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Environment

Toxic chemicals from car tyres can get into soil and contaminate food

Governments need to take action to protect people from potentially toxic additives in tyre rubber, say researchers after finding they can get into food from contaminated soil

By Michael Le Page

29 April 2024

Wear from car tyres produces tiny particles that pollute the air and water

shine.graphics/Shutterst​ock

Toxic additives in tyre rubber can leach into soil, be taken up by plants and end up in our food, according to the latest study highlighting a major source of pollution that is largely unregulated.

“It’s too early to say there’s no risk or high risk from food at the moment, but this might change in the next five years,” says Thilo Hofmann at the University of Vienna in Austria. “Tyre wear particles are a major environmental and health concern, in some cases bigger…

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