Tire emissions' impact on health

author: FutureCar Staff    

Buyers discussing Rivian's electric pickup and SUV on online forums often complain about the tires wearing out too quickly. One driver from Colorado loaded his truck with two motorcycles and traveled about 6,000 miles, only to find that nearly a tenth of an inch of rubber had worn off his front tires. This means that microscopic rubber particles are now scattered somewhere. Similar experiences have been reported by other electric vehicle buyers.

While electric vehicles have successfully eliminated tailpipe emissions, they have inadvertently contributed to another form of pollution that is causing concern among scientists and environmentalists. The heavy weight of these vehicles is exacerbating the issue.

It has long been recognized that tires release pollution. When tires roll on the pavement, the friction causes tiny particles of rubber and other substances to separate and disperse. Over time, these particles, some of which are as small as human cells, end up in the air, water, and even living organisms. Scientists in Washington state have discovered a connection between a chemical called 6PPD, which is used in all tires to prevent cracking, and the premature deaths of salmon. During rainstorms, the 6PPD washes off the roads and into streams, where it is then ingested by the fish.

FutureCar Staff