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Toxicity assessment of tire particles released from personal mobilities (bicycles, cars, and electric scooters) on soil organisms
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Researchers assessed the toxicity of tire particles from bicycles, cars, and electric scooters on plants and springtails over 28 days. The laboratory-generated tire particles exhibited adverse effects that varied depending on the tire type and test species. The study highlights that tire wear particles from personal mobility devices are a significant source of microplastic contamination in soil environments with measurable ecological impacts.
Tire particles are generated by the abrasion of tire treads on roads and are major contributors to microplastics in soil environments. Contamination by tire wear particles worsens annually as the use of personal mobilities increases. Tire particles (112-541 µm) were obtained from three types of personal mobility tires (bicycle, car, and electric scooter) and exposed to plants (Vigna radiata) and springtails (Folsomia candida) for 28 d to assess the toxicity of each tire-particle type. The laboratory-generated tire particles exhibit adverse effects depending on the origin of the tire or test species. Particles from bicycle or electric-scooter tires changed the soil's bulk density and water holding capacity and adversely affected plant growth. Car tire particles had leached various organic compounds and induced detrimental effects on springtails (adult and offspring growth). We concluded that laboratory-generated tire particles (frow new tires) can affect the soil environment by changing soil properties and leaching chemicals; thus, causing adverse effects on soil organisms. Since this study found tire particle toxicity on soil organisms, it would be possible to compare the various contamination levels in areas near road soil and other clean soils.
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This review synthesizes knowledge about tire wear particles — a major but often overlooked source of microplastic-like pollutants — in soil ecosystems. Tire wear particles contain toxic metals and organic compounds that harm soil microbes, invertebrates, and plants, but most research to date has focused on aquatic systems rather than soils.
Tire wear particles: An emerging threat to soil health
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This review examines tire wear particles as an emerging source of soil contamination, finding that these microplastics contain a complex mixture of rubber, metals, and organic chemicals that can harm soil organisms. Researchers highlight that most current studies focus on individual species, which may underestimate the cascading effects on entire soil ecosystems. The study warns that tire wear particles could alter essential soil processes and ecosystem services, representing a significant but underappreciated threat to soil health.
Tire abrasion particles negatively affect plant growth even at low concentrations and alter soil biogeochemical cycling
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Tire wear particles at environmentally relevant concentrations reduced plant growth, lowered seed germination rates, and altered soil nitrogen and carbon cycling biogeochemical processes even at the lowest doses tested, suggesting that tire-derived microplastics pose a real risk to terrestrial plant productivity and ecosystem function.
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.
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