Tire and Road Wear Particle-Containing Sediments with High Organic Content Impact Behavior and Survival of Chironomid Larvae (Chironomus riparius)

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP), which contribute significantly to microplastic emission, are receiving more attention, but details about particle composition, translocation from source sink, particularly the possible effects on ecosystems largely unknown. We examined influence of native TRWP-containing sediments two settling ponds mortality behavior aquatic larvae Chironomus riparius. Both sediments, whether pure or mixed with different proportions quartz sand suspended in water, led increased mortalities increasing concentrations were shown be oxygen consuming. Artificial aeration reduced larval both sediments. Chironomid show high tolerance anoxic polluted environments due physiological behavioral adaptations, such as construction vertical sediment tubes (chimneys), they create oxic compartments. A significant correlation was found between proportion contaminated number chimneys: sediment, fewer chimneys constructed. The per surviving larva decreased an parallel mortality. hypothesize that contents these negatively impact larvae’s ability survive at low impairments essential processes.