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Cryogenically milled tire tread induces functional and structural changes in natural periphyton communities
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Tiny particles that flake off tires as they wear down are washing into rivers and streams, and this study found they harm the algae and bacteria communities that form the base of the aquatic food chain—reducing certain species by up to 85% while letting others take over. Since these microorganisms support the fish and other wildlife further up the chain, disrupting them could ripple through waterways that many communities depend on for drinking water and recreation. While this study didn't test human health effects directly, it adds to growing evidence that tire particles—one of the most common sources of microplastic pollution—can meaningfully alter aquatic ecosystems.
Tire wear particles (TWP) are produced due to abrasion and, consequently, deposited on the roadside where they are transferred to the surrounding soil and surface waters. Despite the growing interest on TWP and related chemicals' effects on aquatic organisms, their potential interaction with periphytic biofilm communities is not well understood. As these complex assemblages of microorganisms form the base of aquatic food webs, it is critical to assess the potential impact of tire particles to these communities. We used cryogenically milled tire tread (CMTT), as a surrogate for TWP, to (1) expose periphyton to four CMTT concentrations (0, 50, 500, 1000 mg/L) for 14 days, and (2) compare periphyton responses to CMTT particles (1000 mg/L) and associated chemicals in separate 4 day exposures. In both scenarios, about 25-30% of CMTT were found associated with the periphyton assemblage, illustrating its function as a sink. Additionally, photosynthetic efficiency decreased slightly at the highest tested concentration, 1000 mg/L, and/or associated chemicals, while algal biomass (chlorophyll a) at 14 days decreased ∼30% for 500 and 1000 mg/L CMTT. After the 14 days exposure, changes to the community structure and composition were detected for all CMTT concentrations. In particular, the bacteria phylum Bacillota became nearly absent in the presence of CMTT; similarly, diatom abundance decreased by 45, 85 and 70% at 50, 500, and 1000 mg/L CMTT compared to control, respectively. Consequently, other groups, such as Cyanobacteriota and green algae, became more abundant at higher CMTT concentrations. For the 4 days exposure, CMTT-related chemicals alone caused effects comparable to CMTT particles. Overall, this work highlights the importance of investigating periphyton community responses to TWP, as we show they are susceptible to tire-derived toxicity, while also influencing the fate and effects of tire particles and chemicals in aquatic environments.
More Papers Like This
Aquatic ecosystem degradation attributed to tire wear particles in urban roadway runoff
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Tiny particles worn off car and truck tires wash into streams and rivers every time it rains, and this study found they disrupt aquatic ecosystems by killing off algae and the small creatures that eat them—the base of the food chain. While the research focused on stream health rather than direct human health effects, this matters because damaged waterways affect drinking water sources and the fish we eat, showing that tire pollution is a hidden environmental cost of driving that deserves more attention.
Tire wear particles drive size-dependent loss of freshwater bacterial biofilm diversity
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Researchers placed tire wear particles of different sizes and types in the River Rhine for four weeks and studied the bacterial communities that formed on them. They found that tire wear particles supported significantly less diverse bacterial communities compared to natural river sediment, with larger particles reducing diversity even further. The study reveals that the widespread release of tire wear particles into freshwater systems may be reshaping microbial ecosystems by favoring certain specialized bacteria over others.
Impact of Tire Wear Leachates on Phytoplankton Communities
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Tire wear particles leaching into seawater were shown to harm phytoplankton communities at environmentally relevant concentrations, affecting both growth and photosynthesis. Tires contribute an estimated half million tonnes of microplastics to marine environments each year, making tire wear a significant and growing source of ocean pollution. These findings raise concerns about the ecological impacts of road runoff on marine primary producers that form the base of ocean food webs.
Tire wear particles in different water environments: occurrence, behavior, and biological effects—a review and perspectives
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This review examines tire wear particles, a major but often overlooked source of microplastics in water environments. Tire particles release toxic chemicals as they break down in water and can harm aquatic organisms, but most research has focused only on the chemical leachate rather than the particles themselves. Since tire wear contributes a large share of total microplastic pollution, understanding its full impact on water ecosystems and the food chain is important for human health.
Leachable Additives of Tire Particles Explain the Shift in Microbial Community Composition and Function in Coastal Sediments
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Researchers found that tire particles deposited in coastal zones can significantly alter microbial communities in sediments, disrupting key nutrient cycling processes including carbon fixation and nitrogen cycling. The study showed that chemical additives leaching from tire particles, rather than the particles themselves, were responsible for over 90% of the changes in microbial community structure. These findings highlight how tire-derived microplastics can harm coastal ecosystems through the chemicals they release.
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