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Tire/Tyre Wear Particles in the Terrestrial Environment: A Critical Scoping Review
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Every time tires roll on pavement, they shed tiny particles that end up in soil, dust, and waterways—and this review pulls together five years of research on where these particles go and what harm they might cause. While scientists are still working out the full health picture, tire particles are known to carry chemicals linked to toxicity in animals and plants, raising concern about long-term human exposure through air, soil, and food chains. The takeaway: this is a fast-growing pollution source that needs better tracking and stronger policies, since we're still in the early stages of understanding how it could affect our health.
Background/Objectives: Tire (or tyre) wear particles (TWPs), originating from road traffic, have been recognized as a significant emerging contaminant for terrestrial ecosystems. The aim of this study is to attempt a critical review of the existing articles, to identify trends and directions in research, highlight any knowledge gaps, limitations and drawbacks, and develop respective proposals and recommendations. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Web of Science databases for the period 2020–2025 according to PRISMA-based protocols. Results: The final studies were methodically grouped into specific representative themes. Conclusions: This study focuses on the factors affecting the emissions of TWPs, their size distribution, processes that affect their environmental fate and methodological approaches for characterization/determination of TWPs. This article also explores the occurrence and toxicity of TWPs in the terrestrial environment, as well as the management approaches and policies in order to minimize their impact.
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This review of 30 studies shows that worn tires release tiny particles, chemicals, and microplastics into air, water, and soil, some of which are known health hazards. As these particles are already turning up in the environment, understanding how they spread matters for reducing our exposure. The researchers also point to recycling methods that could help cut this pollution.
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This review summarizes existing research on tiny particles worn off tires, which range from coarse dust to invisible nanoparticles. It describes how these particles spread through air, soil and water, affect soil chemistry and harm aquatic life, and cause lung inflammation and cell damage in laboratory studies, though direct evidence of harm to human health remains limited.
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Every time tires wear down on the road, they release tiny plastic and chemical particles into the air, water, and soil, and this review pulls together existing research showing these particles carry a toxic mix of chemicals linked to inflammation, blood vessel damage, and stress on the body's systems. People living near busy roads may face the highest exposure, raising concerns about long-term risks for heart and metabolic disease, though scientists say more direct research is needed to confirm exactly how much harm this causes in humans.
Vehicle tyres - A key source of microplastics to the environment: Fate, effects, and mitigation strategies
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Every time car tires roll on the road, they shed tiny plastic and rubber particles that wash into our air, soil, and waterways, making tires one of the biggest sources of microplastic pollution around. This review pulls together existing research on where these particles end up, how they may affect wildlife and human health, and what steps (like better tire designs or road filters) could help cut down on this overlooked pollution source.
Waste Tire Composition and Environmental Impacts: a Systematic Review of Chemical Constituents, Release Pathways, and Pollution Risks
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This review pulls together 30 studies on old tires, showing how they break down into tiny particles, chemicals, and microplastics that can pollute air, water, and soil. As tires wear down on roads, these particles can end up in our environment and potentially our bodies, which is why researchers are pushing for better recycling methods to reduce this hidden pollution source.
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