The importance of removing harmful debris, such as tires, from the Fraser River Estuary cannot be overstated. Between 2021 and 2024, the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Fraser River Tidal Marsh Clean-up team worked tirelessly to tackle this issue.
Crew members reported finding a wide range of random debris in the estuary—shoes, hats, flip-flops—scattered across islands where few people venture. Among the items removed, tires stood out as one of the most commonly found and environmentally hazardous, with the team removing hundreds to help protect the local ecosystem.
Most of the tires discovered during the clean-up efforts had either been dumped directly into local waterways or broken loose from floating infrastructure, eventually washing up downstream.
The removal of large debris, such as tires, is necessary not only to prevent the smothering of marsh vegetation but also to avoid the gradual breakdown of materials that can leach these toxic chemicals into the environment.
These leachates included microplastics, heavy metals, and various chemicals, all aimed at enhancing tire durability for driving; however, their harmful effects on vegetation, fish, and animals degrade ecosystems when they enter waterways.
Of particular concern is 6PPD, a common antiozonant used in tires.
According to research conducted by the University of Washington and other collaborators, 6PPD, a chemical used in tires to prevent degradation, reacts with ozone and converts into 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q). This chemical transformation has been identified as the cause of acute mortality in coho salmon, with concentrations as low as 0.1 parts per billion causing death in 40-90% of exposed salmon populations. Further studies have confirmed that 6PPD-q poses a similar threat to other salmon species, including Chinook and steelhead.
As the Fraser River Estuary, along with many other waterways, is home to several salmon species, including coho, Chinook, and steelhead, it is critical to minimize the amount of 6PPD-q entering these ecosystems. The chemicals released through tire degradation have severe consequences for salmon populations, leading to serious illness or even death. This poses a significant threat not only to local fish species but also to salmon in other vulnerable watersheds. Reducing the presence of 6PPD-q in all waterways is essential to safeguarding these species and promoting healthier aquatic ecosystems.
What can you do?
1. Proper Tire Disposal
For tires still in circulation, the best action any consumer in B.C. can take is to ensure that old tires are safely discarded at local recycling centers or automobile tire shops where they will be recycled properly. Tire Stewardship BC is responsible for the collection and recycling of tires in the province, ensuring that discarded tires do not end up in landfills or local waterways. As they emphasize, “Every tire can be recycled.”
For more information on how to recycle your tires and find drop-off locations, visit the Tire Stewardship BC website.
2. Government Action on 6PPD
Currently, governments are under pressure to ban chemicals like 6PPD from use in tire manufacturing. There have been calls for an assessment of 6PPD under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and the hope is that government action will result in reducing or eliminating its use in tire production.
3. Contact Your MLA
To help address this issue, consumers can contact their MLA to request action on 6PPD in tires. Just as government intervention through the Montreal Protocol (signed in 1987) successfully phased out harmful chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the past, we need regulation today to address the damage these modern chemicals are causing.
4. Organize Clean-up Events
In addition to advocating for policy changes, you can take direct action by organizing a clean-up event in your neighborhood or nearby riparian areas to remove tires and other debris from local waterways. Visit our “5 Tips for Your Next Clean-up Event” guide for tips on organizing your own initiative!
What was the Montreal Protocol?
The Montreal Protocol was a groundbreaking international treaty designed to eliminate the production of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances. This successful global agreement demonstrates the power of regulation in reducing environmental damage and offers a model for addressing toxic chemicals like 6PPD in tire manufacturing today. For more information on the Montreal Protocol, visit the United Nations Ozone Secretariat.
References
Greer, J. B., Dalsky, E. M., Lane, R. F., & Hansen, J. (2023). Tire-derived transformation product 6PPD-quinone induces mortality and transcriptionally disrupts vascular permeability pathways in developing coho salmon. Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01040
Washington State Department of Ecology. (2023). Focus on: Monitoring 6PPD-q in the environment. Washington State Department of Ecology. https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/SummaryPages/2303017.html
University of Washington. (2020). Tire-related chemical is largely responsible for adult coho salmon deaths in urban streams. UW News. https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/12/03/tire-related-chemical-coho-salmon-deaths/
BCWF Watershed Team 
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