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Assessing the Biodegradability of Tire Tread Particles and Influencing Factors

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2023 15 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Nanna B. Hartmann, Ann Flemming Nielsen, Ann Flemming Nielsen, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Annemette Palmqvist, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Anders Baun Annemette Palmqvist, Annemette Palmqvist, Annemette Palmqvist, Annemette Palmqvist, Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Fabio Polesel, Nanna B. Hartmann, Ann Flemming Nielsen, Ann Flemming Nielsen, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Tiia Ahonen, Nanna B. Hartmann, Fabio Polesel, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Anders Baun Anders Baun Anders Baun Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Tiia Ahonen, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Annemette Palmqvist, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Annemette Palmqvist, Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Annemette Palmqvist, Annemette Palmqvist, Nanna B. Hartmann, Tiia Ahonen, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Fabio Polesel, Annemette Palmqvist, Annemette Palmqvist, Tiia Ahonen, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Annemette Palmqvist, Annemette Palmqvist, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Annemette Palmqvist, Annemette Palmqvist, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Nanna B. Hartmann, Annemette Palmqvist, Nanna B. Hartmann, Anders Baun Nanna B. Hartmann, Annemette Palmqvist, Anders Baun

Summary

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.

Polymers

rubber

Abrasion of tire tread, caused by friction between vehicle tires and road surfaces, causes release of tire wear particles (TWPs) into various environmental compartments. These TWPs contribute to chemical, microplastic, and particulate matter pollution. Their fate remains largely unknown, especially regarding the extent and form in which they persist in the environment. The present study investigated (1) the biodegradability of tread particles (TPs) in the form of ground tire tread, (2) how accelerated ultraviolet (UV) weathering affects their biodegradability, and (3) which TP constituents are likely contributors to TP biodegradability based on their individual biodegradability. A series of closed-bottle tests, with aerobic aqueous medium inoculated with activated sludge, were carried out for pristine TPs, UV-weathered TPs, and selected TP constituents; natural rubber (NR), isoprene rubber (IR), butadiene rubber (BR), and treated distillate aromatic extracts (TDAE). Biodegradation was monitored by manometric respirometry, quantifying biological oxygen consumption over 28 days. Pristine TP biodegradability was found to be 4.5%; UV-weathered TPs showed higher biodegradability of 6.7% and 8.0% with similar and increased inoculum concentrations, respectively. The observed TP biodegradation was mainly attributed to biodegradation of NR and TDAE, with individual biodegradability of 35.4% and 8.0%, respectively; IR and BR showed negligible biodegradability. These findings indicate that biodegradability of individual constituents is decreased by a factor of 2 to 5 when compounded into TPs. Through scanning electron microscopy analysis, biodegradation was found to cause surface erosion. Processes of TP biodegradation are expected to change throughout their lifetime as new constituents are incorporated from the road and others degrade and/or leach out. Tire emissions likely persist as particles with an increased fraction of synthetic rubbers and carbon black. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:31-41. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

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