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. 2022 Apr 19;10(5):201.
doi: 10.3390/toxics10050201.

Ecological Impact of End-of-Life-Tire (ELT)-Derived Rubbers: Acute and Chronic Effects at Organism and Population Levels

Stefano Magni  1 , Erica Tediosi  2 , Daniela Maggioni  3 , Riccardo Sbarberi  1 , Francesca Noé  2 , Fabio Rossetti  4 , Daniele Fornai  5 , Valentina Persici  6 , Maria Chiara Neri  2
Affiliations

Ecological Impact of End-of-Life-Tire (ELT)-Derived Rubbers: Acute and Chronic Effects at Organism and Population Levels

Stefano Magni et al. Toxics. .

Abstract

Considering the large amount of tires that reach the end of life every year, the aim of this study was the evaluation of both acute and chronic effects of end-of-life-tire (ELT)-derived rubber granules (ELT-dg) and powder (ELT-dp) on a freshwater trophic chain represented by the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, the crustacean Daphnia magna and the teleost Danio rerio (zebrafish). Adverse effects were evaluated at the organism and population levels through the classical ecotoxicological tests. Acute tests on D. magna and D. rerio revealed a 50% effect concentration (EC50) > 100.0 mg/L for both ELT-dg and ELT-dp. Chronic exposures had a lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of 100.0 mg/L for both ELT-dg and ELT-dp on P. subcapitata grow rate and yield. LOEC decreased in the other model organisms, with a value of 9.8 mg/L for D. magna, referring to the number of living offspring, exposed to ELT-dg suspension. Similarly, in D. rerio, the main results highlighted a LOEC of 10.0 mg/L regarding the survival and juvenile weight parameters for ELT-dg and a LOEC of 10.0 mg/L concerning the survival and abnormal behavior in specimens exposed to ELT-dp. Tested materials exhibited a threshold of toxicity of 9.8 mg/L, probably a non-environmental concentration, although further investigations are needed to clarify the potential ecological impact of these emerging contaminants.

Keywords: acute and chronic effects; freshwater species; rubbers; tire particles.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors of ChemService and Lab Analysis Group (E.T., F.N., F.R. and M.C.N.) report a relationship with Ecopneus scpa (represented by D.F.), who financed the present work. V.P. of Waste and Chemicals srl reports a relationship with Ecopneus scpa (represented by D.F.) that includes consulting activity. Considering these aspects, we assure that no inappropriate data were presented in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SEM analysis of both ELT-dg (A,B) and ELT-dp (C,D). There is wide range of sizes and shapes of selected materials, with nanoparticles (size < 1 µm, based on classification proposed by Hartmann et al. [6] on plastic size) on the surface of a single ELT-dg (B) debris (indicated by arrows).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Zn versus ELT-dg and ELT-dp concentrations in the suspensions used in the different ecotoxicological tests at the beginning (t = 0) and at the end of each exposure. The concentration of Zn at t = 0 (fresh suspension) corresponds to Zn directly released by ELT-dg and ELT-dp in water (RSD range for groups of P. subcapitata = 0.22–1.43%; RSD range for groups of D. magna = 0.16–2.91%; RSD range for groups of D. rerio = 0.76–5.97%).
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM analysis of both ELT-dg (A) and ELT-dp (B) aqueous suspensions of 100.0 mg/L. These images confirm the presence of some micro- and nanoparticles (size < 1 µm, based on classification proposed by Hartmann et al. [6] on plastic size) in the selected exposure media.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Significant effects indicated by asterisks (** p < 0.01), control versus treated, induced by both ELT-dg (A) and ELT-dp (B) suspensions in P. subcapitata (cell density) at 24 (blue bars), 48 (red bars) and 72 h (green bars).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Significant effects indicated by asterisks (** p < 0.01), control versus treated, induced by ELT-dg suspension in D. magna (number of living offspring).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Significant effects indicated by asterisks (* p < 0.05), control versus treated, induced in D. rerio by both ELT-dp ((A); survival) and ELT-dg ((B); fish weight) suspensions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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