A ubiquitous tire rubber–derived chemical induces acute mortality in coho salmon

Abstract

Tire tread particles turn streams toxic For coho salmon in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, returning to spawn in urban and suburban streams can be deadly. Regular acute mortality events are tied, in particular, to stormwater runoff, but the identity of the causative toxicant(s) has not been known. Starting from leachate from new and aged tire tread wear particles, Tian et al. followed toxic fractions through chromatography steps, eventually isolating a single molecule that could induce acute toxicity at threshold concentrations of ∼1 microgram per liter. The compound, called 6PPD-quinone, is an oxidation product of an additive intended to prevent damage to tire rubber from ozone. Measurements from road runoff and immediate receiving waters show concentrations of 6PPD-quinone high enough to account for the acute toxicity events. Science , this issue p. 185

Keywords

Affiliated Institutions

• United States Fish and Wildlife Service US
• University of Toronto CA
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration US
• NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service US
• San Francisco Estuary Institute US
• University of Washington US
• The Scarborough Hospital CA
• Southern California Coastal Water Research Project US
• Center for Urban Waters US
• University of Washington Tacoma US
• Washington State University US
• NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Fisheries Science Center US

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