, Vanderzalm JL, Kirby JK, Williams M, Bastow TP, Bauer M, et al. Sealants and other management strategies for PFAS‑contaminated concrete and asphalt. Curr Pollut Rep. 2023;9:603‑622. doi: https:// doi.org/10.1007/s40726-023-00276-5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

49. Almusaed A, Yitmen I, Myhren JA, Almssad A. Assessing the impact of recycled building materials on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency: a comprehensive framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings. 2024;14(6):1566. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061566 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste - Case Study in Cai Rang District, Can Tho City, Vietnam
• Youth Activism, Intentional Integration of Policies to Raise Awareness on Climate Change Action among the Youth
• Breathing Spaces: Environmental & User Experience in Dhanmondi and Zigatola Multistoried Apartments, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Effects of Solid Waste Disposal on Soil Quality in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria
• Environmental Impact of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Borgu Local Government Area