Take toxins out of tires to protect salmon, other wildlife

Many individuals perceive that dams kill salmon — however what about tires? Most could be stunned to study that our tires produce the second-most poisonous chemical to aquatic species ever evaluated. But regardless of the deadly menace to aquatic species like Endangered Species Act-protected salmon and steelhead, tire producers proceed to depend on a harmful chemical referred to as 6PPD.  Earlier this month, our two teams representing Pacific coastal fishing-dependent communities filed suit in opposition to 13 of the most important U.S. tire producers to assist change that.  

When 6PPD reacts with ground-level ozone, it transforms into 6PPD-q — second only to the chemical war agent parathion in its toxicity to aquatic species. Whereas parathion has been banned across the globe, by some means the tire trade continues to get away with utilizing 6PPD regardless of its identified devastating impacts to salmon and steelhead, particularly in Puget Sound’s city waterways. Tire producers have identified for years that they should put money into much less poisonous options to 6PPD, but they proceed to kill fish which might be protected underneath the ESA.  

Lately, research discovered 6PPD-q primarily liable for “city runoff mortality syndrome,” which kills as much as 100% of coho salmon returning to spawn in city streams. Even very small exposures kill coho inside hours.  The substance is imperiling the restoration of 24 populations of coho and Chinook salmon — in addition to steelhead trout — which might be listed as endangered or threatened underneath the ESA.  Salmon and steelhead face numerous threats, together with from local weather change and drought, which is exactly why these fragile populations can not stand up to additional poisonous assault from 6PPD-q of their habitat.

Not solely is the tire trade’s continued use of 6PPD harming keystone species like salmon and steelhead, however additionally it is harming fishing communities which have lengthy relied upon the provision of those fish for his or her livelihoods. Coho salmon have been as soon as considerable for our area’s fishing operations, however that’s not the case, thanks partly to the toxicity of 6PPD-q.  

Chinook salmon as soon as supported tens of 1000’s of economic salmon fishing jobs on the West Coast. California’s total salmon fleet was thrown out of labor in 2023 as a result of too few salmon now survive as juveniles within the state’s rivers.  Many of those rivers are contaminated with 6PPD-q.  Very low coho numbers additionally legally prohibit business salmon harvesters from entry to extra considerable Chinook fisheries, and thus severely restrict their catch. 

Tire producers have used 6PPD in tires for the reason that Fifties to maintain them from degrading too shortly. Nonetheless, there are a variety of potential alternatives to 6PPD in tires. Analysis is underneath method in California and Washington, and preliminary options have been recognized. It’s time for trade to put money into choices that higher shield each our most weak aquatic species and West Coast fishing jobs.  

Whereas the vast majority of analysis has seemed on the impacts of 6PPD-q on salmon and steelhead, rising science has additionally pointed to toxicity in mammals — together with a possible danger to human well being. The chemical can also be current in sediments and soils, family mud and even human urine. Tire corporations ought to take a way more precautionary method with a chemical that has already confirmed so harmful to aquatic species.  

For years, city runoff mortality syndrome has decimated salmon returning to freshwater streams within the Pacific Northwest. We now know that 6PPD-q is essentially accountable for these die-offs, but tire corporations proceed to get away with blatant ESA violations that proceed to hurt each salmon and the livelihoods of fishing-dependent communities. The ESA exists to forestall precisely this sort of devastation. It’s time for these tire producers to be held accountable.