This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Thursday 17 September 2020
Tyre Suckers?
Students from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art have sucked up the James Dyson Award for developing a device that can be fitted to each of the tyres of a car (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/17/device-to-curb-microplastic-emissions-wins-james-dyson-award). The devices would collect the microplastic particles produced by wear on the tyres, as the vehicle thunders down our roads and motorways. It has been established that microplastics from tyres and brake linings are very serious sources of plastic pollution, that is easily washed into rivers and seas. The particles are so tiny, that they are easily taken up as 'food' by small organisms and enter food chains (we may get them back in fish that we eat). Whilst the devices would do nothing for brake emissions, if adopted widely, they could greatly reduce (the much larger) emissions from tyres. This would be irrespective of how the vehicle is powered (they would work on electric as well as diesel cars). I have just a couple of questions. What incentive could be put in place for car manufacturers and/or owners to have the devices fitted? In deed, would just the one company be producing them, as an optional extra for green-inclined car owners? How are they powered and how frequently do they need to be emptied? Who would collect and dispose of the accumulated microplastics? It's a nice idea but I can't see it being widely adopted.
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