Short Wave The Mystery of the Dead Coho Salmon
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Nov 20, 2024 The podcast dives into the puzzling mystery behind the dead coho salmon in urban streams. Researchers exclude typical factors and focus on tire chemicals as potential culprits. The discussion highlights the harmful effects of tire additives, particularly 6-PPD, and the challenges in identifying toxic substances. It also raises awareness about the environmental impact of tire emissions, especially with the rise of electric vehicles. Innovative solutions for reducing tire pollution are explored, shedding light on this critical issue.
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Mysterious Salmon Deaths
- Coho salmon exhibited strange behavior, swimming in circles before dying in urban streams.
- This puzzled researchers for decades, threatening the species' survival.
Traffic Runoff Suspect
- Researchers initially suspected traffic-related runoff to be the cause of the salmon deaths.
- This was determined by analyzing data on fish mortality locations and running models, linking the risk to traffic.
Tire Chemical Mystery
- Researchers narrowed down the cause to a chemical from tire particles.
- However, the chemical didn't match any known tire additive, leaving them puzzled.