Number

154-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

The main softener in rubber mix for tires is aromatic extracts or highly aromatic oils (HA-oil). HA-oil consists of extracted components from crude oil at the manufacturer of base oil for e.g., lubricants. The components are mono- and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Many of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in HA-oils are carcinogenic and toxic to aquatic organisms, among other things. This case study includes information on HA-oils and its use in rubber tires, it brings up health and environmental risks when tires are in use, and it provides a short history of how production of tires without HA-oils finally led to a ban in EU.

Substituted substances

Reliability of information

Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication

Reason substitution

CMR
PBT
neurotoxicant

Hazard Assessment

Substances to be substituted: Chrysene is a Substance of very high concern and is included on the REACH restriction list, according to Article 73 of Regulation (EG) No. 1907/2006. (REACH Regulation). Benzo(e)pyrene is a Substance of very high concern and is included on the REACH restriction list, according to Article 73 of Regulation (EG) No. 1907/2006. (REACH Regulation). Alternative substances: The alternative substances are not mentioned here.

Description of Substitution

In June 2005 the EU parliament voted for a ban on carcinogenic HA-oils in rubber tires, coming into force in January 2010. Before this, one single tire for a passenger car could contain more than 1 litre HA-oil. In the early nineties, about 10000 tons of HA-oil was used for the yearly tire consumption in Sweden. HA-oil dissolves in the rubber mix but is not reacting with it, and is therefore easily releases from the tire into the environment. The tires do not only pose a risk when in use, they also pose a health risk for workers at the production stage as well as problems at end of life due to their carcinogenic properties. The first report to stress the problem with HA-oils in rubber tires was published by the Swedish Chemicals Agency in 1994. Shortly after the report, the first re-treaded tires without HA-oil were presented by the Swedish company Anderstorps Gummiindustrier (AGI). A few years later, the first winter tire without HA-oil was produced by the Swedish company Gislaved. Subsequently, alternatives to HA-oil became more and more common in the tire industry. In 2002 the first summer tire without HA-oil was produced by the Finish company Nokian Tires. In 2003, the Swedish Minister for the Environment commissioned the Swedish Chemicals Agency to investigate the possibilities to put a ban on HA-oils in rubber tires, leading to a ban in EU.

Case/substitution evaluation

This case story describes how environmental concerns raised in Sweden about HA oils eventually led into a new standard for the entire EU. This was possible through collaboration among several parties, as the tire industry and authorities with input from new scientific findings.

State of implementation

In use

Date and place of implementation

1995-1996 Sweden

Type of information supplier

Authority
Research

Contact

Grön Kemi

Further information

The report "HA oils in Automotive Tyres", Swedish Chemicals Agency, 2003, report no 5/03) is a prospect of a national ban of HA-oils in Sweden. The EN version is available at the Swedish Chemicals Agency website.

Type of publication and availability

Freely available

Publication source: author, company, institute, year

Grön KemI Ahlbom, J. Duus, U.

Date, reviewed

November 26, 2021