Toxic Tires in the Kentucky River's South Fork

A tire that has over time become stuck between two logs on the bank of the Kentucky River. This is just one of the thousands of tires polluting such rivers in Appalachia. Photo by Tina Johnson.

Introduction: Beyond the Usual Suspects of Pollution

When we think of pollution in our waterways, we generally tend to think in terms of pollutants like fertilizer runoff from farming or toxic drainage that comes from mining. We also think of all the pesticides that have been and that are still being used in farming. These are all enormous problems for our region. However, there is a decades–long problem that needs to be addressed.

We think of tires as mostly an unsightly nuisance, but the problem is not just an aesthetic one. Not only are tires unsightly, they are dangerous to our health. Tires pose an incredibly alarming source of toxins to our environment and drinking water. When tires break down, they leach toxic chemicals into our waterways. They are in fact: SILENT KILLERS.

The Silent Killer(s): Toxins, Microplastics, and Heavy Metals

Why are tires considered to be toxic to the environment? Let us begin by exploring what exactly is in a tire. One important chemical that comes from tires is 6PPD-quinone. It is very toxic to humans and aquatic life. What does 6PPD-quinone do in humans? This toxic chemical can affect brain and liver health. Other toxins that contaminate our waterways from the improper dumping of toxic tires are heavy metals, like cadmium, copper, lead and zinc, and microplastics. This is also of great concern because of the potential for increased health risks to pregnant mothers and their unborn children.

A graphic created by the EPA to show the toxic pollution tires create. EPA, "Where Rubber Meets the Road: EPA Researchers Study the Environmental and Health Impacts of Tires," Science Matters Newsletter. August, 2024. https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/where-rubber-meets-road-epa-researchers-study-environmental-and-health-impacts-tires

We tend to think of tires as just an ugly nuisance in our waterways. We seldom stop to consider the toxic health concerns associated with their improper disposal‌ into our rivers and creeks. The Kentucky River is highly polluted with tires. Recently, I was involved with a river cleanup project on the South Fork of the Kentucky River between Owsley and Lee Counties. A local business owner and kayaker had counted 158 tires within a five-mile stretch of the South Fork River. We removed 32 tires from that stretch of river in a day's time. Doing a river cleanup is hard work, with the tires generally full of decaying debris and mud. It is a very nasty, smelly, sweaty job. However, the payoff is helping the environment and having a sense of accomplishment from being unified with others in the goal of protecting and cleaning our waterways.

A small boat full of decaying tires that had long polluted the South Fork of the Kentucky River until a LiKEN-partnered cleanup event last August. Photo by Tina Johnson.

We have to think of tires in a way that lets us see them for the toxic threat they are that can end up in our drinking water supply. Many towns up and down the Kentucky River get their water supply from this river. What if you knew it would harm your unborn child? What if you knew it was causing liver and brain damage because of the toxic chemicals being released into the water? When we think in these terms, it becomes more of a reality of how dangerous they truly are and the need for the removal of this source of toxins from our drinking water.

Tires also release microplastics into the waterways. Microplastics are becoming a major health concern and are quickly being found in many parts of the human body: the brain, liver, kidneys, blood, urine and even breastmilk, while both 6PPD–quinone and microplastics from tires are being found in breast milk. That means tires are putting even our youngest and most fragile population at risk of exposure twice over. This is a sobering thought. Would you want a nice cold drink of microplastic water fresh from your tap water supply?

Beyond the Common Concerns: Tire Pollution’s Risks to Nature Tourism

On top of the toxic chemicals slowly released from tires in the water, they can also directly harm people. When boaters are on a river, there is the danger of hitting tire debris and shearing a boat pin and basically making the boat motor unusable or even worse, causing the boat to suddenly jolt and wreck. Occupants could be thrown out of the boat, causing serious harm or even death.

With unprecedented flooding in our region, as many around eastern Kentucky have experienced in recent years, these tires have potential to be serious dangers in floodwaters. They could be detrimental to anyone inundated in a flood. Plus, that goes without mentioning the damage a tire could cause if it were to smash into a house or a vehicle caught in an actual flood event.

Another boat full of aged, decayed, rotted tires that had polluted the South Fork of the Kentucky River for years until this last August. This image comes from the same LiKEN-partnered volunteer event as the last, also from this past August. Photo by Tina Johnson.

In addition to the many health risks associated with tires in our waterways, there is the recreation factor to consider, which is important to our economy. There is just something very unsettling about being on a boat or a kayak on the river and seeing horrible, ugly tires in the water, on the beaches, or stuck up in trees. When people come to our region, they come for the beauty of the woods and the beautiful serene rivers and streams that flow throughout the mountains. The mountains are more than just a place. They leave people with a feeling of awe and peacefulness that is rarely found anywhere else. We need to protect our water supply, not just for us but for the generations to come after us. We can be the change.

Kentucky, we deserve better. We all love our families and friends. We can say enough is enough and take action to remove these unsightly, toxic, dangerous tires from our waterways. Contact your representatives and let them know there needs to be some action taken on this matter. Join a tire cleanup group. Our team here at LiKEN partnered with Kentucky Riverkeeper and Friends of the Tug Fork for some major cleanup projects this year. So far, we have partnered with Kentucky Riverkeeper for two successful tire removal cleanups the week of August 16–23, 2025, and Friends of the Tug Fork River for seven successful cleanups this year. Both of our river partners will be doing more river cleanups in 2026.

Have you spotted any areas especially bad for tires near where you live in Kentucky? If so, please report to Kentucky Waterways Alliance’s Tire Tracking App! Did you know that you can always create your own tire cleanup group and get people involved? We care about our water supply, and we can protect it. We each have a voice, and we can use it. We can make a difference.