From its headwaters in Minnesota, the Mississippi River winds through 10 states on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Snaking over 2,341 miles and draining over 40% of the continental US, the Mississippi is the nation’s fourth longest River and its largest by volume. But how many tires are in the Mississippi River?
Tens of thousands of tires have been found in the Mississippi, both by official clean-ups and by fisherman who report them snagged on hooks and trapping fish. But no actual number exists for the exact amount of tires in the Mississippi. In 2012, the University of Iowa conducted a survey of the portion of the Mississippi running through the state, finding around 420 tires. But due to the vastness of the Mississippi, this study only offers a very small insight into the amount of tires there.
As the world has seen rapid industrialization, the number of tires increased exponentially during the 19th and 20th centuries. While rubber has become increasingly recyclable, waste is still a problem, with discarded tires leaking plastic and toxic chemicals as they degrade underwater. As tires accumulate along the banks of the Mississippi, they can pose danger to its aquatic life, birds, and other forms of wildlife. This is especially true for the endangered Gulf Sturgeon, since the species is known to migrate upriver to spawn in the spring.
In 1988, Healthy Rivers Institute performed a survey of over 220 miles of the Mississippi and its tributaries, finding an average of 36 tires per mile. That comes out to about 8000 tires in the survey alone, but that’s for only a segment of the whole Mississippi River. Extrapolating this figure to encompass the whole 2,341-mile long Mississippi yields a total of nearly 85,000 tires.
Some cleanup efforts have already started, in an effort to remove tires, debris, and other waste from the river. In 2019, the Missouri Department of Conservation spearheaded an effort to remove 521 tires, 19 appliances, 50 tons of concrete, and other debris from a three-mile stretch of the Meramec River. But this type of effort is only a band-aid solution, since tires continued to be discarded into the Mississippi.
A more permanent solution is to restrict the use of tires in the region, as well as to incentivize recycling practices. Along the Mississippi, there have been some successful initiatives, such as the Non-Point Source Abatement Grant program which helps fund clean-up and enforcement programs. Additionally, laws such as the Clean Water Act were established in 1972, which offer some protection for bodies of water in the US.
What Are The Effects Of Tires On River Banks?
The presence of tires along the Mississippi River and other bodies of water can have serious consequences on the health and well-being of those ecosystems. As tires accumulate on the river banks, they can create a nutrient-rich environment conducive to the growth of invasive species and algae blooms. This can in turn lead to oxygen depletion, fish die-offs, and other environmental imbalances.
In addition to this, the tires can also cause physical damage to the river banks themselves. The tires can be washed up on the shore and accumulate on either side of the river, creating debris piles and obstructing water flow or disrupting the habitat for native species.
Furthermore, when tires accumulate, they can potentially increase the risk of floods in the region by blocking drainage channels or slowing the speed of the river. This can spell disaster in already flood-prone areas, as any increase in water can add to the severity and duration of floods.
What Are The Solutions To Tire Pollution In The Rivers?
The pollution of tires in rivers is a multifaceted issue which requires an integrated response. Short-term solutions like clean-ups and the enforcement of laws are necessary but are only a temporary fix. To truly stem the tide of tire pollution, more sustainable strategies must be employed.
The most effective solution is to reduce tire usage and increase tire recycling. In addition to this, government initiatives, such as incentives for businesses to switch to recycled materials and regulations for tire disposal, should be adopted. Finally, public education on tire pollution, its effects, and how to reduce it can go a long way towards mitigating the issue.
How Can Rivers Be Cleared Of Tires?
Given the sheer amount of tires that can accumulate in a river, clearing them can be both costly and time consuming. The first step in clearing a river or other body of water of tires is to design an effective cleanup plan. This plan should outline specific goals, methods, and resources needed for the effort. Government agencies, companies, and non-profits often collaborate on these efforts, in order to harness their collective expertise and manpower.
Once the plan is in place, the actual cleanup effort can begin. This can involve techniques such as dredging, desilting, and installing booms. In some cases, helicopters or boats may also be used to clear the tires from the water. After the tires have been removed, they will need to be disposed of properly to prevent them from ending up in another body of water.
What Are The Health Effects Of Tire Pollution?
The accumulation of tires in rivers can have lasting health effects, both for humans and for animals. The toxins from tires can leetch into the water and contaminate drinking supplies, leading to numerous health complications. In addition to this, the tires themselves can be a breeding ground for bacteria, resulting in the spread of disease.
Animals are also affected by tire pollution. When tires are washed up on the banks of the river, they can create a breeding ground for parasites and other organisms. This can alter the food chain, leading to shortages of food for species who depend on the river for sustenance.
How Is Technology Used To Tackle Tire Pollution?
Technology is being used in a growing number of projects to both clean up tire pollution and stop more from entering the environment. For example, the River Savers program uses buoys and sensors to monitor the amount of tires entering the Mississippi River. The data is collected and analyzed using AI to create a real-time map of tire locations and numbers in the region.
In addition to this, there are several initiatives focusing on recycling tires, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tire-to-Tire program. This program recycles old tires and converts them into new products such as rubber mulch, asphalt and fuel. By reusing tires instead of throwing them away, the amount of tires entering rivers can be significantly reduced.
Technology not only helps in cleaning up tire pollution but can also be used to mitigate the effects on the environment. For instance, the US Geological Survey developed a remote sensing technique that accurately maps tires from satellite images. This helps scientists identify and track tires in bodies of water and develop strategies to clean them up.
