The contribution of washing processes of synthetic clothes to microplastic pollution

Abstract

Microplastic pollution caused by washing processes of synthetic textiles has recently been assessed as the main source of primary microplastics in the oceans. Therefore, understanding the effective contribution of the washing process of synthetic clothes to this environmental problem, is of great importance. In this study, wash trials at real scale were performed on commercial clothes by using a household washing machine in order to gain reliable data about the release of microplastics, and to identify possible influences of textile characteristics on the release. The wastewater was collected and filtered through subsequent filters with decreasing porosity, and the amount and dimensions of microfibres were determined. Microfibre release was analysed in relation to the nature and characteristics of the washed clothes. Results showed that microfibres released during washing range from 124 to 308 mg for kg of washed fabric depending from the type of washed garment that corresponds to a number of microfibres ranging from 640,000 to 1,500,000. Some textile characteristics, such as the type of fibres constituting the yarns and their twist, influenced the release of microfibres during washing. A great amount of microfibres of cellulosic nature was also released during washing of clothes made with a blend of polyester/cellulose. Finally the most abundant fraction of microfibres shed was retained by filters with pore size of 60 µm, presenting an average length of 360–660 μm and an average diameter of 12–16 μm, indicating dimensions that could pass through wastewater treatment plants and pose a threat for marine organisms.

The rapid increases in microplastics in urban lake sediments

“…4c) fibres. This result confirms that the MPs in the historical period also most likely originated from textiles, because studies have shown that 1900 microfibres could enter the environment when washing an adult garment 39 , and this number was increased to 640,000 to 1,500,000 items•kg −1 in the latest research 40 .…”

Microfibers in oceanic surface waters: A global characterization

“…In addition to local inputs from visiting vessels and research stations (57), high abundances of fibers in this remote region are probably linked to long-range marine and aerial transport (15), as demonstrated for other anthropogenic contaminants (58), coupled with slow degradation of organic materials in cold-water environments (51). The diameters of our fibers closely matched those of commonly manufactured textile fibers (10,12). Nevertheless, the longest fibers were found in the Mediterranean Sea, probably indicating recent inputs into the basin, being closer to pollution sources and more similar to the length of cotton and rayon fibers freshly released by laundering (10,11).…”

“…The causes of this apparent shortage of synthetic fibers in environmental samples are currently unknown, and more research is needed to elucidate this pattern. One plausible explanation is that wool, cotton, and rayon fabrics shed and release more fibers than polyester during laundering (8,9,11,12). However, a crucial factor to understand is the life span of different fiber types in the environment, given the historical dominance of plant and animal fiber use in textiles (2).…”

Microplastic Concentrations in Two Oregon Bivalve Species: Spatial, Temporal, and Species Variability

“…Stormwater runoff and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent also contribute significant microplastic burdens to coastal environments (e.g., Carr et al 2016;Napper and Thompson 2016;Mintenig et al 2017). Microfibers, generally broken down from laundered clothing items or from derelict fishing gear, are the most prevalent form of microplastic in the nearshore environment (Barrows et al 2018;de Falco et al 2019).…”