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Impact of Tire Wear Leachates on Phytoplankton Communities
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Tire wear particles leaching into seawater were shown to harm phytoplankton communities at environmentally relevant concentrations, affecting both growth and photosynthesis. Tires contribute an estimated half million tonnes of microplastics to marine environments each year, making tire wear a significant and growing source of ocean pollution. These findings raise concerns about the ecological impacts of road runoff on marine primary producers that form the base of ocean food webs.
Half a million tonnes of microplastics derived from car tires is estimated to reach marine environments every year. Microparticles generated by abrasion of tires, tire wear particles (TWP), are major contributors to microplastic pollution in the marine ecosystems. The composition of TWP consists of a mixture of the main polymer (rubber) and a variety of chemical additives both organic and inorganic. Some of these additives can easily leach from the main polymer into marine environments. Currently, there are few studies about the effects of tire particle leachates on marine phytoplankton; while toxic effects have been observed in monocultures, the consequences of TWP pollution on marine planktonic communities remain unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate the acute effects of car tire leachates on the coastal phytoplankton communities of Gran Canaria. For this purpose, leachates of micronized car tires ( Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427358/document
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Impact of tire particle leachates on microplankton communities in the Canary Islands
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Researchers tested the effects of chemical leachates from tire wear particles on marine microplankton communities from the Canary Islands. They found that the leachates significantly reduced populations of diatoms, dinoflagellates, and ciliates, while one harmful algal bloom species showed relatively high tolerance. The findings suggest that tire-derived microplastic pollution in coastal waters may shift plankton community composition in ways that could promote harmful algal blooms.
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.
Tire abrasion particles negatively affect plant growth even at low concentrations and alter soil biogeochemical cycling
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Researchers found that tire abrasion particles—a major source of microplastic pollution on land—negatively affected plant growth and disrupted soil nutrient cycling even at low concentrations. This is concerning because tire particles are shed in enormous quantities on roads and accumulate in roadside soils where plants grow.
Toxicity of tyre wear particle leachates to marine phytoplankton
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Researchers tested the acute toxicity of leachates from tyre wear particles on three marine phytoplankton species. The study found that chemical additives leaching from tyre wear particles were toxic to all three species at varying concentrations, with the cryptophyte Rhodomonas salina being the most sensitive, indicating that tyre-derived microplastics pose a risk to the base of marine food webs.
Life stage-specific effects of tire particle leachates on the cosmopolitan planktonic copepod Acartia tonsa
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Researchers found that chemicals leaching from tire wear particles are toxic to copepods, tiny crustaceans that are a critical food source for marine life. Young copepods were especially vulnerable, with the chemicals blocking their development at concentrations that could occur in the real world near roads and runoff areas. Since copepods form the base of ocean food chains, this toxicity could ripple upward through the ecosystem and ultimately affect the quality and safety of seafood people eat.
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