Meghan Hodges
Microfibers are an emerging contaminant and a dominant type of microplastic that poses a growing threat to the global environment. They are tiny plastic particles, mostly polyester and nylon, that clothes shed during washing. These microfibers are not effectively filtered and end up in oceans, rivers, and soil, causing microfiber pollution. They can harm marine life and crops and are potentially harmful to human health. While there are some products available that claim to keep microplastics out of wastewater, there is currently no standardized method or metric for comparing their effectiveness. More research is needed to fully understand the impacts of microfiber pollution and how to mitigate it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Microfibers are tiny plastic particles, less than 5mm long and fibrous in shape. |
| Sources | The textile and garment processing industry, laundering of synthetic clothing |
| Impact | Harmful to marine life, crops, and potentially human health |
| Solutions | Microfiber filters, laundry balls, garment bags, reduced laundering of clothing |
| Knowledge Gaps | Potential sources, transport pathways, spatial distribution, environmental toxicity, fate, and risk to ecosystems |
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What You'll Learn
Microfibers are a type of microplastic
The term 'microfiber' in the textile industry is often confused with the term 'microplastic fiber' in the area of microplastic pollution. In textile engineering, microfibers are formally defined as staple fibers or filaments of linear density with no more than one denier and above 0.3 deniers. Denier (abbreviated D), a unit to describe the linear mass density of fibers, is the mass of grams per 9000 meters of the fiber.
Microfibers are a dominant type of microplastic and are considered a growing threat to the global environment. They are found in the ocean, rivers, soil, air, and even in human and wildlife tissue samples. They are especially harmful due to their unique shapes and sizes. Their small size and mobility allow them to infiltrate various ecosystems, and once they enter the environment, it is nearly impossible to remove or clean them up on a broad scale.
Microfibers can act as sponges for harmful chemical pollutants, including carcinogenic dyes, which can cause gut blockage, injury, and changes to oxygen levels when ingested. They have been shown to accumulate in the liver and kidneys of lab mice, leading to starvation and reproductive issues.
To address microfiber pollution, some products claim to keep microplastics out of wastewater when washing clothes, such as the Guppyfriend laundry bag and the Cora Ball. Additionally, installing microfiber filters in washing machines can be incredibly effective, capturing up to 90% of microfibers.
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They are released into the environment through laundry
Microfibers are an emerging pollutant and are now generally categorized as a dominant type of microplastic. They are small plastic particles, usually made of polyester, acrylic, nylon, and rayon, and are less than 5mm long. They are released into the environment through laundry when synthetic clothing sheds these tiny plastic fragments during washing. Each time clothes are washed, hundreds of thousands of microfibres are released, and because they are so small, they pass through wastewater treatment systems and enter our waterways and oceans.
A 2019 study by Ocean Wise estimated that the average household in the US and Canada releases 533 million microfibers, or 135 grams, of microfibers into wastewater treatment plants each year. The US and Canada together release 878 tons of microfibers into the environment through treated wastewater. These microfibers are ingested by marine life, causing gut blockage, injury, and changes to oxygen levels. They can also act as sponges for harmful chemical pollutants, including carcinogenic dyes, which are then ingested by marine life.
Microfibers have been found to cause starvation and reproductive issues in crabs and fish. In one experiment, scientists fed crabs with microfiber-contaminated food, and the crabs ate less overall due to feeling full, which could stunt growth or lead to starvation over time. Microfibers can also leach toxic chemicals into the bodies of fish, including fabric finishes, plasticizers, and adhered organic pollutants. These chemicals can cause harmful reproductive and developmental effects in aquatic animals and have the potential to bioaccumulate, becoming more concentrated as they move up the food chain.
While there is no perfect solution to the problem of microfiber pollution from laundry, there are some ways to reduce the number of microfibers released. Some products, such as the Guppyfriend laundry bag and the Cora Ball, claim to keep microplastics out of wastewater when washing clothes. In-drum and external microfiber filters have also been shown to reduce microfiber pollution in wastewater systems to varying degrees. Additionally, washing clothing less often and only washing full loads can help reduce the shedding of synthetic fibers.
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They are harmful to marine life and crops
Microfibers are tiny plastic particles, mostly polyester and nylon, that clothes shed during washing. They are shed from synthetic fabrics into oceans, largely through laundry wastewater. Each time we wash our synthetic clothes, hundreds of thousands of microfibers are released. These microfibers are thinner than a human hair and mostly don't get filtered, eventually infiltrating our oceans, rivers, and soil.
Microfibers are harmful to marine life as they can be ingested by marine organisms, which can then end up on our dinner plates. They can also attach to harmful chemical pollutants, including carcinogenic dyes, and cause gut blockage, injury, and changes to oxygen levels. In an experiment, scientists fed crabs with microfiber-contaminated food, which caused starvation and reproductive issues. Microfibers have also been shown to alter the growth and behavior of estuarine organisms in their early life stages.
Microfibers are also harmful to crops as they can stunt their growth. In an experiment with wheat, a crop physiologist found that the presence of microfibers in the soil caused water to pool up on the surface and prevented oxygen from reaching the plant's roots. The wheat plants began to yellow and wilt, and many died within a month. Apples have been found to be the most contaminated among fruits, and carrots among vegetables.
Microfibers can also be harmful to human health, as they can enter and remain in the bloodstream and tissues of the food we eat. They can also be inhaled, causing respiratory issues.
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They are potentially harmful to human health
Microfibres are potentially harmful to human health. When we wash our clothes, hundreds of thousands of tiny plastic microfibres are shed. These microfibres are thinner than a human hair and are too small to be filtered out by wastewater treatment systems, so they enter our oceans, rivers, and soil.
The specific characteristics of microfibres, such as small fineness, low density, large surface area, and curling shape, make them more susceptible to airborne transport. This means that they can be inhaled by humans, causing respiratory issues. They can also enter the human body through the food chain. Microfibres have been found in the liver and kidneys of lab mice, and they have been shown to cause starvation and reproductive issues. In one experiment, scientists fed crabs with microfiber-contaminated food, and the crabs ate less overall due to feeling full, which could stunt their growth or lead to starvation over time.
Microfibres can act as sponges for harmful chemical pollutants, including carcinogenic dyes and toxic chemicals such as fabric finishes, plasticizers, and adhered organic pollutants. These chemicals can be released into the bodies of humans and other animals, causing various health issues. For example, anti-wrinkle finishes in new clothing can release formaldehyde, a human carcinogen. Flame retardants, another type of chemical found in microfibres, have been linked to thyroid disruption, memory and learning problems, delayed mental and physical development, lower IQ, early puberty, and reduced fertility.
The impact of microfibres on human health is an emerging area of research, and more studies are needed to fully understand the potential harm they can cause. However, the limited data available suggests that the presence of microfibres in the environment and the food chain is a cause for concern.
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There are ways to reduce microfiber pollution
Microfibers are tiny plastic particles, mostly made of polyester and nylon, that clothes shed during washing. They are thinner than a human hair and can cause significant harm to the environment and human health.
Reduce the number of synthetic clothes you buy
Synthetic clothes are a major source of microfiber pollution. Try to reduce the number of synthetic clothes you buy, and opt for natural fibres such as cotton instead.
Wash your synthetic clothes less frequently
Washing your synthetic clothes less frequently will reduce the number of microfibres that end up in the water system. You can also try spot-cleaning your clothes instead of putting them in the washing machine.
Use a microfiber filter
Although there is no standardised method for comparing microfiber filters, some studies have shown that they can reduce microfiber pollution in wastewater systems. You can buy microfiber filters that attach to your washing machine, or try a laundry ball or bag, which are cheaper but less successful at capturing microfibres.
Change your laundry routine
There are several ways to reduce microfiber shedding when you do wash your clothes. Try washing with cold water, investing in a front-loading machine, and filling your washing machine to the recommended capacity. You can also try switching to liquid laundry soap and drying your clothes at low revolutions.
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Frequently asked questions
Microfibers are tiny plastic particles, less than 5mm long and fibrous in shape. They are mostly made of polyester, acrylic, nylon, and rayon.
Microfibers are released into the environment through the washing of synthetic clothes. They are not filtered out by wastewater treatment plants and end up in our oceans, rivers, and soil.
Microfibers have been found to harm marine life, crops, and other wildlife. They can stunt growth, cause gut blockage, and change oxygen levels. They also act as sponges for harmful chemical pollutants, which can be toxic to organisms that ingest them.
There are a few potential solutions to reduce microfiber pollution:
- Wash clothing less often and only full loads to reduce the shedding of synthetic fibers.
- Use microfiber filters, laundry balls, or garment bags that are designed to capture microfibers in the wash.
- Buy clothing made with natural fibers instead of synthetic ones when possible.
