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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.
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), DPG (maximum concentration – 2.1 ng/g dry weight), 6PPD (maximum concentration – 0.4 ng/g dry weight), IPPD (maximum concentration – 0.1 ng/g dry weight), and 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 DPG 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 1296 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.
More Papers Like This
Uptake of tire-derived compounds in leafy vegetables and implications for human dietary exposure
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Uptake of tire-derived compounds in lettuce under realistic growing conditions
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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.
Uptake, Metabolism, and Accumulation of Tire Wear Particle-Derived Compounds in Lettuce.
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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.
Root and foliar uptake, bidirectional translocation, subcellular distribution, and metabolism of tire wear particle-derived p-phenylenediamines and their quinones in Chinese cabbage and bok choy.
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Researchers investigated how tire wear particle-derived chemicals (p-phenylenediamines and their quinones) are absorbed, translocated, and metabolized in leafy vegetables through both root and foliar uptake. These compounds accumulated in edible plant tissues and were subject to biotransformation, raising concerns about dietary exposure through fresh produce grown near roads.
Tire Wear Particles as a Source of Organic Contaminants in the Agroenvironment: Release of Tire Wear-Derived Compounds and their Plant Uptake
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Tiny bits of worn-off tire rubber in soil release chemicals that food crops like lettuce and alfalfa can absorb through their roots and store in their leaves. One chemical in particular, called DPG, built up at especially high levels in lettuce, and since tire particles keep breaking down slowly over time, they may act as a long-term, ongoing source of this chemical entering our food. While researchers are still studying what these tire chemicals do to human health, this study shows a clear pathway from road dust to the food on our plates.
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