New study validates enhanced Pyrolysis-GC/MS method for quantifying tire and road wear particles in the environment
- Supported by TIP and conducted by Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., a new study has successfully tested an improved Pyrolysis-GC/MS (Py-GC/MS) method for quantifying tire and road wear particles (TRWP) in soil and sediment, confirming robustness and accuracy across the varying compositions of tires from different regions.
- The findings support harmonization efforts and may inform future refinement of standardized analytical methods for TRWP measurement such as ISO/DIS 213961, ISO/AWI 205932 and others.
Geneva, November 13, 2025—The Tire Industry Project (TIP) announces the publication of a new scientific study that confirms the robustness of an improved Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) method for quantifying tire and road wear particles (TRWP) in environmental samples.
Titled “Pyrolysis-GC/MS calibration for environmental quantification of tire tread: Standards and marketplace averaged elastomer subunit profiles” and published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere’s September 2025 volume, the study validates a Py-GC/MS protocol that now improves accuracy and reproducibility in quantifying TRWPs in soil and sediment, even when particle composition varies by either geography or tire manufacturing method. The research was conducted by Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. and supported by TIP as part of its ongoing commitment to advancing tire wear emissions science.
Why It Matters
TRWPs are receiving increased attention from scientists and regulators, and accurate measurement is essential to understanding their potential impact on ecosystems and human health. This study addresses a long-standing challenge: the variability in rubber composition between calibration standards and real-world tire samples. By using market-weighted average elastomer profiles from the US and EU, researchers refined the Py-GC/MS protocol to reduce measurement bias and improve consistency across diverse environmental samples.
Py-GC/MS is recognized as the most advanced and accurate method of TRWP analysis by the scientific community. In the current study, researchers analyzing cryo-milled tire tread (CMTT) samples representative of market averages from the US and EU found that the samples contained similar styrene and butadiene content across both regions. By modifying the Py-GC/MS protocol to leverage this finding, the researchers confirmed the mitigation of known sources of environmental measurement bias, strengthening the method’s ability to account for real-world variability in TRWP composition.
Key Findings:
- Improved calibration: Uses representative cryo-milled tire tread (CMTT) samples to ensure accurate quantification across geographies.
- Standardization support: Contributes to the development of international standards such as ISO/DIS 21396 and ISO/AWI 20593.
- Scalability: Calibration standards remain stable for up to three months at 4°C, enabling efficient batch preparation and multi-laboratory application.
“This study represents a significant step forward in harmonizing methodologies and standardizing TRWP quantification,” said Larisa Kryachkova, Executive Director of TIP. “By advancing the Py-GC/MS method, which TIP has supported through years of sustained research and partnership, we’re ultimately strengthening the global scientific ecosystem’s ability to collaboratively understand and address tire wear emissions.”
To read the full study, please visit: https://tireparticles.info/academic-resource/#post-596
