When our tires wear out over time, that rubber is lost,
particle by particle, on and near the roads they roll on. At least a couple of
studies over the last few years have confirmed that micropollutants from tire
waste have been contaminating vegetables in nearby farms. A 2024 study from
Vienna, published in Frontiers of Environmental Science, confirmed that
microparticles from car tires are getting into crops through a combination of
atmospheric deposition, treated wastewater being used to irrigate, and sewage
sludge being used as fertilizer. Fortunately, the concentration remains small,
likely below the threshold to cause damage. Apparently, car tires contain
hundreds of substances, some linked to nasty side effects at significant
concentrations. For this reason, the use of rubber mulch, once considered a
viable way to recycle tires, is being abandoned. Rubber mulch does not
decompose like wood chip mulch. Thus, it also does not offer any nutrients to
the soil like wood chip mulch does. In 2024, I was working for a local Health
Department. One morning on the way to work, I got a call to go to the local
recycling center, where trucks brought in tires that were dumped, and we loaded
them into a semi. They were to be given or sold to a place that recycles them
by shredding them into mulch. While we thought we were doing a public good
deed, it now appears that is not the case.
A May 2025 study from
Switzerland, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, noted, according
to Phys.org, that:
“…tires often "release additives such as
antioxidants and vulcanizing agents" that can make their way to
agriculture after dispersing through the air and being transported by runoff
water. In addition to inhaling these chemicals, humans are exposed to them by
ingesting contaminated food, researchers from the EPFL and the Swiss Federal
Food Safety and Veterinary Office determined.”
“They found that 31% of the samples contained traces of
the compounds, including 6-PPD and 6-PPD-quinone, with no difference according
to where the fruits and vegetables came from or whether they were organic.”
The toxicity of the compounds
to small mammals has been established. However, the effects on humans have not been established, and the dosages that would be dangerous have also not been
established.
“When tires wear against road surfaces, they release additives such as antioxidants and vulcanizing agents (which give rubber more strength, elasticity, and durability). These particles, the toxicity of which is yet to be determined, disperse through the air, settle on the ground, and are transported in runoff water. Humans are exposed to them in two ways: by inhaling them and, as the EPFL-FSVO study shows, by ingesting them in contaminated food.”
Highlights and the Abstract from the 2025 study are given below.
One time when I was younger,
I worked an 8-hour shift at a temporary job at a tire warehouse. The smell of
the tires was strong, and after a while, I developed a headache. Although I’m
not sure if I was exposed to anything dangerous, I was glad to get out of
there.
Phys.org cites a 2017 study
that concluded that six million metric tons of these additives are released
into the environment every year. These micropollutants have also been found in
rural areas and in mountain lakes. Researchers say we don’t yet know whether we
should seek to produce less-toxic alternatives or phase out the use of the
materials. Road workers may be the most exposed to these toxins. Chinese
researchers are currently studying the presence of these compounds in human
blood and urine.
EVs are Heavy, Which Means They Produce Tire Waste Faster
As we transition to more EVs,
the problem of tire waste will intensify. This is because EVs are heavier due
to battery weight, which makes tires wear faster due to more friction against
the road, increasing the rate of localized contamination. The instant torque of
EVs also contributes to faster tire wear. Driving habits can slightly reduce
the rate of EV tire wear. According to an article in the Morning Review:
“Manufacturers are actively working on developing new
tire technologies that can withstand the unique demands of electric vehicles.
Advances in materials and design aim to improve the durability of EV tires,
ensuring they last longer despite the additional stresses imposed by the
vehicle’s weight and torque.”
References:
New
study makes concerning discovery about farms where food is grown: 'A critical
step in understanding the potential risks'. Doric Sam. The Cool Down. May 19,
2025. New study makes concerning discovery
about farms where food is grown: 'A critical step in understanding the
potential risks'
Electric
Cars Destroy Tires—Here’s Why It Happens So Fast. Alexander Clark. Morning
Overview. June 8, 2025. Electric Cars Destroy Tires—Here’s
Why It Happens So Fast
New
study raises concerns after finding levels of car tire materials in vegetables:
'That's not where they belong'. Jenny Allison. The Cool Down. June 15, 2024.
New
study raises concerns after finding levels of car tire materials in vegetables:
'That's not where they belong'
Assessment
of tire-derived additives and their metabolites into fruit, root and leafy
vegetables and evaluation of dietary intake in Swiss adults. Florian Breider, Thibault
Masset, Kelyan Prud’homme, and Beat J. Brüschweiler. Journal of Hazardous
Materials. Volume 494, 15 August 2025. Assessment
of tire-derived additives and their metabolites into fruit, root and leafy
vegetables and evaluation of dietary intake in Swiss adults - ScienceDirect
Uptake
of tire-derived compounds in leafy vegetables and implications for human
dietary exposure. Anya Sherman, Luzian Elijah Hämmerle, Evyatar Ben Mordechay, Benny
Chefetz, Thorsten Hüffer, and Thilo Hofmann. Front. Environ. Sci., 27 May 2024.
Sec. Toxicology, Pollution and the Environment. Volume 12 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1384506.
Gardener
seeks advice with remediating landscaping mistake left by previous homeowner:
'It makes me cringe and want to cry'. Kelsey Kovner. The Cool Down. June 7,
2024. Gardener
seeks advice with remediating landscaping mistake left by previous homeowner:
'It makes me cringe and want to cry'
Tire
additives found deposited on fruits and vegetables. Sandrine Perroud, Ecole
Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne. Phys.org. May 6, 2025. Tire
additives found deposited on fruits and vegetables
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