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Effect of UV exposure and natural aging on the in vitro PAHs bioaccessibility associated with tire wear particles in soil
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Researchers examined how UV exposure and natural aging change the ability of tire wear particles to release polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil. They found that UV aging increased the surface reactivity of the particles and altered how readily these toxic compounds could be absorbed by living organisms. The study suggests that weathered tire particles in roadside soils may pose greater health risks than fresh ones.
Tire wear particles (TWP), as an emerging type of microplastics, are a significant source of contaminants in roadside soils due to their high concentration of pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study explored the impact of ultraviolet (UV) exposure and natural aging on the in vitro bioaccessibility of PAHs associated with TWP in soil on a China-wide scale. Our findings suggested that UV exposure amplified the negative charge of TWP by 75 % and increased the hydrophobic groups on the particle surface. The bioaccessibility of 3- and 4-ring PAHs in TWP was significantly (p < 0.05) heightened by UV exposure. After 20 types of soils containing 2 % UV-exposed TWP underwent natural aging, the bioaccessibility of PAHs saw a significant decrease (p < 0.05) to 16-48 %, compared to 28-96 % in the unaged group. Soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were the two primary soil properties positively influencing the reduction of in vitro PAHs concentration and PAHs bioaccessibility. According to the prediction results, soils in southern China presented the highest potential region for the release of bioaccessible PAHs from TWP, highlighting the regional specificity of environmental impact. Our study provides valuable insights into the biological impact of PAHs associated with TWP on a regional scale, and offers scientific evidence for targeted soil risk management strategies.
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A critical review of tire wear particles aging and ecotoxicological consequences in terrestrial environments: Insights into environmentally persistent free radicals
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This review synthesizes evidence on how tire wear particles age in terrestrial environments and the resulting ecological consequences. Researchers found that UV-induced aging generates environmentally persistent free radicals and reactive oxygen species that amplify soil toxicity, while biodegradation may reduce some risks. The study highlights that characterizing aged tire wear particles remains difficult due to their compositional complexity and calls for standardized analytical methods.
In Vitro Assessment Reveals the Effects of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals on the Toxicity of Photoaged Tire Wear Particles
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Researchers examined how tire wear particles change when exposed to sunlight and found that the aging process generates environmentally persistent free radicals on their surfaces. These radicals significantly increased the toxicity of the particles in laboratory cell tests, causing oxidative stress and DNA damage. The study suggests that weathered tire particles may be more harmful than freshly released ones, adding a new dimension to microplastic pollution concerns.
Deciphering the aging-driven transformation of tire wear particles: Reshaping adsorption, leaching dynamics, and biointerfacial impacts
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Researchers reviewed how environmental aging — via photooxidation, mechanical abrasion, and biodegradation — transforms tire wear particles by increasing surface area and polarity, promoting additive leaching and the formation of reactive free radicals, collectively amplifying ecological toxicity beyond what fresh particles alone would cause.
Ageing conditions of tire wear particles alter the effects of their leachates on soil
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Researchers investigated how mechanical, thermal, and UV ageing of tire wear particles (TWP) alters the effects of their leachates on nine soil parameters, finding that aged TWP leachates caused considerably greater soil disruption than non-aged particles, with each ageing type producing distinct patterns of change in microbial activity and physicochemical properties.
Assessing the Biodegradability of Tire Tread Particles and Influencing Factors
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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.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.