Swedish researchers find more carcinogens in car tyres

ERJ staff report (DS)

Stockholm - A group of researchers in Stockholm university in Sweden have found a new set of PAH materials in tyres, according to a paper published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, published by the American Chemical Society.

The paper, titled, Automobile Tires-A Potential Source of Highly Carcinogenic Dibenzopyrenes to the Environment, shows that automobile tyres may be a potential previously unknown source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes to the environment. The paper abstract said, “Previously, there have been no data available for carcinogenic dibenzopyrene isomers in automobile tyres.”

Eight tyres were analysed for 15 high molecular weight (HMW) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), using pressurized fluid extraction. The researchers had not responded to questions about the origin of the tyres as ERJ posted this story.

In the paper, the researchers say, “In this study, the four dibenzopyrene isomers dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, and dibenzo[a,h]pyrene constituted <2 percent of the sum of the 15 analysed HMW PAHs.”

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Abstract of paper from ACS