Production of microplastics during pipe cutting and fitting on building sites

In the last few decades the construction industry has turned to plastic piping for plumbing and electrical applications in domestic situations as well as commercial drainage and irrigation in larger infrastructure projects. Plastic usage is due to its physical properties such as and low maintenance needs, however over the last decade there has been an increasing worry over the environmental implications of using plastics. In particular the release of microplastics are a growing concern for environmental, ecological and human health. PVC is one of the most commonly used piping plastic and PVC microplastics have been linked to the leaching of phthalates to the environment causing additional harm. With this in mind the University of Portsmouth is recruiting for an MRes student to look into the number of microplastics released from the cutting and shaving of plastic piping on a construction site and to determine the fate of those microplastics.