The Washington Department of Ecology’s Stormwater Work Group (SWG)’s 6PPD Subgroup will seek input at its October 6, 2022 (1:00 pm PT) subcommittee meeting on 6PPD-quinone focused research priorities and topics for a fourth round of Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM) studies.
6PPD is an important tire preservative (antioxidant and antiozonant) that helps prevent the degradation and cracking of rubber. It is a safety component of almost every automobile tire on the road. 6PPD-quinone is the transformation product of 6PPD that forms when 6PPD reacts with oxygen and/or ozone. It is believed to be capable of mobilizing from rubbers into water when wet. 6PPD-quinone was highlighted during a 2020 study of mass die offs of pre-spawning Coho salmon (referred to as urban runoff mortality syndrome). The 2020 study drew a connection between 6PPD-quinone and Coho salmon mortality.
The proposed study topic list will be voted on by the larger SWG at its upcoming November 16, 2022 meeting. The topics list will provide the foundation for Ecology’s request for proposal (RFP) in January 2023 for new SAM Effectiveness and Source ID studies. These studies will be funded with revenue collected under the municipal stormwater permits from 2022-2024. A project selection workshop is expected to occur in late 2023.
Tomorrow’s subcommittee meeting will also include a discussion of current 6PPD-quinone and tire wear studies and planning.
Meeting details follow:
October 6, 2022 at 1:00 pm PT:
