How polluting are tires? With electric vehicles the problem remains: a study
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How polluting are tires? According to a group of researchers from Imperial College London, it is urgent that the scientific community, and others, ask themselves this question. Take care of the reduction of fuel emissions it is important, but so is limiting the environmental impact linked to release of toxic substances from the tires of our cars and means of transport. He reports it through a briefing paper – information document aimed at the scientific community and others policy makers – a group of experts from Imperial, which includes engineers, ecologists, doctors and air quality analysts and which works on the Transition to zero pollution project. This is an initiative of the renowned English university which aims to inform and build collaborations between the fields of scientific research, industry and government authorities.
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According to the document, about nine thousand tonnes of particles deriving from tire wear are released into the environment every year in London alone. “Tire waste does not degrade naturally, but it does accumulate in the environment and can interact with other pollutants and biological organisms.i,” he explains Will Pearseco-author of the paper, from Imperial’s Life Sciences department.
“Our gaps in understanding make further research and the development of new solutions to limit all types of vehicular pollution critical.” Continuing research on electric vehicles remains of paramount importance, the experts write, but we need to improve our knowledge on the pollution front caused by tyres, which they can release particles so small that they are able to reach our lungs, posing a serious risk to our health. “Tyre wear particles pollute the environment, the air we breathe, the water that runs off roads, and have aggravating effects on waterways and agriculture.
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Even if eventually all our vehicles will be powered by electricity instead of fossil fuelswe will continue to have harmful pollution due to tire wear,” he explains Zhengchu Tan from Imperial’s Mechanical Engineering department, lead author of the report. “We urge policy makers and scientists – he continues – to undertake ambitious research on tire wear pollution to fully understand and reduce their impact on biodiversity and health, as well as research to reduce the generation of these particles”. Which can in fact contain very toxic substances, the document continues, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, benzothiazoles, isoprene and heavy metals such as zinc And lead.
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The group therefore urges scientists to implement further research that will help establish standard methods for assessing environmental levels of tire wear particles and their toxicity, both in the short and long term. On the other, invite i policy makers to impose stricter limits on the use of toxic components for their production. It is also essential to implement strategies that minimize l‘wear and tear over time, such as the reduction in vehicle weight.
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