Richard Baldauf | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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Presentation Description

With the declining tailpipe emissions from the US and worldwide motor vehicle fleets, impacts of tire and brake wear are an increasingly important area of interest. Emissions projections in the US estimate that soon tire and brake wear will be the dominant sources of particulate matter from on-road motor vehicles. Even with the electrification/decarbonization of the transport sector, these non-exhaust emissions will continue. Research shows that tire and brake wear can emit multiple compounds of environmental and human health concern including metals, PAHs, and microplastics. Recently, evidence has emerged that the compound 6PPD, used in tires as an anti-degradation chemical, reacts with ozone to form 6PPD-quinone which can be highly toxic to certain fish species. This presentation will provide background on the emissions characteristics from tire and brake wear, including 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone, and related potential health and environmental concerns, as well as describe an ongoing U.S. EPA study investigating airborne concentrations and size distributions of tire wear particles containing 6PPD. The presentation will also discuss some mitigation options being considered by stakeholders for TWPs and 6PPD/6PPD-quinone, including 6PPD alternatives and roadside green infrastructure that combines air removal with water treatment.

Speaker Biography

Rich Baldauf has over 20 years of experience conducting research on air pollution emissions and mitigation strategies for transportation sources while working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research & Development and the Office of Transportation & Air Quality. Dr. Baldauf has published over 100 journal articles and presented at over 150 professional workshops and conferences on these topics. He has also managed EPA's research programs on Near-Road Air Pollution and Sustainable Transportation. A recent area of research for him has been the use of urban green infrastructure as a means to improve local air quality and community livability

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