We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Comparative Toxicity of Micro, Nano, and Leachate Fractions of Three Rubber Materials to Freshwater Species: Zebrafish and .
Summary
Researchers compared the toxicity of micro, nano, and leachate fractions of three rubber materials—including tire rubber—to freshwater organisms. Nano-fractions and leachates generally showed higher toxicity than larger rubber particles, with leached chemicals driving much of the observed biological harm.
Rubber materials enter aquatic environments by stormwater runoff via sources such as playground mulch, athletic fields, and roadway surfaces. Tire rubbers are considered plastics as they are comprised of a substantial portion of synthetic polymers. Rubber particles are complex and variable depending on the type, source, and age of rubber. In this study, zebrafish embryos and daphnids were exposed to nano-scale or micro-scale particles, or leachate from recycled rubber (RR), crumb rubber (CR), and cryo-milled tire tread (CMTT). Zebrafish embryos were evaluated for lethal and sub-lethal effects over a 120-h exposure, while daphnids were tested over a 48-h period. Nano-scale RR, CR, and CMTT particles elicited a hatch delay in zebrafish embryos with similar EC values (1.3 × 10 - 1.4 × 10 particles/mL). Micro-scale particles did not elicit any significant effects in developing zebrafish. Nano-scale particles of all rubber materials significantly increased hatch delay compared to leachate, suggesting an adverse nanoparticle effect unexplained by chemical leaching alone, indicating tire particle-specific effects. RR micro- and nanoparticle exposures resulted in mortality, with LC values of 9.8 × 10 microparticles/mL and 5.0 × 10 nanoparticles/mL, respectively. Leachate exposures did not elicit significant mortality. Sublethal micro- and nano-TP exposures significantly decreased microalgae ingestion by after 24-h. The effects of tire-derived exposures observed pose a risk to aquatic organism survival at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Toxicity of micro and nano tire particles and leachate for model freshwater organisms
Researchers tested the toxicity of micro- and nano-sized tire particles and their chemical leachates on zebrafish embryos and water fleas, two commonly used model organisms. They found that nano-sized tire particles were more toxic than micro-sized ones, and that the chemical leachate alone also caused significant developmental harm to zebrafish. The study demonstrates that tire debris poses a meaningful environmental risk to freshwater organisms through both direct particle exposure and the release of harmful chemicals.
Behind conventional (micro)plastics: An ecotoxicological characterization of aqueous suspensions from End-of-Life Tire particles
Researchers studied the toxic effects of ground-up end-of-life tire particles on zebrafish larvae and found that finer tire powder was more harmful than coarser granules. The smaller particles released chemicals into the water that altered over 100 proteins involved in metabolic processes. The study suggests that recycled tire materials leach toxic substances that could pose risks to aquatic organisms.
Tire wear particles in different water environments: occurrence, behavior, and biological effects—a review and perspectives
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.
Ecotoxicology of micronized tire rubber: Past, present and future considerations
This review synthesizes what is known about the ecotoxicology of micronized tire rubber particles, which are increasingly identified as a significant fraction of environmental microplastics, examining their effects on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. The authors note that tire rubber contains a complex mixture of chemical additives that may drive toxicity beyond the physical effects of the particles themselves.
Effects of sunlight exposure on tire tread particle leachates: Chemical composition and toxicity in aquatic systems
Researchers tested how sunlight exposure changes the chemical composition and toxicity of substances leaching from tire tread particles in water. They found that light-exposed tire particle leachates were significantly more toxic to zebrafish embryos, causing developmental abnormalities and reduced survival at lower concentrations. The study suggests that the environmental weathering of tire-derived microplastics can make their chemical releases more hazardous to aquatic life over time.