The Green Tech Illusion
When we think of winter tires, we think of safety, traction, and navigating icy roads with ease. But a new development—cobalt-studded tires—has quietly entered the market under the banner of innovation. Touted as a breakthrough for winter driving, these tires use iron-nickel and cobalt studs to improve grip and durability. The problem? Few are asking what happens when these ultra-hard studs grind against asphalt, breaking it down into microscopic particles that we breathe in daily.
Cobalt, long controversial due to human rights abuses and environmental destruction in mining, is now being used in winter tires—unlike its more common application in lithium-ion batteries. While widely recognized for its role in powering electric vehicles and consumer electronics, cobalt’s use in tire studs introduces a new set of concerns regarding road wear and pollution. While the cobalt itself remains durable, its extreme hardness causes increased wear on asphalt, grinding it down into microscopic particles that enter the air we breathe. Yet, the conversation is focused solely on performance, not on long-term exposure risks.
What Is Asphalt, and Where Does It Come From?
Most people don’t stop to think about what asphalt actually is, but understanding its composition is crucial to recognizing the risks of increased wear.
Asphalt is a petroleum-based material, primarily made up of:
- Bitumen – A sticky, black substance derived from crude oil that acts as a binder.
- Aggregates – Crushed stone, gravel, sand, or other mineral components that provide structural strength.
- Fillers & Additives – Some formulations include polymers, recycled materials, or chemical stabilizers to enhance performance.
Since asphalt is derived from crude oil, it contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—many of which can cause respiratory issues, organ damage, and long-term health effects when inhaled or absorbed through water sources. When cobalt studs accelerate asphalt wear, these toxic microparticles become airborne and leach into the water supply.
Video: Toxic Microplastics Found Where the Rubber Meets the Road
This video explores how particles that wear off car tires contribute significantly to microplastic pollution, some of which are toxic. It provides insights into the environmental and health impacts of tire wear particles.
Microscopic Asphalt Pollution: The Real Risk
We already know that tire wear is a major source of microplastic pollution. But what happens when ultra-hard cobalt studs grind down the very roads they travel on?
- Airborne Exposure: As cobalt studs break down asphalt, they release ultrafine particulate matter (PM2.5 and smaller), which penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing risks for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
- Water Contamination: Asphalt particles containing bitumen, heavy metals, and toxic compounds can enter groundwater and urban waterways. How will this affect drinking water and aquatic ecosystems?
- Urban Toxicity: Cities already struggle with air pollution from vehicle emissions—are we introducing yet another invisible threat?
The Human Cost of Cobalt Mining
Beyond its environmental impact, cobalt mining is a humanitarian crisis. Over 70% of the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where child labor, dangerous working conditions, and exploitative mining practices are rampant.
- Child Labor: Thousands of children work in cobalt mines, exposed to toxic dust without proper protection.
- Environmental Ruin: Mining cobalt requires intensive processing, often contaminating soil, rivers, and nearby communities with hazardous waste.
- Corporate Greenwashing: Despite promises of “ethical sourcing,” major companies continue to rely on supply chains linked to abuse and corruption.
The Health & Environmental Unknowns
History has shown that we often don’t recognize hazards until decades after widespread exposure. Lead in gasoline, asbestos, PFAS chemicals—the list of once “safe” innovations turned environmental disasters is long. Could cobalt-studded tires be the next overlooked hazard?
- Particulate Matter & Health: Research links fine particulate exposure to lung disease, cardiovascular issues, and premature death. Are we allowing another silent killer into our air?
- Regulatory Oversight: Unlike industrial cobalt use, asphalt erosion caused by studded tires isn’t closely monitored. How much will be released into the environment before we realize the risks?
- Synergistic Effects: What happens when asphalt particles mix with existing pollutants from fuel combustion, industrial waste, and vehicle exhaust? Are we engineering a new form of urban toxicity?
The Critical MindShift Takeaway
The pattern is familiar: introduce a new technology, ignore the potential downsides, and deal with the fallout years later. Once again, we see an innovation pushed forward without long-term safety studies or public awareness.
- Who benefits from cobalt-studded tires? Auto manufacturers and mining companies stand to profit, while the long-term environmental and health costs remain uncertain.
- Why aren’t we asking more questions? The marketing focuses on winter safety, but no one is studying the invisible risks.
- What happens when we know too late? If history is any guide, we’ll spend decades cleaning up after a problem that could have been prevented with proper scrutiny.
Cobalt-studded tires may improve winter driving, but at what unseen cost? If we don’t ask the hard questions now, when will we?
Further Reading
For those interested in learning more about the impact of tire wear, road pollution, and cobalt mining, consider these resources:
Research Studies:
Unveiling the environmental impact of tire wear particles and the associated contaminants:
A comprehensive review of environmental and health risk
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39423645/
Cobalt Mining and Human Rights
Amnesty International Report
This report documents the hazardous conditions in which artisanal miners, including thousands of children, mine cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It goes on to trace how this cobalt is used to power mobile phones, laptop computers, and other portable electronic devices
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr62/3183/2016/en/
Books:
Bright Green Lies: How the Environmental Movement Lost Its Way and What We Can Do About It [amazon.com]
In Bright Green Lies, authors Derrick Jensen, Lierre Keith, and Max Wilbert expose the contradictions and hidden costs behind the modern environmental movement. They argue that many so-called “green technologies”—including renewable energy, electric vehicles, and industrial-scale sustainability projects—are not as eco-friendly as they seem. Instead, these solutions often reinforce corporate profit motives, exploit natural resources, and perpetuate environmental destruction under the guise of progress. The book challenges readers to question mainstream environmental narratives and consider whether real sustainability requires more radical change than technological fixes.
Choked: Life and Breath in the Age of Air Pollution [amazon.com]
In Choked, journalist Beth Gardiner investigates the hidden dangers of air pollution, revealing its devastating effects on human health and the environment. Traveling across the globe, she uncovers how toxic air is linked to heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and premature deaths, while also exposing the political and corporate forces that allow pollution to persist. With compelling storytelling and rigorous research, Choked sheds light on one of the most overlooked public health crises of our time and asks what can be done to clean the air we all breathe.
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Videos & Documentaries:
The Shocking Truth About Tire Pollution | The Planet Voice
Tires are essential for modern transportation, but few people realize the hidden pollution they create. In this eye-opening video, The Planet Voice explores how tire wear releases microplastics and toxic chemicals into the air and waterways—posing serious risks to human health and the environment. Discover why tire pollution is a growing global concern and what can be done to mitigate its impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY9ZzdKjj3s
Toxic microplastics found where the rubber meets the road
This video explores how particles that wear off car tires contribute significantly to microplastic pollution, some of which are toxic. It provides insights into the environmental and health impacts of tire wear particles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAeh-7Qk2Es
Related Article:
The Environmental Impact of Microplastics from Tires coming soon
These sources provide further context on the unseen consequences of technological advancements and the urgent need for regulatory oversight.
Image acknowledgement
The feature image on this page is by danielt.1994. Check out their work on Depositphotos.com.
