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This reminded me of an old article I read about this from `Straight Dope` years ago (2006 in fact!)[0]. > Pollution studies in the Los Angeles basin in the 198
by swifthesitation 2y ago
This reminded me of an old article I read about this from `Straight Dope` years ago (2006 in fact!)[0].
> Pollution studies in the Los Angeles basin in the 1980s concluded that more than five tons of breathable tire dust were released into the atmosphere there each day, and there’s no reason to think that figure’s gone down since.
[0] https://www.straightdope.com/21343778/when-the-rubber-meets-the-road-where-does-it-go https://www.straightdope.com/21343778/when-the-rubber-meets-...
- rootusrootus 2y agoFive tons sounds like a lot. But on the other hand, the Los Angeles basin sounds pretty big. (a quick check suggests it is about 1200 square miles) The AQI there looks good.
- pajko 2y agoDon't assume that the distribution is uniform.
- rootusrootus 2y agoI'm only making the assumptions that I can given what little information is contained in the original statement. We would need better quality information to make any further inferences.
- dv_dt 2y agoAqi doesn't measure this, does it?
- rootusrootus 2y agoIs tire particulate too big to show up in the AQI measurement? If so, does it fall out of the air so fast that it isn't really a problem?
- dv_dt 2y agoThe Aqi is an index which is guided only in part by Particulate Matter measurements. The index part was definitely designed before microplastics research without knowledge or regard to is effects. Pm100 doesnt register them, PM2.5 may register them, but grossly with any other particulates of that size - so you dont know if the captured particulates are microplastics or something else or something in between
- barfingclouds 2y agoAs someone who lived in LA, the air quality is usually moderate or above, like all the time. I consider that not good
- slavik81 2y agoWhat's the dust that coats everything stored in a parking garage? Is that tire dust or something else?
- Two4 2y agoTire and brake dust, sand, little bit of grease, some soot settling out of the smog, maybe some salt (if you're by the sea)
- hinkley 2y agoOr in an area that salts the roads in winter.
- voidfunc 2y agoI used to have an apartment abutting a parking garage and also above a busy three lane road.. the worst black dust and grime everywhere. Pretty sure moving out of that apartment probably added years back to my life.