Lost at Sea - where are all the tyre particles? (TYRE-LOSS)

在英国，每年有3300亿英里的公路行驶里程，由于轮胎和路面之间的摩擦，产生了合成橡胶颗粒。据估计，轮胎磨损可能占释放到英国地表水的所有微塑料的65%（每年18,000吨）。然而，这些估计与环境数据截然不同，聚乙烯、聚丙烯、聚苯乙烯和PET是微塑料的主要类型，在全球范围内，只有大约1%的研究报告发现了任何轮胎颗粒。这种矛盾令人担忧，因为轮胎含有一系列潜在的有害化学物质，这些化学物质已被证明会对海洋生物造成伤害。轮胎颗粒很难从环境样本中识别出来，这可能解释了模型估计和实际现场抽样之间的差异。在这个提议中，我们将使用一种最近由团队试验过的方法，该方法表明，大量的轮胎颗粒确实通过雨水、废水和空气中的灰尘进入了海洋。该项目将测量轮胎颗粒进入海洋环境时的浓度，然后描述它们在水柱中的后续运输。我们将在距离这些颗粒入海地点越来越远的地方测量水、沉积物和海洋生物中的浓度，并建立和验证数学模型，以描述轮胎颗粒在近海水域的扩散。然后将利用这些信息确定在与环境有关的浓度下对海洋生物造成任何相关风险的可能性。该提案汇集了普利茅斯大学、埃克塞特大学和纽卡斯尔大学、普利茅斯海洋实验室和一个由14个组织组成的咨询小组，包括政策制定者、轮胎、汽车、塑料和水行业，以及学术界和环境慈善机构（见支持信）。我们的研究团队包括微塑料、海洋垃圾、环境化学、海岸动力学和生态毒理学领域的世界领先专家，他们在该领域开展了许多合作项目，共同撰写了论文并获得了奖项。他们之前的研究对全球范围内的政策和行业产生了重大而广泛的影响，有助于减少环境中的塑料污染。近年来，媒体对塑料污染的关注相当多，这已经转化为公众、政策制定者和行业采取行动的紧急呼吁。然而，目前对最适当的行动的了解不够明确和可靠，缺乏关于包括轮胎颗粒在内的各种微塑料来源的相对重要性和相关风险的信息。因此，本研究的结果对于指导政策和行业干预具有至关重要的意义。到2050年，道路车辆数量将增加一倍，导致颗粒物排放增加；然而，有一些干预措施可以降低轮胎颗粒的产生速度，因此提出的研究既紧迫又及时。该项目的成果将通过一份专门的关于沟通和影响的工作包广泛传播，并由一名影响倡导者和专门为该项目的组建的咨询小组提供便利。

In the UK 330 billion road miles are driven every year, generating particles of synthetic rubber as a consequence of friction between the tyre and the road surface. It has been estimated that tyre wear could account for 65% (18,000 tonnes annually) of all microplastics released to UK surface waters. However, these estimates are in stark disagreement with environmental data where polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and PET are the main types of microplastics and on a global scale only around 1% of studies report finding any tyre particles at all. This contradiction is concerning because tyres contain a range of potentially hazardous chemicals which have been shown to cause harm to marine life. Tyre particles are challenging to identify from environmental samples and this might explain the discrepancies between modelling estimates and actual field sampling. In this proposal, we will use an approach that has been recently trialled by the team and has shown that very substantial quantities of tyre particles are indeed entering the sea via storm water, waste water and from airborne dust. This project will measure tyre particle concentrations at their points of entry to the marine environment and then describe their subsequent transport in the water column. We will measure concentrations in the water, sediment and marine life at increasing distances from the places where these particles enter the sea and construct and validate mathematical models to describe the dispersal of tyre particles in inshore waters. This information will then be used establish the potential for any associated risks to marine life at environmentally relevant concentrations. The proposal brings together the Universities of Plymouth, Exeter and Newcastle, together with Plymouth Marine Laboratory and an Advisory Group comprising 14 organisations including policy makers, tyre, automobile, plastics and water industries as well as academia and environmental charities (see letters of support). Our research team includes world-leading experts in microplastics, marine litter, environmental chemistry, coastal dynamics and ecotoxicology who have pioneered the field with numerous collaborative projects, jointly authored papers and awards for their work. Their previous research has had significant, broad impact influencing policy and industry on a global scale to help reduce plastic contamination in the environment. There has been considerable media attention on plastic pollution in recent years and this has translated into an urgent call for action by the public, policy makers and industry. However, current understanding of the most appropriate actions is less clear and reliable information on the relative importance and associated risks from various sources of microplastic, including tyre particles, is lacking. The outcomes of this research are therefore of critical importance to guide policy and industry intervention. The number of road vehicles is set to double by 2050 leading to increased particle emissions; however, there are interventions that could reduce the rate of tyre particle generation, hence the proposed research is both urgent and timely.The outcomes of this project will be widely disseminated via a dedicated Work Package on communication and impact, facilitated by an Impact Champion and the Advisory Group that has been specifically assembled for the project.