Team to investigate levels of tire emissions in UK waters

Portsmouth , UK – A University of Portsmouth research team has started a study into the effects of chemicals and particles from vehicle tires on marine life in UK waters.

The new project, a collaboration between the University of Portsmouth and the Emissions Analytics Ltd, aims to determine the concentrations of tire emissions in aquatic environments.

Environmental sampling has already been conducted at a harbour on the south coast of England, close to the M27 motorway, which carries 140,000 cars and lorries every day.

Analysis of the varying effects of particles from different car tire manufacturers will also form part of the joint investigation, said a 6 July release for the University of Portsmouth.

“We want to find out which models pose the most significant threat to river and coastal environments,” said project lead professor Alex Ford of the university’s School of Biological Sciences.

“The chemical composition of car tires differ dramatically between manufacturers, Ford stated in the press release.

Another study aspect will be the environmental impact due to increasing adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which are known to generate higher levels of tire wear.

“We know that the levels of tire emissions is significant, but what we don’t know enough about yet is how the chemicals that also come off tires are affecting the environment,” said Nick Molden, CEO of Emissions Analytics.

“We’re confident the team at the University of Portsmouth can help fill in the gaps, and provide us with a clearer understanding,” Molden added in the university release.

Ford’s previous research found that tiny quantities of anti-depressants in water can affect the behaviour and biological make-up of crustaceans and molluscs.

 “The harbour suffers from many human pressures including sewage discharges, farm and urban run-off plus seepages from historic coastal landfills,” he commented.

“It's important to understand the impacts each of these pressures are having on our coastal ecosystems,” the project lead concluded.