Unveiling spatiotemporal distribution, partitioning, and transport mechanisms of tire additives and their transformation products in a highly urbanized estuarine region.

Abstract

Numerous tire additives are high-production volume chemicals that are used extensively worldwide. However, their presence and partitioning behavior remain largely unknown, particularly in marine environments. This study is the first to reveal the spatiotemporal distribution, multimedia partitioning, and transport processing of 22 tire additives and their transformation products (TATPs) in a highly urbanized estuary (n = 166). Nineteen, 18, and 20 TATPs were detectable in water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments, respectively, with total levels of 59.7-2021 ng/L, 164-6935 ng/g, and 4.66-58.4 ng/g, respectively. The multimedia partitioning mechanisms of TATPs are governed by their molecular weight, hydrophobicity, and biodegradation rate. Mass inventories coupled with model simulations have revealed that substantial quantities of TATPs accumulate within estuarine environments, and these compounds can be continuously transported into the ocean, particularly during the wet season. According to the multi-criteria evaluation approach, four and three TATPs were identified as high-priority pollutants during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Unexpectedly, N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine quinone was only listed as a medium-priority pollutant. This study underscores the importance of marine surveillance and advocates for particular attention to these ubiquitous but underexplored TATPs in future studies.