Tire pollution endangers well-being

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【Summary】Electric vehicles (EVs) may be reducing tailpipe emissions, but their heavy weight is causing tires to wear out quickly, emitting microscopic particles that contribute to pollution. Scientists have found that these particles, including a chemical called 6PPD used in tires, can end up in the air, water, and living beings, posing health risks. The issue of particulate emissions from EV tires is raising concerns among scientists and environmentalists.

FutureCar Staff Aug 31, 2023 11:18 PM PT

Buyers of Rivian's electric pickup and SUV often express a common complaint on online forums - the tires wear out too quickly. One driver in 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 particles of rubber are now scattered somewhere. Interestingly, other electric vehicle buyers are facing the same issue.

While electric vehicles have successfully eliminated tailpipe emissions, they have inadvertently contributed to another form of pollution. The heavy curb weights of these vehicles are exacerbating the problem, causing concern among scientists and environmentalists.

The fact that tires emit pollution is not new knowledge. As tires roll over pavement, the friction causes rubber particles and other substances to separate. Over time, these particles, some as tiny as human cells, end up in the air, water, and even living organisms. In Washington state, scientists have discovered a link 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 roads and into streams, where it is then ingested by the fish.