Driving Soils to Change: How Tyre Wear Particles Affect Soil Microbes and Vegetable Crops
Soil is often referred to as the “living skin” of the Earth, hosting a vast community of microorganisms that drive nutrient cycling, improve fertility, and support healthy plant growth. However, new forms of pollution are silently reshaping this delicate ecosystem. Among them, tyre wear particles (TWPs)—tiny fragments released from vehicle tyres during road use—are emerging as a hidden but significant threat to agricultural soils.
Tyre Wear Particles and Soil Microbes
When TWPs accumulate in soils, they introduce synthetic polymers, heavy metals, and other chemical residues. These particles not only persist for long periods but also interact directly with soil microbes. Microbial communities are highly sensitive to environmental disturbances, and TWPs can alter their diversity and functions. Such disruptions may weaken essential processes like organic matter decomposition, nitrogen cycling, and pathogen suppression.
Impacts on Crop Performance
Vegetable crops, being directly dependent on soil health, show noticeable effects when exposed to TWP-contaminated soils. Studies suggest reduced germination rates, stunted root development, and nutrient uptake imbalances. While some plants may tolerate low levels of TWPs, prolonged exposure risks lowering yields and compromising food quality. This raises serious concerns about food security and the sustainability of intensive agriculture.
Broader Environmental Implications
The problem extends beyond individual fields. As TWPs accumulate in ecosystems, they contribute to soil degradation, loss of microbial biodiversity, and long-term fertility decline. Since agriculture relies on healthy soils, addressing this hidden pollutant is vital for climate-resilient and sustainable food production systems.
Toward Solutions
Mitigating the effects of TWPs requires both technological and ecological strategies. Improved tyre design, road runoff management, and soil remediation techniques are key engineering approaches. On the ecological side, enhancing soil organic matter, introducing resilient microbial inoculants, and diversifying cropping systems may buffer soils against TWP toxicity. Policymakers, researchers, and farmers must work together to recognize tyre wear as an environmental pollutant and develop integrated solutions.
Conclusion
Soils are dynamic ecosystems that underpin agriculture and food production. As tyre wear particles continue to infiltrate fields, their silent impact on microbial-mediated soil functions and crop performance cannot be ignored. Understanding and mitigating these effects is not just a scientific challenge—it is a crucial step toward protecting soil health, ensuring food security, and building sustainable agricultural futures.
7th Edition of Applied Scientist Awards | 28-29 August 2025 | Berlin, Germany
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