Study show studded tires may cause disease
Although studded tires are banned in Illinois, a recent study showed that although they provide an extra level of protection from physical injury while on the roadways, they may be the cause of respiratory disease down the road.
A study by researchers from Sweden showed studded winter tires may cause respiratory or heart-related diseases due to the amount of asphalt that spews into the air when studded tires are used on pavement.
The link showed that there were molecular changes to cells after inhaling dust containing graphite, reminiscent of the molecular changes seen in people with heart and respiratory diseases.
The study is published in the monthly journal Chemical Research in Toxicology.
Heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the US and the highest health cost, totaling $286 billion in lost productivity and treatment expenses according to a report published in the online edition of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Studies like these serve as a stark reminder that life insurance is as important as car insurance, particularly in the winter months, when car accidents and studded tire use are at their highest.
In states like Illinois, Minnesota and Maryland, studded tires are outright banned. In others, like the Dakotas, Massachusetts and Michigan, there are seasonal restrictions