Behavior-Driven Emissions and Risk Prioritization of Tire Additives and Their Transformation Products in Driving Training Fields: Implications for Nonexhaust Traffic Pollution Management

Abstract

With the increasing release of tire wear particles, environmental exposure to tire additives and their transformation products (TATPs) has grown substantially; however, their risks remain poorly characterized and potentially underestimated. Dust samples from six driving training modules across 20 driving schools in Qingdao, China, were analyzed to investigate TATPs and their behavioral drivers. A total of 124 TATPs (median: 1.31 × 10⁴ ng/g) were detected, including 12 newly reported compounds. Antioxidants (median: 7.03 × 10³ ng/g) dominated, followed by plasticizers (median: 4.14 × 10³ ng/g) and vulcanization accelerators (median: 1.27 × 10³ ng/g). TATP concentrations varied significantly across training modules, with quarter turning modules showing the highest levels (median: 3.47 × 10⁴ ng/g) and straight driving modules the lowest (median: 4.69 × 10³ ng/g). Random forest and nonlinear models identified training module type as the key driver, with TATP enrichment increasing with driving intensity. These modules serve as proxies for urban traffic behavior, capturing fundamental tire–road interaction regimes. Integrating persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity, and exposure, two high-priority and 20 medium-priority pollutants were identified. Overall, these results underscore the critical role of driving behavior in regulating TATP emissions and provide a basis for prioritizing high-risk pollutants in nonexhaust traffic pollution management.