Hidden tyre chemical linked to aquatic deaths lacks tracking in India

Vehicles shed tiny particles from their tyres every time they move, and these particles carry a chemical that causes mass deaths among fish in urban streams when washed away by rain. The chemical is known as 6PPD, and it is added to tyres worldwide to protect the rubber from ozone and make tyres last longer.

The Discovery

Researchers in the United States published a study in the journal Science in December 2020 linking 6PPD-quinone, a byproduct formed when 6PPD reacts with ozone, to the rapid deaths of coho salmon. Scientists spent 20 years trying to solve this urban runoff mortality syndrome, where 90% of salmon returning to urban creeks died after rainstorms, before identifying the chemical as a lethal toxin. Paul Sharp, a chemist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri, notes that 6PPD-Q has no boundaries and ranks second among ten toxic chemical compounds harmful to aquatic life worldwide. Edward Kolodziej, a professor at the University of Washington, describes 6PPD-quinone as one of the most toxic compounds known to aquatic organisms.

The Situation in India

India sells more vehicles than ever, ranking as the world's third-largest automobile market after surpassing Japan. In the 2025-26 period, the auto sector grew by 10.4%, with record sales across passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers. Tyre production in India rose 21% in 2022 and 6% in 2023, according to the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association. N. Jayaraman, a professor and chair at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, states that no scientific data exists on 6PPD-Q levels in Indian road dust, stormwater, or water bodies. Indian tyres use 6PPD just like the rest of the world because it is the industry standard.

Risks and Regulations

Scrap tyres in India are shredded into crumb rubber and used as infill on sports fields, which is another source of 6PPD release, while the artificial turf sector in India is expanding. Jayaraman warns that India has weaker law enforcement than the Western world, lacks effective bodies to protect water bodies, and suffers from poor stormwater management where storm drains carry untreated sewage and rainwater together. Experts call for urgent policy measures to regulate 6PPD in the tyre industry until monitoring begins in road dust, drains, and rivers.

Context

Tyre wear particles are an invisible form of urban pollution created by daily driving habits across cities globally. When heavy rains occur, runoff washes these accumulated rubber particles off roads and directly into local drainage networks and natural water bodies. Because vehicles are essential for modern transport, finding alternative chemical additives that match the durability of 6PPD remains a major technical hurdle for the global manufacturing industry.