Unlocking the Mystery: How WSU Research Reveals Car-Tire Chemicals Contributing to Coho Salmon Die-Offs

Scientists at Washington State University (WSU) in Puyallup are uncovering why coho salmon in Puget Sound creeks are struggling after heavy rains. These salmon start their lives in fresh streams, travel to the ocean, and then return upstream to spawn. Sadly, only a few make it back before dying.

Recent studies have traced the deaths back to a harmful tire preservative called 6PPD. This chemical, which comes from car tires, has been linked to the sudden die-offs of coho salmon, particularly after rainstorms. WSU researchers, led by Ph.D. student Stephanie I. Blair, have now detailed how this toxin affects the fish. Their findings offer a pathway to explore safer alternatives to 6PPD.

Blair’s study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, reveals that before this research, no one fully understood the mechanisms behind what’s known as “coho urban runoff mortality syndrome.” Understanding how 6PPD-quinone, the toxic form of 6PPD that forms when it reacts with ozone, leads to fish suffocation is crucial. This compound can break down barriers in the fish’s brain and gills, disrupting their ability to breathe.

The team conducted experiments using water samples from a Tacoma highway, demonstrating that runoff containing 6PPD-quinone can lead to harmful behaviors in coho salmon. Vulnerable populations of coho are not just environmental concerns but are also tied to economic and treaty rights issues for Northwest tribes.

As calls grow for safer environmental practices, the importance of finding a non-toxic substitute to 6PPD becomes clear. Blair emphasizes the necessity of developing tools to evaluate these alternatives.

This research comes at a critical time. According to a recent survey, 60% of people in the Pacific Northwest are worried about the health of local water ecosystems. With climate change and urban development threatening aquatic life, the need for solutions that protect both wildlife and human health is more urgent than ever.

For more details on the impact of tire chemicals on wildlife, check out the recent report by the Environmental Protection Agency here.

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Coho salmon,6PPD,6PPD-quinone,Biological mechanism,Washington State University,Stormwater runoff,Blood-brain barrier,Oxygen deprivation