We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Multigenerational endpoints reveal detrimental effects of tire leachate in the marine mysid Neomysis awatschensis
AI summary Read the abstract
Chemicals that leach out of tires (including zinc and other toxic compounds) as they wear down on roads are washing into oceans and harming small shrimp-like creatures called mysids that are an important food source for fish. Scientists found that these tire chemicals caused problems that got worse across multiple generations—including higher death rates, slower growth, and reduced ability to reproduce. While this study focused on marine life rather than humans directly, it's a reminder that everyday products like tires can introduce lasting pollution into ocean food chains, which is worth watching given how connected marine ecosystems are to the seafood many people eat.
Tires generate tire wear particles (TWPs) through abrasion and release complex organic and inorganic compounds via leachates. In this study, we conducted a multigenerational assessment of the marine mysid Neomysis awatschensis exposed to sublethal concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.1 g L) of tire leachate across three generations to evaluate its long-term impact on chronic endpoints. The analyzed leachate contained high concentrations of zinc and several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Four-week survival rates revealed a dose-dependent increase in mortality in all generations (F0, F1, F2). Exposure to sublethal leachate concentrations significantly reduced feeding behavior, digestive enzyme activities, and acetylcholinesterase activity from the F0 generation onward, indicating enhanced transgenerational toxicity of the tire leachate. Furthermore, oxidative stress parameters (e.g., ROS and MDA) and antioxidant enzyme activities, including GST, GPx, GR, CAT, and SOD, increased across generations, accompanied by growth retardation, delayed molting, and reduced reproductive output. These findings highlight the potential risks of tire leachate exposure to mysid populations over multiple generations.
More Papers Like This
Toxicity and intergenerational accumulation effect of tire wear particles and their leachate on Brachionus plicatilis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied tire wear particles, a major source of microplastics in oceans, and found they harm tiny marine animals called rotifers across multiple generations. The toxic effects actually got worse over generations, with repeated exposure being more harmful than single-generation exposure. The zinc and chemical additives in tire particles were the main drivers of toxicity, raising concerns about the growing impact of tire-derived microplastics on marine food chains.
New insights into car tire rubber particle toxicity: chemical composition and ecotoxicity assessment of leachate on gamete quality of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how tire rubber particles, a major source of microplastic pollution, affect the reproductive health of Mediterranean mussels. Chemical analysis of tire particle leachate revealed high levels of zinc and various organic compounds, and exposure caused significant damage to mussel egg and sperm quality. The findings suggest that the chemicals leaching from tire wear debris in coastal waters may threaten the reproductive success of marine organisms.
Lethal effect of leachates from tyre wear particles on marine copepods
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested the toxicity of chemical leachates from tire wear particles on five species of marine copepods, tiny crustaceans that are essential to ocean food webs. They found that all species experienced lethal effects, with some being far more sensitive than others, and identified zinc as a key toxic component. The study suggests that the chemicals leaching from tire wear particles in marine environments pose a serious threat to small but ecologically critical organisms.
Effects of long-term exposure to tire wear particle leachate on life-cycle chronic toxicity and potential toxic mechanisms in the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the long-term effects of tire wear particle chemicals on marine copepods across multiple generations and found severe impacts on survival, reproduction, and sex ratios. At the highest exposure level, no animals survived to the second generation, and females nearly disappeared from the population. The findings highlight that tire wear particles, a major source of microplastic pollution in coastal waters, can cause devastating multigenerational harm to marine organisms even through chemical leaching alone.
Life stage-specific effects of tire particle leachates on the cosmopolitan planktonic copepod Acartia tonsa
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that chemicals leaching from tire wear particles are toxic to copepods, tiny crustaceans that are a critical food source for marine life. Young copepods were especially vulnerable, with the chemicals blocking their development at concentrations that could occur in the real world near roads and runoff areas. Since copepods form the base of ocean food chains, this toxicity could ripple upward through the ecosystem and ultimately affect the quality and safety of seafood people eat.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.