What is 6PPD-q?
The Tire Chemical Threatening Salmon
A toxic chemical from tire wear is entering our streams and causing pre-spawn mortality in salmon at low concentrations
Tire → road dust → rain → storm drain → stream → salmon
6PPD is a chemical added to tires to prevent cracking
When tires wear down, particles wash into waterways
It transforms into 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q)
6PPD-q is highly toxic to coho salmon, lethal in microscopic doses
Emerging research is also illuminating the impacts to other native fish such as cutthroat trout and chinook.
Learn more with the links below:
Publication in Science 2023: A ubiquitous tire rubber–derived chemical induces acute mortality in coho salmon by Tian et al.
Every tire produces a chemical that kills coho salmon. Can scientists pump the brakes?
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