news 
Tires Shed Millions Of Tonnes Of Microplastics Into The Environment
In a shocking revelation, tires have been found to be shedding millions of tonnes of microplastics into the environment. This hidden danger has been brought to light by scientists who warn that it poses significant risks to both humans and animals.
According to recent studies, tire particles are released into the environment as they wear down, and it’s estimated that this amount is staggering. The research reveals that 6PPD (N,N’-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine) is a toxic chemical that can cause mass mortality events in aquatic species and has been found to be present in human urine samples.
The lack of transparency around the chemical composition of tires, combined with a knowledge gap on their potential environmental impact, has prompted numerous calls for action from scientists. In fact, a recent review paper emphasized the need for tyre particles to be reclassified as a unique pollution category due to their distinct toxicological challenges.
Despite producing over 2 billion tires per year, this issue remains largely under the radar at the ongoing UN Plastics Treaty negotiations. However, some progress has been made in terms of regulations. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) recently adopted new regulations on emissions from braking systems and tire abrasion.
It’s estimated that millions of tonnes of microplastics are shed by tires every year.
Source: www.forbes.com
