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Study on the ecotoxicological effects of airplane tire wear particles versus automobile tire wear particles on earthworms
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Researchers compared the toxicity of airplane and automobile tire wear particles in earthworms, finding that airplane-derived particles caused more severe antioxidant enzyme suppression, intestinal tissue damage, and gut microbial diversity loss — with LC-MS toxicity profiling identifying 6PPD, RD, and DCH as the highest-risk compounds driving these effects.
Adverse effects of tire wear particles (TWPs) as emerging pollutants on soil ecosystems have garnered widespread attention. Current research primarily focuses on automotive TWPs and the toxic effects of airplane TWPs on soil organisms remain unclear. Using earthworms as model organisms, we aimed to compare the toxicities of both TWP types. The results indicated that at the same exposure concentration (3% w/w), neither type significantly inhibited earthworm body weight. However, pronounced differences emerged at the sublethal levels. The aeroplane TWP exposure groups exhibited stronger inhibitory effects on the key antioxidant enzyme indicators. Histopathologically, airplane TWP (particularly in the Three Rings aircraft tire [AT] group) induced severe intestinal damage, including villus disruption, epithelial cell detachment, and sparse longitudinal muscle arrangement. Concurrently, aircraft TWP exhibited stronger suppression of soil and earthworm gut microbial diversity, specifically enriching bacterial genera associated with pollutant degradation and heavy metal tolerance traits. To further trace the origins of toxicity, we combined liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with the Toxicological Priority Index (ToxPi) model to assess the risks of the 25 target compounds across six TWP types. N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), 1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline (RD), and dicyclohexylamine (DCH) were determined to be the most concerning high-risk compounds, corroborating the strong toxicity observed in TWPs. This study further clarifies the high toxicity of airplane TWPs to soil organisms, providing crucial scientific evidence to refine environmental risk assessment systems for airplane tire-wear particles and to develop targeted control measures.
More Papers Like This
Ecotoxicological effects of micronized car tire wear particles and their heavy metals on the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) in soil
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Researchers exposed earthworms to microplastics from ground-up car tires at various concentrations and sizes over 14 and 28 days. They found that the worms preferentially consumed smaller particles, which led to increased heavy metal accumulation and significant signs of oxidative stress at higher concentrations. The study highlights that tire-derived microplastics in soil can harm terrestrial organisms through both physical ingestion and the release of associated toxic metals.
Effects of tire particles on earthworm (Eisenia andrei) fitness and bioaccumulation of tire-related chemicals.
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Laboratory experiments showed that tire and road wear particles (TRWPs) impaired earthworm (Eisenia andrei) fitness—reducing reproduction and growth—and led to bioaccumulation of tire-related chemicals in worm tissues. The study provided evidence that TRWPs pose risks to soil invertebrates and the ecosystem functions they support.
Tire wear particles: An emerging threat to soil health
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This review synthesizes knowledge about tire wear particles — a major but often overlooked source of microplastic-like pollutants — in soil ecosystems. Tire wear particles contain toxic metals and organic compounds that harm soil microbes, invertebrates, and plants, but most research to date has focused on aquatic systems rather than soils.
Toxicity of tire wear particles and the leachates to microorganisms in marine sediments
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Researchers investigated the toxicity of tire wear particles and their chemical leachates on bacteria in marine sediments. The study found that aged tire wear particles were more toxic than pristine ones, and that leachates were even more harmful than the particles themselves, with zinc identified as the primary toxicity-causing substance.
Exploring the impacts of microplastics and associated chemicals in the terrestrial environment – Exposure of soil invertebrates to tire particles
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Researchers exposed three species of soil invertebrates to ground-up tire particles and found that at concentrations similar to those found near roadsides, the particles reduced reproduction and survival in springtails and suppressed enzyme activity in woodlice. The tire particles contained high levels of zinc and various organic pollutants. The study suggests that tire wear microplastics, one of the largest sources of environmental microplastic, can have measurable harmful effects on soil-dwelling organisms.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.