Tyre companies declare tyre wear particles as safe
ERJ staff report (DS)
Chesapeake Bay, Maryland -- Eleven tyre-manufacturing chief executives have said the particles generated by tyres as they wear on roads are safe. The CEOs formed the Tire Industry Project (TIP) in 2005. TIP retained ChemRisk, a San Francisco, California based risk assessment consultant, to assist withan examination of the fate and impacts of tyre and road wear particles (TRWP).
In additin, the CEOs said they expect the development of new nanomanterials in tyres will benefit customers and the environment.
The research shows:
- There are no adverse effects from inhalation exposures to tyre and road wear particles;
- The concentration of tyre and road wear particles in air and sediment were well below toxicity levels.
Environmental sampling for TRWP was conducted globally including locations on the Seine River watershed in France; Chesapeake Bay watershed in the United States; and the Yodo River watershed in Japan. The research showed the concentrations of TRWP in air and sediment were low and do not pose a health or environmental risk. Preliminary results will be presented at scientific conferences, with results to be documented and submitted for publication in peer reviewed journals.
The CEOs also said that potential improvements from new nanomaterials include increased car and truck fuel efficiency and durability, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions and tyre weight. TIP is exploring the development of an industry-specific best-practices guide for the research, development and industrialisation of new nanomaterials in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
TIP represents approximately 70 percent of the world's tyre manufacturing capacity. Members include - Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Goodyear, Hankook, Kumho, Michelin, Pirelli, Sumitomo, Toyo and Yokohama
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Press release from wbcsd
Home page of Tyre project at wbcsd
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