Drivers issued major warning over car tyres with UK forced into investigation

An urgent call has been issued for research into microplastic pollution from car tyres. Scientists have made an urgent call for research to establish the risks to health and the environment from particles produced by tyres which are the “leading contributor to microplastics”.

A new study has highlighted that tyre particles (TPs) account for nearly a third of all microplastics and the researchers say these could cause greater problems because they differ in size, chemical complexity and behaviour in ecosystems.

Henry Obanya from the University of Portsmouth's Institute of Marine Science warned that tyre particles require special attention due to their unique properties. "Tyre particles are classified as microplastics, yet they contain hundreds of unknown chemicals, many of which leach into the environment and pose unknown risks," he said.

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The researcher, who is also a member of the Revolution Plastics Institute, warned that there needs to be a new approach to studying these pollutants. "Our study calls for TPs to be separated from traditional microplastics and recognised as a unique threat to environmental and public health. We need focused research to understand their pathways and impact," Obanya stated.

The research, which involved scientists from the UK, US, Norway, Australia, South Korea, Finland, Austria, China, and Canada, made recommendations for an intergovernmental science-policy panel on chemicals, waste, and pollution to tackle TPs on a global scale.

Mr Obanya added: “This study is a clear call for co-ordinated international efforts. By recognising TPs as a distinct environmental threat, we can drive meaningful research, guide policy, and ultimately work towards a healthier, more sustainable world.”

While traditional microplastics are typically smaller than 5 mm, tyre particles (TPs) exhibit a broader particle size distribution, with some particles larger than 5 mm, and are dispersed across ecosystems through road runoff and wind, eventually settling in waterways, soil, and even entering food chains.