Tire Dust Makes Up the Majority of Ocean Microplastics, Study Finds
Tire Dust Makes Up the Majority of Ocean Microplastics, Study Finds
Recent studies have shown tire emissions to be a larger threat to global health than anyone realized—and EVs could make the problem worse.
‘Last weeks study said it was polyester clothing. The week before that it was fishing nets.
https://www.statista.com/chart/17957/where-the-oceans-microplastics-come-from/
The link you provided has synthetic clothing at 35% and tire dust at 28%.
The next two biggest categories are city dust and road markings.
It's not really that much of a shocker that a different study finds tire dust as the biggest category.
Fishing nets have never been a big contributor to microplastics. They are a big category of hazardous ocean waste.
Yeah its weird. Isnt vulcanised rubber heavier than water and sinks?
That would work if tires were nothing but rubber, but they're not.
https://e360.yale.edu/features/tire-pollution-toxic-chemicals
Good news! Electric cars are heavier and go through tires at a ridiculous pace! 👍
I wouldn't say ridiculous, but you're not wrong about them going through tires faster.
Anecdotal but my phev is only 400 pounds heavier than ice vehicles built in the same frame. The energy saver EV tires are rated for 55000 miles vs 60000 for non energy saver version. The upside to the EV is less particulate matter produced by the brakes which get replaced about half as often thanks to Regen.
If anyone has the numbers comparing the gains/losses between the two is love to see them.
PHEV are lighter than EV, the Niro gains 400lbs (over 10%) going from PHEV to full EV and it's already 300lbs heavier going from hybrid to PHEV!
There's also a big difference between what the tires are rated for vs what they usually last... My mother goes through a set of tires every 40k km or so with her Leaf even if the tires are rated for much more and the car's alignment is right on the dot!
At least they burn through far less brake pads. But it is a very correct assessment of tire usage.
It's also been known to be wiping out salmon before they spawn since 2020
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/january-2023/saving-washington-s-salmon-from-toxic-tire-dust
Remember, if you live near a major road you and your family are breathing in brake and tire dust constantly and it will take years off of your life. Not to mention the lower quality of that shorter life.
Makes sense to me, it's also a big contributor to the smog I breathe and the grime I get tired of dusting off everything in the damn apartment. We can stop blaming my skin particles, they're not that color. And my shoes don't get outside much. But my street feeds straight into the 405.
Such pollution is perhaps unlikely to have a direct impact on issues like climate change, but the potential toxicity for humans, animals, and the broader environment is a prime concern.
So I guess it's likely bad, but for different reasons.
One place I worked my office was in the corner of the warehouse, when we moved warehouses I had to go up onto of the office for some reason and there was a almost a 5cm thick layer of tire and diesel dust on top of it.. I stepped on thinking it was just dirty and my shoe just went through it all
/c/fuckcars