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Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
A major UK government-funded research study suggests particles released from vehicle tyres could be a significant and previously largely unrecorded source of microplastics in the marine environment.
The study is one of the first worldwide to identify tyre particles as a major and additional source of microplastics. Scientists have previously discovered microplastics, originating from microbeads in cosmetics and the degradation of larger items such as carrier bags and plastic bottles, in marine environments globally—from the deep seas to the Arctic.
Following the government's ban on rinse off microbeads, which is one of the toughest in the world, the Defra-funded study [Defra - Dept for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs] led by the University of Plymouth now reveals vital new information that will improve our scientific understanding of how tiny particles from tyres, synthetic fibres from clothing and maritime gear also enter the ocean.
[...] The study shows the tyre particles can be transported directly to the ocean through the atmosphere, or carried by rainwater into rivers and sewers, where they can pass through the water treatment process. Researchers estimate this could place around 100million m² of the UK's river network—and more than 50million m² of estuarine and coastal waters—at risk of contamination by tyre particles.
Its findings also highlight some of the optimal places for intervention, for example, that fitting filters to washing machines could be less effective than changing fabric designs to reduce fibre loss, with another study at the University having recently shown that normal wear and tear when wearing clothes is just as significant a source of microplastic pollution as release from laundering.
[...] "What this study also does is provide further evidence of the complex problems posed by microplastic pollution. We have looked at three pathways and shown that all of them are substantive pathways to the environment. As we work to understand their potential distribution and impacts it is important to also work together with industry and policy makers to identify potential solutions which may include changes in behaviour, changes in product design and waste management."
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Snotnose on Wednesday May 27 2020, @11:37PM (3 children)
First, we had to dust a lot more often. Second, the dust was black, instead of the beige/gray you usually get. We were maybe 50-100 feet above the freeway with the dominant winds blowing the freeway stuff away from us.
If a real estate agent says"you'll get used to the noise, think of the money you're saving", they're lying. You never get used to the noise, the black dust sucks, and you get used to hearing car crashes once a month or so.
I remember our first car crash. It was late at night, woke us out of bed. Went to the back yard, a minivan was on it's side across 2 lanes in the middle of the 5 lane freeway (I5 southbound at Del Mar Heights). There were 2 people on the downstream side of the van, just wandering around (this was before cellphones). This was clearly a disaster in the making, oncoming drivers could not see the van in time to stop, and if anyone hit that van the 2 people were dead. Fortunately the cops showed up before someone hit that van
My ducks are not in a row. I don't know where some of them are, and I'm pretty sure one of them is a turkey.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 28 2020, @12:24AM (1 child)
> Second, the dust was black
Did you ever figure out if it was diesel particulate or tire particles or both? Just curious.
Lived on the 6th floor above a major artery in Boston and we also had black dust, we assumed it was all diesel particles, never occurred to up to think about tire wear. Not too many road accidents (the artery was low speed), but a building on the other side blew up one morning (natural gas explosion). There was a guy sleeping on the top/4th floor, he and his bed landed on top of a *big* pile of bricks and he was fine. Rest of the occupants were luckily away.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Thursday May 28 2020, @02:24PM
We assumed it was tire particulate, mostly because it was gritty.
My ducks are not in a row. I don't know where some of them are, and I'm pretty sure one of them is a turkey.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday May 28 2020, @09:26PM
I had an office that overlooked a freeway on ramp - the truck tire blowout was quite entertaining, as was the ensuing collision between the truck and the car driving next to him - car _almost_ reacted in time... no injuries. For added fun, we were a video security company and caught the whole thing on 30fps 1080p.
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