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Legacy of Chemical Pollution from an Underwater Tire Dump in Alver Municipality, Norway: Implication for the Persistence of Tire-Derived Chemicals and Site Remediation
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This study investigated an underwater tire dump in Norway where tires have been submerged for over 50 years, finding elevated zinc, lead, and copper in surrounding sediments and detecting 20 tire-derived chemical features in water samples — including the notable rubber accelerator N,N'-diphenylguanidine — highlighting the long-term persistence of tire pollution.
Increasing attention has been given to the environmental impact of tire-derived chemicals in aquatic systems, but submerged whole tires remain an overlooked source. This study investigates a previously unexplored underwater tire dump in Hjelmås Bay, Alver Municipality (Norway) where a blast mat manufacturer discarded large quantities of tires into the bay in the 1970s. These tires have remained submerged for over 50 years. We conducted an initial site mapping and collected sediment and water samples to assess tire-related pollutants in comparison with control sites. Sediment analysis revealed elevated levels of Zn, Pb, and Cu, particularly near the tire dump center, with Zn being the most abundant. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the dominant phthalate detected in the sediments, though no clear spatial pattern emerged for phthalates. Non-target chemical screening of water samples identified 20 features potentially linked to tire degradation, with N,N′-Diphenylguanidine (DPG) being the most notable. Our study highlights the long-term environmental persistence of several tire-derived chemicals, which has ramifications for both the regulation of tire-derived chemicals and plans for remediation at Hjelmås. Our initial findings warrant the implementation of a comprehensive chemical and ecological baseline monitoring assessment prior to discussions on remediation.
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Researchers reviewed car tire wear particles and their chemical additives as environmental biomarkers for recent plastic pollution exposure in marine environments. Tire-specific compounds including benzothiazoles, zinc, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were identified as useful chemical tracers that can distinguish tire-derived pollution from other microplastic sources.
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