Dear Friend,

Something strange is happening to the salmon.

For decades, salmon returning to freshwater streams on the West Coast to spawn have been devastated by a phenomenon called “urban runoff mortality syndrome.” The syndrome can kill up to 100% of salmon in an affected area before they are able to spawn and lay their eggs.

In 2020, scientists discovered the cause: The culprit, it turns out, is our tires. Or, more specifically, a chemical called 6PPD that has been used to prevent degradation in tires since the 1950s.

Tires made with 6PPD release a breakdown product known as 6PPD-quinone or “6PPD-q,”, which washes into waterways during storms. 6PPD-q is the second most toxic chemical to aquatic species ever evaluated by the EPA. Exposure to 6PPD-q can kill a coho salmon within hours.


Earthjustice submitted a petition on behalf of the Yurok, Port Gamble S’Klallam, and Puyallup Tribes, urging the EPA to establish new regulations on 6PPD under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

TSCA requires the EPA to ban or regulate chemicals in commerce that pose unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. In November, the EPA granted the Tribes’ petition, agreeing that it is necessary to establish regulations that will eliminate the unreasonable risks to the environment from 6PPD in tires.

Salmon populations have declined dramatically and cannot recover without removal of 6PPD from their environment. But with the support of people like you, Earthjustice is doing everything possible to protect this critical species.

We will keep you informed as we continue this fight. In the meantime, share this story with a friend and support our work to protect wildlife and stop toxic pollution!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Forsyth
Senior Attorney

LEARN MORE: [link removed]


***********************************
(c)2024 Earthjustice | 415-217-2000 | [email protected]
Earthjustice
50 California St., Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94111
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .