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Tire Dust Pollutes Our Food and Water
22 Feb
Summary
- Tire wear releases thousands of chemical compounds, many posing risks.
- Up to 80,000 metric tons of tire residue pollute France annually.
- A key additive, 6PPD, forms a toxin linked to fish die-offs.
As vehicle emissions decrease, attention is increasingly focused on non-exhaust pollution sources like tire wear. A French environmental group identified 1,954 molecules in tires, with 785 classified as hazardous. In France, approximately 80,000 metric tons of tire wear residue are released each year, dispersed through road dust and runoff.
The problem extends beyond microplastics, presenting a chemical exposure risk. Compounds from tire wear can enter waterways and food chains. This issue gained prominence in North America due to coho salmon die-offs linked to stormwater runoff, prompting the U.S. EPA to review the chemical 6PPD, an additive that forms a toxic quinone compound.
While tire wear is acknowledged by the industry, with estimates of rubber loss ranging from 2.5 kg for passenger tires to 200 kg for heavy trucks, regulatory transparency is slow. European regulations like Euro 7 are beginning to address particle emissions from braking and tire wear, signaling a shift in clean vehicle policy beyond tailpipe emissions.
