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Uptake of tire-derived compounds in leafy vegetables and implications for human dietary exposure
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Scientists measured tire-derived chemicals in commercial leafy vegetables from four countries and found six different tire compounds present, including some linked to toxicity in aquatic life. Tire particles are one of the most common types of microplastic in the environment, and their chemical additives can be taken up by food crops through contaminated soil and water. While the estimated daily intake from vegetables alone was relatively low, this study confirms that tire-related microplastic pollution is entering the human food supply.
Introduction Tire and road wear particles are one of the most abundant types of microplastic entering the environment. The toxicity of tire and road wear particles has been linked to their organic additives and associated transformation products. Tire and road wear particles, and associated tire-derived compounds are introduced to the agricultural environment via atmospheric deposition, irrigation with reclaimed wastewater, and the use of biosolids (treated sewage sludge) as fertilizer. In the agricultural environment, these tire-derived compounds could be taken up by edible plants, leading to human exposure. Methods Sixteen tire-derived compounds were measured in twenty-eight commercial leafy vegetable samples from four countries. Based on the results, the estimated daily intake of these tire-derived compounds was calculated due to leafy vegetable consumption based on local diets under a mean and maximum concentration scenario. Results In commercial leafy vegetables, six tire-derived compounds were detected: benzothiazole (maximum concentration—238 ng/g dry weight), 2-hydroxybenzothiazole (maximum concentration—665 ng/g dry weight), 1,3-diphenylguanidine (maximum concentration—2.1 ng/g dry weight), N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD, maximum concentration—0.4 ng/g dry weight), N-Isopropyl-N-phenyl-4-phenylenediamine (IPPD, maximum concentration—0.1 ng/g dry weight), and N-phenyl-N-cyclohexyl-p-phenylenediamine (CPPD, maximum concentration—0.3 ng/g dry weight). At least one compound was present in 71% of samples analyzed. The estimated daily intake for 1,3-diphenylguanidine ranged from 0.05 ng/person/day in the mean scenario to 4.0 ng/person/day in the maximum scenario; benzothiazole ranged from 12 to 1,296 ng/person/day; 6PPD ranged from 0.06 to 2.6 ng/person/day; IPPD ranged from 0.04 to 1.1 ng/person/day; CPPD ranged from 0.05 to 2.6 ng/person/day. Discussion Statistical analyses did not reveal correlation between known growth conditions and tire-derived compound concentrations in the leafy vegetable samples. The estimated daily intake via leafy vegetable consumption was generally lower than or comparable to the estimated daily intake via other known sources. However, we show that tire-derived compounds are taken up by foodstuff, and exposure might be higher for other produce. Future studies are needed to uncover pathways of tire-derived compounds from road to food, assess the exposure to transformation products, and investigate the biological effects associated with this exposure.
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Uptake of Tire-Derived Compounds in Leafy Vegetables and Implications for Human Dietary Exposure
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Researchers measured tire-derived chemical compounds in commercial leafy vegetables from four countries and detected at least one compound in 71 percent of samples tested. Benzothiazole and its breakdown product were found at the highest concentrations, while compounds like 6PPD were present at lower levels. The findings indicate that people may be exposed to tire-related chemicals through everyday vegetable consumption, though the estimated daily intake levels were generally low.
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Researchers grew lettuce under realistic agricultural conditions and measured uptake of tire-derived compounds including 6PPD-quinone and benzothiazole, finding detectable concentrations in plant tissues and raising food safety concerns about tire wear particle contamination in agricultural soils.
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Researchers developed a method to detect plastic-related chemical compounds that leach into vegetables, finding that root vegetables contained higher levels of these contaminants than non-root varieties. The study identified 16 quantifiable plastic-associated compounds in the samples, including potentially harmful substances like styrene and phthalates. The findings raise concerns about how microplastics in soil may introduce chemical pollutants into the food chain through crop uptake.
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This study exposed lettuce plants to tire wear particle-derived chemicals — including 6PPD and its toxic transformation product 6PPD-q — in hydroponic solution and found that plants took up and partly metabolized these compounds. The results raise food safety concerns about tire-derived chemical contamination of vegetables grown with runoff-influenced irrigation water.
Environmental occurrence, fate, impact, and potential solution of tire microplastics: Similarities and differences with tire wear particles
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This review examines tire microplastics, one of the most abundant types of microplastics in the environment, which come from tire wear on roads, recycled tire rubber, and tire repair dust. These particles carry a complex mix of chemicals including heavy metals and organic pollutants that can harm aquatic and soil organisms. Since tire microplastics end up in waterways and soil near roads, they represent a significant but often overlooked source of human microplastic exposure.
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