An airing ... 6PPD-quinone

A FishyFriend recently observed “ …a disturbing report came my way today: a chemical industry analysis predicts sales of 6PPD to increase almost 5% per year in the foreseeable future [1].”

6PPD-quinone and it’s deleterious effects on Coho salmon hasn’t escaped the attention of researchers at WSU or ECY (the Washington State Department of Ecology), which is contemplating a rule-making process of a proposed revision to Ecology's Aquatic Life Toxics criteria to include 6PPD-quinone as a freshwater acute Aquatic Life Toxic pollutant (p18), with a freshwater acute concentration threshold of 0.008ug/L (1-hour exposure) (p.37). In fact, ECY is “... proposing to add sampling starting in year 3 of the permit for some transportation facilities.”. The discussion has been interesting …

While testing and monitoring for 6PPD-quinone is being proposed under ECY likely rulemaking, future mitigation to meet a maximum contaminant load will not be a fast or inexpensive proposition. Retrofitting infrastructure - much of it public roads and freeways - and nonpoint stormwater sources may prove a daunting task. In light of the fact that the area is already incurring tremendous costs simply accommodating the stormwater flows ...

Pending approval by the council, a new multi year business plan proposed by Public Utilities would set rates on a path to $325 per month for a typical house and $187 for a typical apartment by 2030, up from $245 for a house and $142 for an apartment today.

WRIA8 is urging Ecology to adopt the most stringent criteria (p37); while adding a sampling requirement in 3 years is the most likely outcome from the current process, what to do about it remains to be seen. In an age we find ourselves engaged in multi-year fish passage projects, nitrification from sewage treatment plants, and the usual water/sewer/SWRO maintenance, replacement and capacity expansion - the costs are spiraling completely out of control …

Well, while we could all stop driving or riding the bus. I’m thinking the solution may in large part be innovations in tire manufacturing. Tire companies add 6PPD to prevent tires from breaking down due to reactions with ozone and other reactive oxygen in the air. When 6PPD reacts with ozone, it forms 6PPD-quinone; tire particles are left on road surfaces and eventually get washed in the rain … making its way into lakes and streams where Coho salmon are exposed, leading to heightened pre-spawn mortality and other adverse effects. 

We wouldn’t simply accept unsafe tires which disintegrate in traffic any more than we will unaffordable infrastructure that breaks us financially.