In Tacoma, Washington, a lawsuit has been initiated by two California-based commercial fishing groups against the 13 leading tire manufacturers in the United States. The legal action aims to halt the use of a common tire chemical, 6PPD, which is implicated in the deaths of migrating salmon.
6PPD, a standard additive in tire manufacturing for the past six decades, is also prevalent in other products like footwear, synthetic turf, and playground equipment. When tires erode, they deposit minute rubber fragments on roadways and other surfaces. These fragments break down into a substance called 6PPD-quinone, which becomes lethal to salmon, steelhead trout, and a variety of other aquatic species when washed into waterways by rain.
Elizabeth Forsyth, an attorney with the environmental legal organization Earthjustice, representing the fishery groups, expressed the gravity of the situation: "This is the biggest environmental disaster that the world doesn’t quite know about yet. It’s causing devastating impacts to threatened and endangered species.”
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco by the Institute for Fisheries Resources and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. They are targeting major tire companies including Goodyear, Bridgestone, and Continental, among others.
Bridgestone, through spokesperson Steve Kinkade, declined to comment specifically on the ongoing legal case but stressed the company's dedication to safety, quality, and environmental responsibility, highlighting continued investment in the research for sustainable materials.
Other tire manufacturers implicated in the lawsuit have not provided comments. However, the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, although not a party in the suit, previously stated that efforts are in progress to discover an alternative to 6PPD that would still fulfill federal safety regulations.
"Our members continue to research and develop alternative tire materials that ensure tire performance and do not compromise safety, consistent with our industry’s commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment,” the association said.
6PPD, a standard additive in tire manufacturing for the past six decades, is also prevalent in other products like footwear, synthetic turf, and playground equipment. When tires erode, they deposit minute rubber fragments on roadways and other surfaces. These fragments break down into a substance called 6PPD-quinone, which becomes lethal to salmon, steelhead trout, and a variety of other aquatic species when washed into waterways by rain.
Elizabeth Forsyth, an attorney with the environmental legal organization Earthjustice, representing the fishery groups, expressed the gravity of the situation: "This is the biggest environmental disaster that the world doesn’t quite know about yet. It’s causing devastating impacts to threatened and endangered species.”
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco by the Institute for Fisheries Resources and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. They are targeting major tire companies including Goodyear, Bridgestone, and Continental, among others.
Bridgestone, through spokesperson Steve Kinkade, declined to comment specifically on the ongoing legal case but stressed the company's dedication to safety, quality, and environmental responsibility, highlighting continued investment in the research for sustainable materials.
Other tire manufacturers implicated in the lawsuit have not provided comments. However, the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, although not a party in the suit, previously stated that efforts are in progress to discover an alternative to 6PPD that would still fulfill federal safety regulations.
"Our members continue to research and develop alternative tire materials that ensure tire performance and do not compromise safety, consistent with our industry’s commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment,” the association said.
