Existing emissions regulations focus on what comes out of a vehicle’s exhaust, but a new study claims that more than half of particulate emissions come from road vehicles—fine particles that can cause ambient air and water pollution—coming from other sources.
Conducted by Imperial College London, study (through Green Car Congress) estimates that by 2021, 52% of total particulate emissions will come from tires and brakes. Globally, 6.6 million tons of tire abrasive particles alone are emitted annually, and in London alone, 2.6 million vehicles emit almost 10,000 tons of tire particles annually, according to the study, according to the study.
How particulate matter from tires enters the environment (from Imperial College London report 2023)
Of the emitted particles, 82% found their way into water and 18% made their way into the air. In some cases, these airborne particles can be inhaled directly into the body, but the study also highlights the potential for particles from tires to build up in the food chain.
Based on these findings, the researchers argue that tire particle emissions need to be addressed in a similar way to exhaust emissions. They recommend standard methods for measuring emissions from tires and their potential toxicity, follow-up studies to gather more information on the environmental and health impacts of tire emissions. , as well as rules limiting the amount of harmful compounds in new tires.
The researchers also call for further research into tire degradation and ways to reduce it, such as reducing vehicle weight, establishing more stringent wear-resistance standards and potentially collecting Tire dust collector, similar to an invention seen back in 2020.
The Tire Collective – The Tire Collective
This is not the first study to sound the alarm about dust particles in tires. Research results from an independent company published in 2020 confirm that particulate emissions from tire wear are higher than from the exhaust. A 2021 study identified microplastics—plastic particles that can fall off tires as well as other sources like clothing and plastic bottles—as a serious global problem.
Rubber tires inevitably wear out, shedding particles as they work, and there is no obvious solution to increasing longevity. Goodyear suggested The idea of reinventing tires, but that doesn’t address the wasteful aspect of wear and tear. Manufacturers also look at sustainable materialsbut this is mainly to reduce the environmental impact of making tires, not using them.
