Another late night in the lab, staring at results I wish I could unsee. 2,456 chemicals in tire rubber. 144 of them leaching into every waterway I tested. Cadmium. Lead. Zinc. The heavy metals I expected. But 6-PPD? The stuff that keeps tires from cracking is literally cracking ecosystems apart. I've been sampling runoff for three years now. Every stream, every puddle after rain—50% to 90% microplastics from tires. Just tires. Not straws or bottles everyone talks about. Car tires. My advisor called it 'significant findings.' I called my mom and cried. Because I drive here every day. We all do. And tomorrow I'll pipette another sample, find more poison, and wonder if anyone will actually care enough to change anything. The data is clean. My conscience isn't. #Science #LabBurnout #ToxicTruth