Identifying Chemical Fingerprints to Track Tire Wear Particle Pollution in Watersheds (2025 Fast-Track Grant)

Identifying Chemical Fingerprints to Track Tire Wear Particle Pollution in Watersheds (2025 Fast-Track Grant) is sponsored by Minnesota Sea Grant. This project, led by the University of Minnesota Duluth, Natural Resources Research Institute, aims to identify chemical 'fingerprints' of Tire Wear Particles (TWPs) and understand how sunlight and natural organic matter affect their breakdown.

Identifying Chemical Fingerprints to Track Tire Wear Particle Pollution in Watersheds | Minnesota Sea Grant A Program of the University of Minnesota Identifying Chemical Fingerprints to Track Tire Wear Particle Pollution in Watersheds A man in jeans holds up a tire that has separated from its treads. Image credit: TireZoo/ Flickr .

Tracking Tire Wear Pollution to Protect Lake Superior Watersheds Tire wear particles (TWPs) are an emerging source of water pollution in urban runoff, releasing chemicals like 6PPD‑quinone – used in almost all vehicle tires to protect rubber from cracking – that are highly toxic to fish.

This project, led by the University of Minnesota Duluth, Natural Resources Research Institute, is working to identify chemical “fingerprints” of TWPs and understand how sunlight and natural organic matter affect their breakdown.

By developing ways to detect these contaminants in streams, researchers aim to help watershed managers pinpoint pollution sources, reduce risks to fish populations, and protect the health of Lake Superior’s watersheds. This project is supported by a Minnesota Sea Grant 2025 Fast-Track Grant.

Lead Principal Investigator: Aqueous Geochemist, Natural Resources Research Institute University of Minnesota Duluth Co-Principal Investigator: Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Minnesota Duluth This project supports Minnesota Sea Grant's focus area in Healthy Coastal Ecosystems.

By developing ways to detect TWP contaminants in streams, researchers aim to help watershed managers pinpoint pollution sources, reduce risks to fish populations, and protect the health of Lake Superior’s watersheds. Aqueous Geochemist, Natural Resources Research Institute University of Minnesota Duluth A Firm and Flaky Fish Tale A Fish Barn at the Minnesota State Fair?

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