Tire wear particles (TWPs) account for around 60 per cent of microplastic emissions in Central Europe. Due to their persistence, chemical additives, heavy metals and potential to disrupt soil processes, crop health and food production, TWPs are a major driver of global change. Despite their widespread occurrence, the impact of TWPs on the crop-soil system and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Most studies examine isolated components of the soil system and use freshly generated TWP. However, road-emitted particles age over time, which alters their physical and chemical properties, as well as their environmental effects.
Work Package 1 involves comparing fresh and soil-aged TWP to evaluate the impact of ageing on particle size, shape, surface characteristics, chemical composition and the leaching of additives, as well as their influence on crop–soil interactions. Work Package 2 investigates the impact of TWP on soil and the nitrogen cycle under varying concentrations of TWP and nitrogen deposition, integrating microbial, biochemical and plant responses. Metagenomics, transcriptomics and N-cycling enzyme analyses will reveal the direct and microbially mediated effects on crop development, nutrition and health. Work Package 3 uses an inverse stable ⁶⁷Zn isotope approach to trace TWP-derived zinc in soils and crops, distinguishing it from natural soil zinc pools.
By combining advanced chemical, biological and molecular analyses, this project will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of TWP on the functioning of agroecosystems, informing risk assessment and strategies for sustainable food production.
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