Motor Vehicle Tyres and Environmental Pollution in Nigeria

This research article presents a comprehensive assessment of the environmental impact of motor vehicle tyres in Nigeria, focusing on their role as a significant source of persistent organic pollutants. The study covers tyre flows in Nigeria over a 40-year period from 1980 to 2020, detailing waste generation and the hazardous additives present in tyres, including chlorinated paraffins, 6PPD, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It estimates the total number of tyres used and the associated emissions from tyre wear, highlighting the adverse implications for human and environmental health. The research identifies the challenges of end-of-life tyre management in Nigeria, which largely remains informal, leading to practices such as open dumping and uncontrolled burning. The article emphasizes the need for a national framework for managing end-of-life tyres and recommends sustainable waste management strategies. The findings aim to inform policy-making and enhance recycling efforts to mitigate the environmental impacts of tyre disposal.