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Distribution and accumulation patterns of tire-derived particles in coastal and lake sediments

Water Research 2025 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 43 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Kosuke Tanaka, Kosuke Tanaka, Kosuke Tanaka, Kosuke Tanaka, Kosuke Tanaka, Go Suzuki, Go Suzuki, Go Suzuki, Y. Takahashi, Kosuke Tanaka, Y. Takahashi, Y. Takahashi, Kosuke Tanaka, Kosuke Tanaka, Atsuko Amano Atsuko Amano Kosuke Tanaka, Atsuko Amano Takuya Itaki, Y. Takahashi, Kosuke Tanaka, Kosuke Tanaka, Go Suzuki, Takuya Itaki, Takuya Itaki, Kosuke Tanaka, Y. Takahashi, Go Suzuki, Kosuke Tanaka, Kei Nakayama, Go Suzuki, Y. Takahashi, Y. Takahashi, Go Suzuki, Go Suzuki, Go Suzuki, Kosuke Tanaka, Go Suzuki, Atsuko Amano

Summary

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) — tiny fragments shed every time a vehicle brakes or turns — are among the largest sources of microplastics globally, and this study found them in sediments across 32 of 36 sampling sites in Japanese lakes and coastal waters. Critically, at 30 of those 36 sites, concentrations exceeded levels considered safe for aquatic ecosystems, suggesting widespread ecological risk. The research also found that TRWP tend to travel with fine soil particles and organic matter, offering clues about how these pollutants disperse through river systems and settle in aquatic environments.

Study Type Environmental

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) are the largest source of microplastics. These particles are generated through friction between tires and road surfaces during use, enter aquatic environments, and may affect aquatic organisms. In this study, TRWP in sediments from 11 different water bodies in Japan were analyzed using pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. TRWP were detected in 32 out of 36 samples, with concentrations up to 4260 µg/g dry weight. TRWP concentrations exceeded the estimated predicted no-effect concentration threshold at 30 out of 36 sites, indicating that potential ecological risks cannot be ruled out. A correlation was found between TRWP concentration and mud content, total organic carbon, or terrestrial organic carbon (terrOC) at sites where mud accumulates. The correlation between TRWP and terrOC was significant even at sites with a notable contribution of marine-derived mud. These findings suggest that TRWP are transported with terrestrial mud and organic matter in aquatic environments. Moreover, sedimentation patterns, as deduced from sediment properties such as mud content and elemental composition, may serve as indicators of TRWP distribution. This study contributes to transport modeling, environmental risk assessments, and development of future pollution control strategies for TRWP.

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