Where do tyre particles go? Tracking tyre-related microplastic pollution in the Australian environment

Every time we drive, our tyres slowly wear down, releasing tiny particles into the environment. These are called tyre wear particles, and they are now recognised as one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution. Australia has a high reliance on cars and road transport, meaning a large number of tyres are used every year. Over time, these tyres not only wear down into the environment but also contribute to growing amounts of end-of-life tyres in landfills and stockpiles. As they degrade, they release particles and chemicals into the surrounding environment.

Tyres are made from synthetic rubber and a mix of chemicals that help them perform better and last longer. As tyres wear down, these chemicals can be carried into the air we breathe, the soil beneath us, and the water systems around us. One chemical of particular concern is 6PPD, which is added to tyres to prevent them from breaking down. When it reacts with ozone in the air, it forms a new compound called 6PPD-quinone. This compound has been shown to be toxic to some fish species and has even been detected in human urine. Despite growing global awareness, we still know very little about how widespread this pollution is in Australia. To address this, researchers from QAEHS (The University of Queensland) and the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) are studying where these particles and chemicals end up, across waterways, sediments, and even household dust in urban areas. This research aims to better understand how tyre pollution moves through our environment, where it accumulates, and what it might mean for ecosystems and human health, bringing attention to a form of pollution we encounter every day, but rarely see.

Research Outcomes

• Continued collaboration with government and research partners to support environmental monitoring and policy-relevant outcomes (Conducted field sampling in Oxley Creek, 20^th May 2025, to investigate tyre wear particles (TWPs), tyre additive chemicals (TACs), and microplastics, with findings currently under review for reporting (2025-2026).

• Presented research on Understanding tyre related pollution in the QLD environment at the QAES/Seqwater Training Day (26^th March 2026), engaging with water professionals and stakeholders.

Community Outreach

• Mentored Year 9 and 10 students as part of the Wonder of Science program, inspiring interest in STEM through interactive learning and guided inquiry projects.
• Participated in regional outreach through a Mount Isa school visit, delivering science workshops and engaging with students and teachers to STEM and scientific thinking.
• Delivered workshops and activities designed to communicate complex STEM topics in an accessible and engaging way for school audiences.
• Delivered a community presentation on Microplastics and Research at QAEHS at The Gap Sustainability Initiative (16^th September 2025).
• Participated in science communication and outreach through Wonder of Science, including school visits (workshops and mentoring) and the World Science Festival Queensland Ipswich Community Day (2025).
• Published community-focused article: “The Hidden Life of Our Tyres: The Quiet Connection Between Roads and Creeks in The Gap” (The Gap Sustainability Initiative blog, https://thegapsustainability.org/the-hidden-life-of-our-tyres/ ): 25^th February 2026.

Industry Placement

February - May 2024: Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI); assisted with field sampling and turtle collections.

Beale, D.J., Limpus, D., Sinclair, G., Bose, U., Bourne, N., Stockwell, S., Lettoof, D.C., Shah, R., Nguyen, T.V., Gonzalez-Astudillo, V. and Braun, C., 2024. Forever chemicals don't make hero mutant ninja turtles: Elevated PFAS levels linked to unusual scute development in newly emerged freshwater turtle hatchlings (Emydura macquarii macquarii) and a reduction in turtle populations. Science of the Total Environment, 956, p.176313.

Conference Abstracts

Served on the Local Organising Committee for the Plastics2026 conference, 1-3 March 2026.

Kaur, S., Rauert, C. & Thomas, K.V. Where do tyre particles go? Quantifying and identifying tyre wear particles in balcony road dust, SETAC Australasia, New Zealand, 25-28 August 2025.

Kaur, S., Rauert, C. & Thomas, K.V. A comprehensive analysis of tyre additive chemicals in the Moreton Bay Catchment, SETAC Asia-Pacific 14^th Biennial Meeting, China, 21-25 September 2024.

Kaur, S., Rauert, C. & Thomas, K.V. From tyres to tides: Investigating tyre additive chemicals in the Moreton Bay Catchment, Queensland, International Mass Spectrometry Conference 2024, Melbourne, Australia, 17-23 August 2024.

Kaur, S., Rauert, C. & Thomas, K. A comprehensive analysis of tyre additive chemicals in the Moreton Bay catchment, Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 9 February 2024.

Kaur, S., Rauert, C. & Thomas, K.V. Plastic in your garden? A study investigating microplastics and bioplastics in commercial & home-made composts, SETAC Australasia 2023, Townsville, Australia, 7-11 August 2023.

Kaur, S., Rauert, C. & Thomas, K.V. Road to contamination: Quantification and identification of tyre wear particles in balcony dust, SETAC Australasia 2023, Townsville, Australia, 7-11 August 2023.

Kaur, S., Rauert, C., Thomas, K. V. Quantification and identification of microplastics in compost using Pyrolysis GC-MS method. Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium, Brisbane, Australia,1 December-2 December 2022.

Research Outputs

Kaur, S., Okoffo, E.D., Thomas, K.V. and Rauert, C., 2025. Unearthing the hidden plastic in garden compost. Science of The Total Environment, 973, p.179153.

Media

• ABC Radio 612 Brisbane Interview (15 July 2024, 06:25 AM) – Featured in a discussion on tyre wear particles in balcony dust near major roads, calling for volunteers to contribute balcony dust samples for the investigation of tyre wear particles and tyre additive chemicals.
• LCGC International (12 May 2025) - Unearthing the Hidden Plastic in Garden Compost.

Awards and Prizes

• 2022 Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium (QMSS), Second place for Best Student Poster - Quantification and identification of microplastics in compost using Pyrolysis GC-MS method.
• 2024 Three Minute Thesis School of Pharmacy/QAEHS Competition, First prize for presentation on "The secret life of tyres: unveiling their hidden impact".
• 2024 Three Minute Thesis Health and Behavioural Sciences Faculty Competition, Finalist.
• 2024 SETAC Travel Grant ($2,350) for the Asia-Pacific Conference in Tianjin, China.
• 2025 Three Minute Thesis School of Pharmacy/QAEHS Competition, Runner Up for presentation on "Who let the crumbs out?"
• 2025 Best Presentatioin Award at the QAEHS Annual Research Forum.
• 2026 Finalist in LGC Standards Virtual Poster Competition “Microplastics in Focus: Lightening talks on research and measurement”: Who let the crumbs out?.