Tire Pollution: Water Contamination And Tire Toxins

Tire pollution is an emerging issue that threatens water quality. Tires are made of natural rubber and plastic, and as they wear down, they release tiny particles into the environment. These particles, known as microplastics, are a significant source of pollution in oceans and waterways. They contain toxic chemicals that can leach into the water, posing risks to aquatic life and potentially entering the human food chain. With millions of vehicles on the roads, the cumulative quantity of tire pollution is staggering, and it is essential to address this issue to protect our water resources and ecosystems.

Tire particles are a major source of water-polluting microplastics

Tests have shown that tires produce a significant amount of particle pollution. For example, a test conducted by Emissions Analytics found that tires release 300,000 tonnes of tyre rubber in the UK and US each year. Another test, conducted on a Mercedes C-Class, found that used tyres produced 36 milligrams of particles per kilometre, which is 1,850 times higher than the average exhaust emission of 0.02 mg/km.

The particles released from tires are not just an issue for air quality but also for water pollution. When it rains, stormwater runoff carries tire particles and their associated toxic chemicals from city streets and highways into storm drains and, ultimately, into waterways and the ocean. A study by the San Francisco Estuary Institute found that stormwater washes trillions of tire particles into the San Francisco Bay each year.

The chemicals in tire particles have been linked to negative impacts on wildlife. For example, a chemical added to tires to slow their wear has been associated with a collapse in Northwestern-coho-salmon populations. Another study found that microplastics from tires can alter gene expression in Japanese rice fish, hinder reproduction in oysters, and affect shore crabs.

The issue of tire particles as a source of water pollution is not widely known, and regulations are lacking. While some jurisdictions have started to address this issue, such as California's regulation of the chemical content of vehicle tires, more awareness and action are needed to mitigate the potential harm to the environment and human health.

Tire particles contain toxic chemicals

Tire particles are a major source of microplastics, which are polluting the oceans. These particles are released into the environment as tires wear down during driving. The particles are then carried into the air and water, contributing to air and water pollution. The United States is estimated to have the highest tire particle emissions globally, with two million tons of tire particles released into the environment each year. This is due to the country's car culture, with an estimated 7 to 12 pounds of tire particle emissions per person annually.

The toxic chemicals found in tire particles include a mix of microplastics, heavy metals, and PAHs. These chemicals are released into the environment through whole tires, tire dust, and chemical compounds. The production and use of tires generate these toxic substances, which are then transported through atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic routes, impacting both the environment and human health.

One of the most well-studied toxic chemicals in tire particles is 6PPD, which is added to tires to prevent cracking and degradation. When exposed to ground-level ozone, 6PPD transforms into multiple other chemicals, including 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q). This chemical has been found at lethal levels for coho salmon in the US, and California has implemented regulations to protect this species.

In addition to 6PPD, tire rubber contains more than 400 other chemicals and compounds, many of which are known carcinogens. The full extent of the toxic cocktail in tires is not yet fully understood, as tire manufacturers keep their chemical compositions highly confidential. However, researchers and academics are working to uncover the transformations produced by tires' various ingredients and their potential impacts on the environment and human health.

The issue of tire pollution is complex and requires a comprehensive examination to develop effective management and remediation strategies. While shifting to electric vehicles may reduce certain emissions, the global dependence on tires produced from natural rubber and petroleum-based compounds will continue to pose environmental challenges.

Tire particles are ingested by marine life

A study by John Weinstein, an environmental toxicologist, found that tire particles can be ingested by grass shrimp, getting stuck in their gills or digestive systems. Another study by the University of Washington traced a collapse in Northwestern-coho-salmon populations to 6PPD, a chemical added to tires. In response, California implemented regulations to protect salmon by requiring tire manufacturers to identify alternatives to the preservative that is toxic to this species.

Tire particles are a form of microplastics, which are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. Microplastics can alter gene expression in Japanese rice fish, hinder reproduction in oysters, and impact the behavior of shore crabs. They can also enter the lungs and spread to organs, causing respiratory problems, kidney damage, neurological damage, and birth defects.

The presence of tire particles in marine life may also impact humans, as these particles can work their way into the algae and grass consumed by fish and cows. With millions of vehicles on the roads, the amount of tire particle pollution is significant, and it is important to address this issue to protect both marine life and human health.

While the full extent of the impact of tire particles on marine life is not yet fully understood, it is clear that they pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of aquatic ecosystems and the humans that depend on them. More research and regulations are needed to mitigate the potential harm caused by tire particles in our waterways.

Tire particles are difficult to measure and regulate

Tire particles are a significant source of microplastic pollution, which can contaminate water bodies and harm aquatic ecosystems and human health. However, addressing this issue presents challenges due to the inherent difficulties in measuring and regulating tire particles.

Firstly, tire particles are challenging to measure because they are microscopic and often invisible to the naked eye. The particles released during tire wear range from visible pieces of rubber to nanoparticles, with the smallest particles measuring mere nanometers in size. These minuscule particles can float in the air for extended distances and settle on various surfaces, making it difficult to quantify and collect them for analysis.

Secondly, tire particles are not just released into the environment from vehicles on roads but also from tire manufacturing, recycling, and disposal processes. This diversity of sources further complicates measurement efforts as it becomes harder to pinpoint and isolate tire particles originating specifically from road wear.

Additionally, tire particles are often mixed with other types of car pollution, such as tailpipe emissions, making it tricky to separate and quantify their individual contributions to overall pollution levels. This complexity is further exacerbated by the wide range of chemicals and compounds present in tires, which can number up to 2,500, including natural and synthetic rubber, petroleum, nylon, and steel.

Regulating tire particles is a complex task due to the lack of standardized methods for measuring tire wear and the absence of consistent regulations on the chemicals used in tire production. While some jurisdictions may have regulations for removing suspended solids and nutrients from stormwater, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, the regulations often lag regarding microplastics and tire wear particles.

Furthermore, tires are essential components for vehicle functionality, and completely banning them is not a feasible solution, as evidenced by the unsuccessful attempt to ban microbeads in 2015. The tire industry is also resistant to change, with tire manufacturers redirecting inquiries to industry-backed research groups, indicating a lack of initiative to address the issue independently.

Tire burning can be a source of pollution

The fumes released from tire fires contain a range of pollutants, including particulates, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They also include hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, furans, hydrogen chloride, benzene, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The metals burned and released in tire fires include cadmium, nickel, zinc, mercury, chromium, and vanadium.

The average passenger car tire produces over two gallons of oil when burned, and this oil can exude into ground and surface water, significantly polluting the environment. In some cases, this may trigger a Superfund cleanup, a term used by the EPA to refer to hazardous waste sites that require long-term remedial action. For every million tires burned, about 55,000 gallons of runoff oil can pollute the environment unless it is contained and collected. This runoff oil can be carried by rainwater to local water sources, contaminating them.

The burning of tires is not considered recycling, and there is an ongoing debate about whether it is worse to landfill tires or reuse them to recover energy. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States recognizes that tire-derived fuels can be a viable alternative to fossil fuels, there are other factors to consider, such as the toxic emissions released during burning.

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