Abundance and distribution of tire and road wear particles in the Seine River, France

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) concentrations in the Seine River, France, show a significant decrease from historical data, with sediment-based estimates revealing higher levels than surface water measurements. The study employed a modified pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) method to minimize matrix interferences, improving upon current ISO standards for TRWP analysis. Additionally, the zinc content in sediment provided an alternative estimate, showing significantly higher TRWP concentrations than the Py-GC/MS method. Samples were collected from eight locations along the Seine, including urban and undeveloped areas, as well as near its estuary mouth, with sediment traps deployed to quantify TRWP flux. The findings highlight the importance of refined analytical methods for accurate environmental risk assessment.

Barber, T. R., Claes, S., Ribeiro, F., Dillon, A. E., More, S. L., Thornton, S., Unice, K. M., Weyrauch, S., & Reemtsma, T. (2024). Abundance and distribution of tire and road wear particles in the Seine River, France. Science of the Total Environment, 913, 169633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169633