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Editorial: Environmental impacts and risks of car tire and styrene-butadiene rubber: microplastic pollution and contaminant transport
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This editorial introduces a research collection on the environmental impacts of tire wear particles (TWPs) and styrene-butadiene rubber, noting that approximately 2 billion new tires are produced annually while over 1 billion reach end-of-life, with TWPs and tire-road wear particles (TRWPs) representing a major fraction of global microplastic pollution that cannot be solved by vehicle electrification alone.
Every year, almost 2 billion new vehicle tires are produced world-wide. At the same time >1 billion tires reach their end of life. During use, tire wear particles (TWPs) form through abrasion of the rubber material, and in contact with the road surface composites of both materials form tire and road wear particles (TRWPs). These emissions represent a large fraction of total microplastic pollution, and thus a pressing environmental challenge that cannot be counteracted by “green” urbanization through the electrification of car, truck, and airplane fleets. In fact, heavier electric cars may emit even more TWPs and increase the frequency of tire replacements. In addition to TWPs and TRWPs, crumb rubber (CR) produced from end-of-life tires has been a popular low-cost product as infill on artificial grass for outdoor sports pitches, where it has become a substitute for natural grass, sand, or gravel, but is prone to runoff into the surrounding environment.
More Papers Like This
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.
A review of rubber tyre derived micro- and nanoplastics: fate, impact and risks
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This systematic review examines microplastics generated from rubber tire wear, which are a major but often overlooked source of microplastic pollution. Tire particles spread through air, stormwater, and wastewater to contaminate both land and water. This is an important human health concern because tire-derived microplastics contain toxic chemicals and are found in the air people breathe and the water they drink.
Tire Wear Particles and Their Role in Microplastic Pollution
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This review synthesized research on tire wear particles (TWPs) as a major but often overlooked source of microplastic pollution, contributing roughly six million tonnes annually. TWPs spread into soil, rivers, and oceans, where they carry toxic chemicals including heavy metals and PAHs, posing risks to wildlife and potentially entering the human food chain.
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.
Where the rubber meets the road: Emerging environmental impacts of tire wear particles and their chemical cocktails
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About 3 billion new tires are produced every year, and the particles they shed during use are one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution, especially in urban areas. Tire wear particles contain a cocktail of heavy metals, plastics, and toxic organic compounds that wash into waterways during rain. Even recycled tire products like crumb rubber fields and rubber-modified pavement continue to release pollutants, making tire pollution a complex lifecycle problem.
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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.