Review of Health Effects of Automotive Brake and Tyre Wear Particles

Non-exhaust emissions from brakes and tyres are becoming the major transport-related contributor of particulate matter (PM) pollution in cities. Furthermore, tyre microplastics are the major contributor of unintentionally released microplastics in all environmental compartments. The European Union introduced for the first time worldwide limits for brakes (PM₁₀) and tyres (total abrasion mass) with the Euro 7 regulatory step. Thus, the interest in brake and tyre particles regarding health and environmental impacts has significantly increased in recent years. In this review, we summarise studies that assessed the impact of brake and tyre particles on human, mammalian, aquatic, and terrestrial cells and organisms. Furthermore, we summarise the studies that compared the impact of brake and tyre particles to other sources. We also critically examine the sampling methodologies of brake and tyre particles for health and environmental impact studies.