Salmon is a core part of British Columbia’s history. Each spring through summer, hundreds of millions of salmon spawned in the province’s rivers and streams.
However, due to climate change, habitat destruction, overharvesting and hatcheries, salmon populations face an unprecedented crisis.
And now, a lesser-known yet deadly threat is accelerating their decline: tire pollution.
Tire Pollutants and Salmon: A Hidden Environmental Threat
With the rates of Salmon die-offs increasing, studies are identifying the chemical compounds released by tire-wear as among the key culprits in the acceleration of Salmon die-off.
As tires wear down, they release microscopic particles, containing a range of chemical compounds. Rain washes these particles from roads into nearby waterways, where they accumulate often silently and dangerously.
Among the most harmful is 6PPD-quinone, a byproduct of a chemical used to prevent tires from breaking down too quickly. While this extends tires life, it has a devastating effect on salmon populations.
In fact, scientific studies increasingly identify tire pollutants and salmon mortality as directly connected. Making tire runoff one of the leading causes of salmon die-offs.
The studies have shown that even trace amounts of 6PPD-quinone can be lethal to salmon, interfering with their ability to survive in their native habitats.
Salmon Die-Offs in British Columbia
The connection between tire pollutants and salmon deaths is no longer theoretical. In British Columbia, the situation has reached a critical point. In Cowichan, Vancouver Island, where hundreds of fish were found dead in the Somenos Marsh. Their deaths linked not only to climate change but also the tire pollutants that wash into the streams.
This not only threatens the survival of these species but also impacts the entire ecosystem, including the local communities, industries and first nation’s populations.
Innovative Solutions: Technology, Infrastructure & Policy
The urgent need to address this issue is felt through the various technological and infrastructural solutions that are being proposed.
1. Permeable Pavement
One promising approach involves the development of permeable pavement. This type of pavement allows water to pass through, filtering out harmful pollutants like those from tires before they can reach rivers and streams .
2. Particule Capture Technology
Another innovative solution comes from startups focused on capturing tire wear particles before they even hit the ground. By installing devices that collect these particles directly from the source, the toxic runoff entering the waterways can be significantly reduced.
3. Clean Tech R&D and Government Support
The Canadian government has provided funding for companies like Applied Quantum Materials Inc., Nova Graphene Canada Inc., and Stema Punch and Die Inc., that are directly involved with R&D related to microplastics capture and tire longevity.
Funding Innovation to Fight Pollution
Although, these solutions hold great promise, they require further development, testing, and widespread implementation. To this end, innovative government funding solutions are being proposed to accelerate the development and commercialization of clean and sustainable technologies.
Companies and researchers working on innovative solutions to environmental challenges are invited to explore the funding opportunities available, as governments at both provincial and federal levels are increasingly recognizing the importance of supporting clean R&D.
Are you working on clean technologies or innovative environmental solutions? Contact Leyton to explore the financial support options available to you.
