Global Road-Network Tire-Wear Particle Emissions - Code and Data Repository

Summary

Every time car and truck tires roll down the road, they shed tiny particles of rubber and chemicals that wash into soil, rivers, and wildlife habitats—and this study maps where that pollution is heaviest worldwide, finding rural and wild areas near major roads are surprisingly at risk, not just cities. While this research centers on ecosystems, it's a reminder that these same tire particles are a form of microplastic pollution that can travel through water and air, raising ongoing questions about human exposure too. Notably, switching to electric vehicles alone won't solve the problem, since EVs are heavier and can produce similar or greater