New Report: Widespread Toxic Tyre Pollution Harmful to All Life is Entering UK Rivers
25th March 2025
A ground-breaking new report from Earthwatch Europe has confirmed that harmful chemicals from road runoff, particularly from tyres, are entering UK rivers and potentially causing serious environmental harm.
This innovative citizen science project, involving local residents from Oxfordshire, has tested the Evenlode river, a key tributary feeding into the Thames. The case study tests conducted by Earthwatch Europe, although focused on specific regions, provide compelling evidence of a nationwide problem. For years, road runoff has been identified as a significant source of pollution, but until now, the direct link between tyre wear and the chemicals it releases into freshwater ecosystems had not been thoroughly explored.
The study has demonstrated that a large number of toxic pollutants, including methylene chloride and n-hexane, are washing untreated from roads into our rivers and pose significant threats to both aquatic life and human health. Methylene chloride, a volatile solvent, can cause severe damage to aquatic ecosystems, leading to the disruption of reproductive processes, neurological damage, and even death in aquatic organisms. n-Hexane, another industrial solvent, has been shown to cause nerve damage in aquatic species and can accumulate up the food chain, potentially impacting humans who consume contaminated fish or water.
By involving local volunteers as part of the citizen science initiative, the study emphasizes the power of community-driven data in solving pressing environmental issues and is part of Earthwatch Europe’s ongoing, pioneering approach to improving the health of UK’s rivers.
Previously, Earthwatch has organised two Great UK WaterBlitz events, mobilising people up and down the country to test their local river for nutrient pollution. The reports from this campaign revealed where the most polluted waters were geographically and what cocktail of chemicals appeared in each area. Sewage, agricultural runoff, and road pollutants are all contributing to the degradation of vital river ecosystems, but the ability to engage communities in collecting such data is allowing for a nuanced understanding of the issue – vital if we are ever to find a solution.
Commenting on the tyre pollution report, Director of Science and Policy at Earthwatch Europe, Dr Sasha Woods says:
“Our research has compellingly demonstrated that tyre chemicals are entering our rivers, creating a toxic soup that threatens aquatic life. This study has also identified eleven compounds which have not been studied in the literature, but we have evidence to suggest are tyre chemicals, highlighting the concerning complexity of tyre pollution. The presence of these novel chemicals, alongside known toxins, underscores the need for greater research and regulatory attention on this issue. This should be a wake-up call: we need urgent action to address this pollution at its source and protect the health of our freshwater ecosystems.”
Dr Woods continued,
“Citizen scientists have played a crucial role in uncovering the extent of tyre pollution in our rivers. Their dedication has provided critical data, demonstrating the power of community involvement in environmental monitoring and the urgent need for authorities to integrate citizen science into their freshwater monitoring frameworks.”
Founder and CEO of Emissions Analytics, Nick Molden, added:
“Pollution from tyres increasingly looks like the big, unsung environmental impact of vehicles. While car exhausts are getting genuinely clean, and electric vehicles reduce emissions from brakes, tyre emissions are common to all vehicles and are getting worse as vehicles get bigger and heavier. We don’t see piles of tyre rubber at the roadside, but this doesn’t mean the problem is small. The rubber shed breaks down into invisibly small particles and the chemicals inside leak out, getting into soil and then water courses. Of the hundreds of tyre chemicals found in these rivers, we understand the potential toxicity of many, but many still have unknown impact. As regulators crack down on the amount of tyre rubber shed in real-world use, it is vital that the most toxic chemicals are also targeted to ensure we can clean up rivers as quickly as possible.”
This pioneering report is a wake-up call for policymakers, environmental groups, and individuals alike. It highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to tackle tyre pollution and protect freshwater ecosystems for generations to come. With mounting evidence, we urge the Environment Agency and Highway Agency to take tyre particulate matter more seriously; for authorities to integrate citizen science into their freshwater monitoring frameworks; and for citizen scientists to continue monitoring and advocating for a healthy freshwater future.
