How much do you know about microplastics?

We all know that microplastics are a growing source of pollution in the oceans, causing harm to marine life and working its way up the food chain to impact human health. Eight hundred marine species are affected by marine microplastics, including all types of sea turtles.

But you may not be familiar with the top two sources of ocean micropollutants: NURDLES and TIRE DUST! These are both “primary microplastics,” already  tiny when they enter the waterways as a pollutant, as opposed to “macroplastics,” which include single-use bags and fishing gear that can cause harm by entangling wildlife or by breaking down into microplastics once in the sea. 

The NUMBER ONE source of ocean micropollutants? Small particles from our vehicle tires! Tire wear microplastic particles (TWP) abrade from vehicle tires as they roll along the roads, creating microplastics of synthetic rubber, often known as tire dust. 6.1 million tons are deposited into our air and water each year, and are found in even remote corners of the world. U.S. tires contribute about  1.8 million tons annually. These particles can be so small that they are carried in the air and may be inhaled, contributing to air pollution and respiratory issues. Rain washes the dust off the roads, and it ends up in our waterways and eventually in the ocean. TWP is recognized to be the largest source of microplastics in the ocean, as much as 28%.

Tires are made primarily from synthetic rubber, produced from crude oil. There are no regulations on tire wear or the thousands of chemicals they contain, some of which are carcinogens, and may include zinc, lead, and chlorine. Massive die-offs of Coho salmon have been linked to the chemical 6PPD-quinone, from tire dust. This chemical is toxic to marine life, and has been shown to damage human DNA in lab tests. And if that isn’t bad enough, recent studies point out that tire dust has a greater impact on air than modern car emissions, producing up to 2000 times as many particulates!