Project abstract summaryproject title: bioavailability and tissue distribution of 6PPDQ and other organic pollutantsproject dates: 5 16 2025 through 5 15 2027AWARD purpose: this study will determine…

The University of Washington received a $228,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Research and Data Collection program (CFDA 15.808) for a two-year project running from May 16, 2025 through May 15, 2027. The award supports research to determine the bioavailability and environmental fate of 6-PPD-quinone (6PPDQ) and other tire rubber-derived chemicals in aquatic ecosystems. Through controlled fish exposure studies, the recipient will analyze the degradation of tire chemicals in water, assess their toxicity to fish, investigate chemical uptake and detoxification mechanisms within fish tissues, and evaluate safer alternative chemical compounds for tire manufacturing.

The project will generate peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, presentations, and outreach materials presenting data on the environmental fate, transport, and toxicity properties of polyphenylenediamine (PPD) antioxidants and related tire rubber chemicals. These deliverables are intended to provide data-driven guidance for identifying safer tire chemical formulations and improved prediction models for commonly used tire additives that require environmental management. The findings are expected to benefit the general public, natural resource management agencies, commercial and recreational fisheries, the tire industry, and stormwater management professionals by informing policy decisions that improve water quality and reduce aquatic contamination from tire wear particles.

Activities

This study will help to understand the fate of tire rubber derived chemicals, especially the highly toxic 6PPDQ, after they enter water and fish are exposed to them. During fish exposure studies, the recipient will test the exposure water to understand the degradation of various tire chemicals and assess what chemicals are most harmful to fish. The recipient will investigate the uptake of these chemicals into fish to see how the fish detoxify them and move them around the body of the fish. They will also seek to test possible 6PPD alternative chemicals to TRY and identify the safest chemicals that could be used in tires.deliverables and expected outcomes: to determine safe tire chemicals and less toxic chemicals in consumer products, this study will generate data concerning the environmental fate of PPD antioxidants and other chemicals used in tire rubbers. This data can be used to help manage these chemicals in the environment. The recipient will communicate this data in one or more peer reviewed manuscripts as well as presentations and other outreach materials. The expected outcome of these studies is data-driven guidance on safer and less toxic chemical ingredients of tires, including improved prediction of chemical properties, fate, and transport for commonly used tire chemicals that need management. In the long term, these findings should translate to better water quality, more fish, and reduced needs for stormwater treatment.intended beneficiary(IES): the general public, natural resource management agencies, commercial and recreational fishermen, the tire industry, and managers of stormwater runoff.

Subrecipient activities

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