We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A study on the aquatic degradation of tire wear particles: Impact of environmental factors and material formulations
Summary
This study assessed how tire wear particles degrade in freshwater environments under varying environmental conditions including UV radiation and water chemistry. The degradation process alters particle properties in ways that may increase toxicity to aquatic organisms.
Tire wear particles (TWPs) represent a significant contributor to microplastic pollution, with a substantial portion of these particles finding their way into surface waters, posing unpredictable risks to sensitive aquatic ecosystems. However, neither the degradation behaviour of TWPs in the aquatic environment, nor the factors that influence their degradation, are yet fully understood. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by subjecting TWPs to a microcosm test setup specifically designed to simulate a surf zone environment. This setup allows for the controlled manipulation of environmental parameters, namely temperature, UV exposure and mechanical stress resulting from water and sediment movement. The TWPs used in this study were generated through a tire tread buffing process and partially pre-aged, utilising a xenon test chamber, prior to their exposure in the microcosm test. This research investigates the influence of various parameters on TWP degradation behaviour, focusing on three key factors: (i) the material composition of TWPs, including factors such as rubber type and the presence of anti-ageing agents; (ii) the mentioned abiotic environmental conditions in aquatic ecosystems, namely temperature, UV light exposure, and mechanical stress; and (iii) the weathering state of the TWP material. Evaluation of degradation processes utilised a combination of imaging techniques, including SEM/EDX and particle size distribution analysis, along with thermo-analytical methods such as Pyrolysis-GC/MS. Initial findings of this study indicate that the conducted ageing experiment induced changes in the surface properties of TWPs, resulting in increased roughness and the formation of cracks, in addition to alterations in elemental composition. Furthermore, fragmentation of TWPs was observed during the microcosm experiment, particularly under the combined influence of all three investigated environmental parameters. These insights aid in comprehending the fate of TWPs in aquatic environments and facilitate the development of effective mitigation strategies, retention measures, and simulation models concerning TWP distribution. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559221/document
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
A study on the aquatic degradation of tire wear particles: Impact of environmental factors and material formulations
This study investigated how tire wear particles degrade in aquatic environments, examining the effects of environmental factors such as UV exposure and water chemistry on particle breakdown. The results showed that aquatic degradation alters tire wear particles in ways that may increase their ecotoxicological risk.
Assessing the Biodegradability of Tire Tread Particles and Influencing Factors
Researchers tested the biodegradability of tire tread particles under natural and UV-weathered conditions, finding that biodegradation was limited and that UV weathering affected the process. Tire wear particles persist in the environment and contribute to microplastic, chemical, and particulate matter pollution.
Tire wear particles in different water environments: occurrence, behavior, and biological effects—a review and perspectives
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.
Determination of aerobic and anaerobic biological degradability of waste tyres
Researchers examined the aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability of waste tire rubber in aquatic environments, finding very limited biological degradation under both conditions, confirming that tire-derived particles persist as long-term environmental contaminants.
Environmental aging and biodegradation of tire wear microplastics in the aquatic environment
Researchers investigated the environmental aging and biodegradation of tire wear microplastics in freshwater over 12 weeks, finding that biofilm formation and chemical changes occurred but complete biodegradation was limited under the studied conditions.