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An overview of the key topics related to the study of tire particles and their chemical leachates: From problems to solutions
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Researchers reviewed the current state of knowledge on tyre wear particles — rubber fragments shed by vehicles that are a major source of microplastic pollution — identifying key gaps in emissions estimates, detection standards, and understanding of the toxic chemicals that leach from tyre rubber into the environment. The review calls for closer collaboration between scientists, regulators, and the tire industry to develop solutions that reduce the environmental and health impacts of tyre pollution.
The environmental contamination and biological impacts of tire particles and their associated chemicals is of great concern. Variously termed as tire wear particles (TWP), tire and road wear particles (TRWP), and end-of-life tires (ELTs) to differentiate between possible compositions and sources in the environment, these rubber particles are a major source of plastic pollution. The array of added chemicals that leach into the environment presents an additional environmental, toxicological and regulatory challenge. In this review, we define several topic areas that are relevant to the study of tire particles, outlining the current state and ongoing challenges. Emissions estimates needed to establish environmental loads are based on dated, summarised dataset rather than measured data, but determining the environmental presence of tire particles is hampered by a lack of standardised sampling methods. Several techniques for the analysis of tire rubber and associated chemicals are available, but the variability in tires model composition makes the selection of analytical markers challenging, as does a lack of commercial standards. Toxicologically, there remains a need to delineate particle and leachate effects and, in addition, to investigate emerging chemicals of concern and their transformation products. Such knowledge is required to feed into regulatory processes which currently regulate tire constituents separately rather than as the whole tire. Technological solutions to capture or replace tire rubber are progressing, often outside of academia, and it is important that the scientific community collaborate with those attempting to reduce the environmental impact of tires, including the tire industry.
More Papers Like This
Chemical tracers for assessing the contribution of tire wear particles in atmospheric aerosol: analytical approaches, challenges and future perspectives
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Every time your car's tires grip the road, they shed tiny plastic particles that become part of the air pollution you breathe, and this can account for more air pollution than what comes out of your tailpipe. This review paper looks at the scientific methods used to detect these tire particles in air pollution and finds that there's currently no reliable single test for them, meaning scientists still need better tools to figure out exactly how much of the air we breathe contains this tire-derived microplastic pollution and its associated chemicals. This matters because until we can accurately measure it, it's hard to fully assess the health risks these particles and their leaching chemicals may pose.
Microplastics and tire wear particles in aquatic environment: A comparative review on generation, characteristics and environmental behavior
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Tiny bits of rubber worn off from car tires are actually one of the biggest sources of microplastic pollution in our water, yet they've gotten far less scientific attention than plastic microplastics from bottles and packaging. This review paper — which summarizes existing research rather than presenting new experiments — shows that tire particles behave differently, potentially leaching different chemicals and carrying pollutants in unique ways, meaning the safety testing methods designed for regular microplastics may not fully capture the risks tire particles pose to waterways and, ultimately, human health.
Tyre Wear Particles in the Environment: Sources, Toxicity, and Remediation Approaches
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This review examines tire wear particles, which account for a major share of global microplastic pollution with 1.3 million metric tons released annually in Europe alone. These rubber-based particles contain heavy metals and toxic organic chemicals that contaminate air, water, and soil, and human exposure occurs through inhaling dust, eating contaminated food, and drinking water, raising concerns about respiratory, cardiovascular, and cancer risks.
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.
The need for environmental regulation of tires: Challenges and recommendations
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Researchers analyzed global regulations affecting tires across their entire lifespan and found a significant gap: while many rules address tire chemicals, safety, and recycling, none specifically regulate tire wear particles (TWPs) — the microplastic-like fragments shed onto roads. The authors argue that TWPs represent a poorly controlled source of environmental contamination and call for new risk-based regulations targeting their emission and toxicity.
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