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<h1 class="reader-title">Prioritise tackling toxic emissions
from tyres, urge Imperial experts | Imperial News | Imperial
College London</h1>
<div class="credits reader-credits">by Caroline Brogan 23
February 2023</div>
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<p><img
src="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ImageCropToolT4/imageTool/uploaded-images/newseventsimage_1677086385677_mainnews2012_x1.jpg"
alt="Close up photo of a car tyre"
class="moz-reader-block-img"></p>
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<img
src="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/assets/news/img/main_image_shd.png"
alt="">
<p itemprop="description">Imperial experts are calling for
more to be done to limit the potentially harmful impact
of toxic tyre particles on health and the environment.</p>
<p>The researchers, from Imperial College London’s <a
href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/academic-strategy/academic-strategy-projects/transition-to-zero-pollution/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transition to Zero
Pollution</a> initiative, warn that even though
electric vehicles remove the problem of fuel emissions,
we will continue to have a problem with particulate
matter because of tyre wear. </p>
<blockquote><span>Tyre wear particles pollute the
environment, the air we breathe, the water run-off
from roads and has compounding effects on waterways
and agriculture</span> <span>Dr Zhengchu Tan</span> <span>Department
of Mechanical Engineering</span></blockquote>
<p>Six million tonnes of tyre wear particles are released
globally each year, and in London alone, 2.6 million
vehicles emit around nine thousand tonnes of tyre wear
particles annually. </p>
<p>Despite this, research on the environmental and health
impacts of tyre wear has been neglected in comparison to
the research and innovations dedicated to tackling fuel
emissions. The Imperial researchers say that the effect
of new technologies on the generation and impact of tyre
wear should be a priority. </p>
<p>In a <a
href="https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/101707/9/Tyre%20wear%20particles%20are%20toxic%20for%20us%20and%20the%20environment%200223-2.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">new briefing paper</a>,
a multidisciplinary group of Imperial experts including
engineers, ecologists, medics, and air quality analysts
have called for as much investment into tyre wear
research as there is for reducing fuel emissions – and
for understanding their interactions. </p>
<p>Lead author<a
href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/zhengchu.tan11"
target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Dr Zhengchu Tan</a>,
of Imperial’s <a
href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of
Mechanical Engineering</a>, said: “Tyre wear particles
pollute the environment, the air we breathe, the water
run-off from roads and has compounding effects on
waterways and agriculture. <u><b>Even if all our
vehicles eventually become powered by electricity
instead of fossil fuels, we will still have harmful
pollution from vehicles because of tyre wear. </b></u></p>
<p>“We urge policymakers and scientists to embark on
ambitious research into tyre wear pollution to fully
understand and reduce their impacts on biodiversity and
health, as well as research to reduce the generation of
these particles.” </p>
<blockquote><span>We will continue to leverage the full
strength of our research and influence to find
meaningful solutions and help realise a sustainable,
zero pollution future.</span> <span>Professor Mary
Ryan</span> <span>Vice-Provost (Research and
Enterprise)</span></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/zero-pollution/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transition to Zero
Pollution</a> is an Imperial initiative which aims to
build new partnerships between research, industry, and
government to help realise a sustainable zero pollution
future. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/m.p.ryan"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">Professor Mary Ryan</a>,
Vice Provost (Research and Enterprise) at Imperial and a
co-author on the briefing paper, said: “Safeguarding our
planet and the health of future generations requires us
to look not just at a problem from a single perspective,
but to take a systems level approach. That’s why we need
to look beyond just carbon and to consider human-made
pollution in all its forms. </p>
<p>“Electric vehicles are a crucial step forward to
decarbonise transport, but we need to look at the big
picture too. Some are concerned that electric vehicles
tend to be heavier, which might increase tyre wear. This
is exactly why Imperial College London is driving a
holistic, joined-up approach to sustainability
challenges. </p>
<p>“We will continue to leverage the full strength of our
research and influence to find meaningful solutions and
help realise a sustainable, zero pollution future.” </p>
<p>In the briefing paper, the researchers discuss how tyre
wear leads to these particles, where the particles end
up, their potential effects on people and planet, and
why we must act now.</p>
<figure class="caption"><img
src="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ImageCropToolT4/imageTool/uploaded-images/environment_1677076348629_x2.jpg?r=2710"
alt="Drawing showing where tyre wear particles end up.
10,800 tonnes in water treatment; 10,800 tonnes in
surface water; 21,600 tonnes in road runoff; 21,600
tonnes on the roadside; and 4,800 tonnes airborne."
class="moz-reader-block-img">
<figcaption>Where tyre wear particles end up,
illustrated with model values from Wagner et al., 2018</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Tyre wear particles </h2>
<blockquote><span>We are growing increasingly concerned by
the impact of tyre wear on human health.</span> <span>Professor
Terry Tetley</span> <span>National Heart and Lung
Institute</span></blockquote>
<p>As tyres break down they release a range of particles,
from visible pieces of tyre rubber to nanoparticles.
Large particles are carried from the road by rain into
rivers, where they may leach toxic chemicals into the
environment, whilst smaller particles become airborne
and breathed in. They are small enough to reach into the
deep lung. </p>
<p>These particles may contain a range of toxic chemicals
including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, benzothiazoles,
isoprene, and heavy metals like zinc and lead. </p>
<h3>Environmental effects </h3>
<p>Particulate matter from tyre wear is a significant
source of ‘microplastics’ in rivers and oceans, and tyre
wear in cities could pose up to a four-fold greater risk
to the environment than other microplastics. </p>
<blockquote><span>Tyre waste does not naturally degrade
and instead builds up in the environment</span> <span>Dr
Will Pearse</span> <span>Department of Life Sciences</span></blockquote>
<p>While existing technological interventions, such as
filters, and environmental policies could help to
control our ecological footprint, there are huge gaps in
our knowledge, understanding, and ability to forecast
the impacts of tyre wear pollution. </p>
<p>Co-author <a
href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/will.pearse"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr Will Pearse</a>,
from Imperial’s <a
href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/life-sciences/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Life
Sciences</a>, said: “Tyre waste does not naturally
degrade and instead builds up in the environment, and
may interact with other pollutants as well as biological
organisms.</p>
<p>"Our gaps in understanding make further research and
development of new solutions vital so we can limit all
types of vehicular pollution.” </p>
<h3>Health effects </h3>
<figure class="caption"><img
src="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ImageCropToolT4/imageTool/uploaded-images/food-chain_1677076963484_x2.jpg?r=3259"
alt="Drawing illustrating the food chain, from primary
producers such as algae and grass, to primary
consumers such as flies and cows. Next are secondary
consumers like fish, and then tertiary consumers like
humans." class="moz-reader-block-img">
<figcaption>Tyre wear particles accumulate in the food
chain</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The impact of tyre wear particles on human health is an
increasing cause for concern, and the full long-term
effects on our health urgently require more research. </p>
<p>There is emerging evidence that tyre wear particles and
other particulate matter may contribute to a range of
negative health impacts including heart, lung,
developmental, reproductive, and cancer outcomes. </p>
<p>Co-author <a
href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/t.tetley"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">Professor Terry Tetley</a>
of Imperial’s <a
href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/nhli/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Heart and Lung
Institute </a>said: “We are growing increasingly
concerned by the impact of tyre wear on human health. As
some of these particles are so small they can be carried
in the air, it’s possible that simply walking on the
pavement could expose us to this type of pollution.</p>
<p>"It is essential that we better understand the effect
of these particles on our health.” </p>
<h2>Shifting gear </h2>
<p>The researchers argue that reducing tyre pollution
should be seen as a critical part of making transport
cleaner and more sustainable, alongside</p>
<figure class="caption"><img
src="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ImageCropToolT4/imageTool/uploaded-images/particles2_1677077503860_x2.jpg?r=1261"
alt="Microscope images of tyre wear particles"
class="moz-reader-block-img">
<figcaption>Examples of tyre wear particles</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>reductions in CO<sub>2</sub> and other exhaust
emissions. In tackling the climate crisis, we should
design better systems and technologies to protect the
environment; and research funding, government policy and
regulatory frameworks should reflect this. </p>
<p>The report authors call for policymakers and scientists
to investigate the complex problems related to tyre-wear
pollution, from the basics of wear-particle production,
to understanding how these particles affect the health
of people and the planet. Potential innovation solutions
include particle capture technologies, new advanced
materials, and disruptive business models that encourage
different transport choices. These need to be coupled to
clear policy and regulation and to a broader discussion
around urban transport systems. </p>
<p>The research efforts, they say, should include the
following: </p>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="?" data-font="Symbol"
data-listid="1"
data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"?","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}"
aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1"
data-aria-level="1">Establishing standardised ways of
measuring environmental tyre wear levels and their
toxicity. </li>
<li data-leveltext="?" data-font="Symbol"
data-listid="1"
data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"?","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}"
aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2"
data-aria-level="1">Reducing harm to land and water
species and in humans by tightening limits on the use
of harmful components in tyre materials. </li>
<li data-leveltext="?" data-font="Symbol"
data-listid="1"
data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"?","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}"
aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3"
data-aria-level="1">Launching new trials to better
understand the short and long-term effects of
different sized particles on the environment and human
health. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="?" data-font="Symbol"
data-listid="1"
data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"?","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}"
aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1"
data-aria-level="1">Efforts to better understand
underlying wear mechanisms and to propose wear
mitigation strategies such as reducing vehicle weight,
using advanced driving techniques, and ensuring tyre
materials pass wear resistance regulations.</li>
</ul>
<p>"<a
href="https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/101707/9/Tyre%20wear%20particles%20are%20toxic%20for%20us%20and%20the%20environment%200223-2.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyre wear particles are
toxic for us and the environment</a>" by Tan <em>et
al</em>.</p>
<p><a>See the press release of this article</a></p>
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