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Source vs Nonpoint Source Pollution ”, Water Education Foundation , 2023 ).
It is a form of nonpoint source pollution , a combination of pollutants accumulated over a large area . Unlike point-source pollution , which comes from a single place such as a power plant or factory , it is comparatively easier to identify and regulate . Researchers at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science ( CMESS ) at the University of Vienna investigated whether particulate matter from tyre wear could get into the vegetables we eat .
The results showed that not only did the vegetables absorb the chemicals , it ’ s also found that these particulate matter ended up remaining in aquatic systems for long periods (“ Toxic Additives From Tire Wear Could Be Ending Up on Our Plates ”, Technology Networks Applied Sciences , Jan 5 , 2023 ).
TYRE ADDITIVES
Now , the health consequences of tyre pollution are twofold .
Besides the adverse health impacts of PAHs on humans via contaminated food and polluted air , there ’ s another compound found in tyres that have been proven deadly to marine life .
The commonly used tyre additive – 6PPD-quinone – had been found to be the reason behind mass salmon deaths in the US . The same compound was also discovered in Australia (“ Chemical from tyres linked to mass salmon deaths in the US found in Australia for the first time ”, The Guardian , Mar 20 , 2022 ).
Researchers in Australia have also found that concentrations of this compound in their rivers peak after periods of heavy storms and have been proven toxic to certain trout species .
We may be at risk of a similar situation concerning our fish stock and aquaculture if we aren ’ t careful in controlling tyre pollution .
Recall that in fact , the 2019 Sungai Kim Kim river pollution in Johor was attributed to pyrolysis , i . e ., the process of
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burning old tyres to make low-grade oil or fuel oil – as a subset of marine oil that environmental officials identified to be the chemical waste found in the riverbed ( waterborne ) which was also released into the atmosphere ( airborne ) as a result of not disposed of properly / correctly .
The flammable methane and benzene fumes emitted from the marine oil contained other toxic gases such as acrolein , acrylonitrile , chloride , hydrogen , toluene , xylene , etc .
Whilst there are ample provisions under the Environmental Quality Act ( 1974 ) for prosecuting the offenders of the Sungai Kim Kim pollution and the concomitant areas ’ air pollution , particulate emissions from tyres on the road have been neglected and overlooked .
The Environmental Quality ( Clean Air ) Regulations ( 2014 ) under the Environmental Quality Act ( 1974 ), for example , need to be updated to incorporate and enforce quality control for the particulate matter which emits from tyres . Perhaps what could be done is for a specific schedule under the 2014 Regulations to be enforced in the long term – during which a transitional period would kick in on a specified date to be determined .
In the long-term , electric vehicles ( EVs ) would be at the forefront of the agenda as a promising alternative to developing green / clean tyres – ideally in lock-step .
It is especially so as EV tyres wear 20 per cent faster than petrol-fuelled vehicles , resulting in more tyre pollution .
As such , the fundamental issue is the tyre ’ s synthetic rubber composition .
GREEN TYRE INDUSTRY
Exporting RM883.2 million worth of tyre products in the first half of 2022 , Malaysia is home to several tyre manufacturers and even its brand of epoxidised natural rubber ( ENR ) known as Ekoprena . Ekoprena rubber is sustainable , renewable , and non-petroleum derived and boasts a negative carbon footprint .
However , synthetic rubber ( petroleumderived ) tyres are still the norm , and “ green tyres ” have yet to enjoy widespread commercialisation .
More incentives are needed in this niche industry to propel the development and manufacturing of green tyres made from sustainable and eco-friendly materials .
As the EV market has a CAGR of 21.7 per cent ( vs CAGR -2.9 per cent of gasoline cars ), Malaysia could position itself as a leading manufacturer and supplier of green tyres for EVs .
The US is one of Malaysia ’ s top tyre importers at RM403.3 million (“ Room For Malaysian Tyre Industry To Grow ; MRC ”, Business Today , Sep 2 , 2022 ).
In light of President Biden ’ s climate plan , this signals future demand for green tyres in the coming years . To “ drive ” the green tyre industry forward and curb the issue of particle pollution , the government should look into rolling out special grants for further research and development ( R & D ) into green tyres .
And hopefully , the Malaysia-Singapore Green Economy Agreement (“ Singapore , Malaysia sign agreements to deepen cooperation in the digital , green economy ”, The Straits Times , Jan 30 , 2023 ) will serve as a basis for future strategic collaboration in the joint-development of green tyres , among others .
Until then , available waste-removal technologies should be utilised in purifying our fishery waters from any toxins and chemicals that have made their way in via nonpoint sources ( see , “ EMIR Research ’ s article titled “ Pharmaceutical pollution and eco-toxicity – an “ emerging
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” ecological threat ”).
At the same time , with air quality in Malaysia subject to the vagaries of seasonal variations , the daily AQI figures should be readily accessible by the Ministry of Natural Resources , Environment and Climate Change and the Department of Environment ( DOE ) on their social media – Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and even LinkedIn .
As the general population becomes increasingly aware of the “ invisible ” toxins they breathe daily , high-efficiency particulate air ( HEPA ) purifiers may be further encouraged in homes , offices , and communal spaces .
As we move towards carbon neutrality and net zero , the issue of tyre pollution could one day fade into the past .
AIR POLLUTANTS
In the meantime , we should also look into the micro-level and specific areas – going beyond the macro-dimension of low ( and ultra-low ) carbon emissions generated from exhaust pipes of vehicles alongside air pollutants from industrial activities , etc .
Tyres on the road are one such definitive and critical micro-level area for our policy attention – which fits nicely into our position as a leading tyre manufacturer ( and exporter ).
In conclusion , EMIR Research would like to propose the following policy recommendations : 1 . Incentivising manufacturing and R & D of the green tyre industry in Malaysia : To support updating the 2014 Regulations – to incorporate air pollution from tyres – to be enforced long-term , a policy or blueprint on promoting the manufacturing and R & D of green tyres should be formulated . Once the transitional period ends as , coinciding with the development of the green tyre industry on a stronger and more prominent footing ( based on volume sales , size of the market , etc .) alongside the promulgation of a policy to mandate the fitting of green tyres into the production of new cars and EVs , then the additional schedule or updating of a pre-existing one would kick .
2 . Deploy clean technology ( cleantech ) as a critical part of the transition process : During the transition period , serious consideration should be given by the government also to deploying cleantech to absorb air pollution from our transport system . For example , we could look towards implementing cantilevered canopies that are horizontally covered with pollution-absorbing material ( e . g ., coated in a mineral polymer material capable of absorbing nitrogen dioxide ) – functioning as both a barrier and absorber simultaneously . Overlaying them would be solar panels to boost our renewable energy sources and mix . Pioneering work has been done by students from Imperial College London whereby a device which uses electrostatics to collect particles from tyres is fitted to the wheel . In conclusion , let ’ s get serious about air pollution , including looking at the negative impact on public health from tyres on the road . – @ Green
Jason Loh and Jennifer Ley Ho Ying are part of the research team at EMIR Research , an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research .
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In the longterm , electric vehicles ( EVs ) would be at the forefront of the agenda as a promising alternative to developing green / clean tyres – ideally in lock-step .” |