University of Silesia in Katowice

Examining whether the population of herbivorous invertebrates changes depending on the distance from the traffic lane. We will also examine what other types of pollution can be observed alongside tire dust, and if the particles, both additionally contaminated and these with other types of pollutants, eaten by the examined invertebrates cause changes in their biological processes.

key words: physio-chemistry of dust, model species, soil, leaves, insects

It is estimated that an average car emits 5.8 mg of tire dust per 1 kilometre daily. With an average of 50,000 cars driving along Polish A4 motorway every day, this results in 290 g of dust/km. This amount creates environmental pressure in the form of pollution reaching various organisms living along this express-way. Dust gets into the soil or groundwater; it also remains on plants. Thus, it is either inhaled or consumed by these organisms. Furthermore, the indirect effect of dust involves its ability to absorb or adsorb other types of pollutants, such as metals from brake pad abrasion.

The goal of the project is an analysis of the results of such emissions on soil and aquatic ecosystems. The interactions of micro-particles from tire abrasion with other types of pollutants are also not well studied. The members of the project team will carry it out on two complementary levels: in field studies, taking samples of soil, plants and invertebrates, and during laboratory tests, in which they will analyse the effects of exposure of model organisms to different types of dust under controlled conditions.

The research will be conducted in two locations: an urban, forest-free area at the intersection of DK86 with ul. Wiejska (Czeladź) and ul. Józefa Piłsudskiego (Będzin), near a shopping centre (50.314018, 19.108945) and in a forested area along the same route at the intersection with ul. Katowicka in Tychy (50.165433, 19.015917).