Tyre Dust: The overlooked pollutant killing our waters

The issue of tyre dust has only recently begun to be taken seriously. The danger lies in the incredible amount released into the air and reaching the oceans and its composition.

When the worlds of automotive and ecology clash, the loudest topic is the issue of exhaust emissions and the substances released with them. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter are the aspects that are given the most emphasis. However, scientists are increasingly alarmed that our focus should also shift slightly lower to tyres.

More precisely, the problem is the dust created by worn-down tyres. Each year, around 6 million tonnes of particles from car tyres end up in the air and bodies of water. Worse, we are only beginning to understand the risk associated with this phenomenon.

In the "New Scientist" magazine, Thilo Hofmann, a professor of environmental geology at the University of Vienna, spoke about this. Current research clearly shows that the problem of dust generated by tyres cannot be ignored.

The latest findings have caused quite a stir. However, this does not mean that this is the first time the issue of tyre dust has been addressed. Its harmfulness has been discussed for decades, but until now, this topic has not been as loud. Only in the last few years has more attention been paid to it.

According to 2020 studies, as much as 78 percent of microplastics found in the oceans come from car tyres. Although this percentage is overwhelming, the real enemy is also the composition of these particles.

A substance called 6PPD is used in tyres as an antioxidant and rubber stabiliser. However, under the influence of ozone, it breaks down into different elements, creating a deadly "chemical cocktail."

Researchers discovered that this very compound is responsible for the mass death of salmon in the Puget Sound bays in Washington State. Residents turned to the US Environmental Protection Agency, hoping it would take an interest in the new findings. If the bureaucratic machine speeds up, perhaps tyre manufacturers will be forced to change their composition to be less environmentally harmful.