Australian Study Detects Tyre Wear Pollutants on Residential Balconies
Researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) have found tyre wear particles and tyre-related chemical additives in dust collected from residential balconies across Brisbane, providing the first quantitative evidence of tyre-derived pollutants accumulating on Australian homes. The findings highlight how traffic-related pollution can be transported through the air from busy roads into residential environments.
The research team, led by PhD candidate Simran Kaur at UQ's Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, analysed dust samples collected from 30 balconies located in inner-city, suburban and roadside areas between June 2024 and March 2025. Tyre additive chemicals were detected in 29 of the 30 samples, while 6PPD-quinone—a transformation product of a tyre protection additive previously linked to salmon mortality in North America—was identified on 23 balconies.
In addition to 6PPD-quinone, the researchers detected several other chemicals commonly associated with tyre manufacturing, including HMMM, 24MoBT, and 5-MBTR. According to the study, balconies located closer to Brisbane's central business district and at lower elevations generally showed higher concentrations of tyre-related pollutants, suggesting that urban traffic density and local airflow influence where these particles accumulate.
The researchers also found that wind speed played a significant role in transporting tyre wear particles from roads into residential areas. Their findings indicate that tyre pollution is not confined to road surfaces or stormwater systems but can become airborne and settle on buildings, raising new questions about environmental monitoring and potential human exposure in urban settings.
Globally, an estimated six million tonnes of tyre wear particles are released every year, making tyre abrasion one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution. Unlike exhaust emissions, tyre wear remains a challenge regardless of vehicle powertrain. The researchers noted that while electric vehicles reduce tailpipe emissions, their greater vehicle weight may contribute to increased tyre wear, meaning non-exhaust emissions are likely to remain an important environmental issue.
The University of Queensland believes the results could support future environmental monitoring programmes and encourage further research into improved tyre formulations, reduced tyre wear and better urban stormwater management. The study has been published in the scientific journal ACS ES&T Air, providing new insights into the movement of tyre-derived pollutants within densely populated urban environments.