The fuzz on this close-up of a sweater are an example of microfibers. By Amanda Clement
If you are reading this, you likely purchase clothing with the intention of making the best choices for both yourself and the environment. Maybe you’ve made the decision to buy most of your clothing secondhand, or you purchase clothes made from recycled materials. Unfortunately, whether you’re wearing fleece vests made from old bottles, vintage Lycra bodysuits, or fast-fashion branded t-shirts you may be adding microplastics into the water supply without realizing it.
Most clothing is woven fabric made by spinning tiny fibers into strong threads that are bound into textiles using a loom. Historically, fabrics have been made from plants or animals, think of wool, linen, hemp, cotton, or silk. These fabrics are still common, but over 60 percent of the clothing we now wear is comprised of synthetic (aka plastic) fabrics, like nylon, polyester, spandex, and acrylic. Synthetic materials have useful properties, they can wick away moisture, conform to our bodies, and can often be found at an affordable price point. However, because synthetic fabrics are made from plastic, it becomes problematic at the time of disposal. (You can find more information about textile waste and how to combat it in the first two posts of this series.)
If you are reading this, you likely purchase clothing with the intention of making the best choices for both yourself and the environment. Maybe you’ve made the decision to buy most of your clothing secondhand, or you purchase clothes made from recycled materials. Unfortunately, whether you’re wearing fleece vests made from old bottles, vintage Lycra bodysuits, or fast-fashion branded t-shirts you may be adding microplastics into the water supply without realizing it.
Most clothing is woven fabric made by spinning tiny fibers into strong threads that are bound into textiles using a loom. Historically, fabrics have been made from plants or animals, think of wool, linen, hemp, cotton, or silk. These fabrics are still common, but over 60 percent of the clothing we now wear is comprised of synthetic (aka plastic) fabrics, like nylon, polyester, spandex, and acrylic. Synthetic materials have useful properties, they can wick away moisture, conform to our bodies, and can often be found at an affordable price point. However, because synthetic fabrics are made from plastic, it becomes problematic at the time of disposal. (You can find more information about textile waste and how to combat it in the first two posts of this series.)
If you look closely at this sand you can see bits of yellow and blue, these are microplastics. (Found in Bar Harbor, ME) Washing clothes loosens the fabric weave, sloughing off bits of fluff and lint. This fluff ends up either as dryer lint or flushed down to the sewerage treatment plant. It doesn’t matter with natural fabrics because those fibers eventually decompose. However, synthetic fabric is made of plastic and essentially will never decompose; an estimated 40 percent of synthetic fibers end up in bodies of water. These plastic fibers are called microfiber, and are microplastics (any piece of plastic under 5mm), which are extremely difficult to extract from the ocean.
One study conducted by graduate students from the University of California Santa Barbara in partnership with the clothing company, Patagonia, showed that an average of 1.7 grams of microfiber sheds each time you wash a polyester fleece jacket . This seems like a small amount, but it adds up globally. It is difficult to quantify how many of these fibers end in our water system, but microplastics have been found everywhere from the soil of national parks and artic ice samples to over 90 percent of bottled drinking water. They are so widespread that it is nearly impossible to avoid them.
One study conducted by graduate students from the University of California Santa Barbara in partnership with the clothing company, Patagonia, showed that an average of 1.7 grams of microfiber sheds each time you wash a polyester fleece jacket . This seems like a small amount, but it adds up globally. It is difficult to quantify how many of these fibers end in our water system, but microplastics have been found everywhere from the soil of national parks and artic ice samples to over 90 percent of bottled drinking water. They are so widespread that it is nearly impossible to avoid them.
Sea turtles are often used as an example for the dangers of ocean plastic. Around a thousand turtles are documented to die each year from plastic. Of course, synthetic clothing fibers are not the only form of microplastic, you may have heard that a lot of plastic that ends up in our oceans breaks down. When plastic is exposed to ocean conditions it causes pieces to break off and become smaller and smaller. The microplastics get mistaken for food by marine life, but are indigestible and clog up their guts, leading to lower levels of oxygen and nutrient absorption. Plastic has contributed to the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year and more than 100,000 marine mammals. Certain plastics such as bisphenol A (BPA) are known to have endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which can disrupt hormonal systems and potentially cause cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurological impairments. Many other hazardous additives are also added to give plastics the correct color and texture. All these chemicals not only potentially leach from microplastics, but other pollutants such as oil, industrial chemicals, and pesticides stick to them in the ocean increasing their toxicity.
Microplastics enter our bodies through the water we drink and most of the food we eat. One study from the University of Newcastle found that humans likely consume approximately 2000 microplastics a week, which is about 5 grams or the size of a credit card. Methods for removing microplastics (and larger particles) have been mostly ineffective. There has been research into plastic consuming fungi and bacteria which may have implications in the future, but while scientists seek solutions, we should reduce or eliminate the microfibers we release into the environment.
Microplastics enter our bodies through the water we drink and most of the food we eat. One study from the University of Newcastle found that humans likely consume approximately 2000 microplastics a week, which is about 5 grams or the size of a credit card. Methods for removing microplastics (and larger particles) have been mostly ineffective. There has been research into plastic consuming fungi and bacteria which may have implications in the future, but while scientists seek solutions, we should reduce or eliminate the microfibers we release into the environment.
"An average of 1.7 grams of microfiber sheds each time you wash a polyester fleece jacket."
An example of a microfiber filter from PlanetCare. Individually we can wear more clothing made from natural fibers, and invest in high-quality basics made from natural fabric. Avoiding clothing that inherently has small bits of plastic such as sequin or glitter is also an important step. Decreasing the frequency that you wash your clothing and washing in cold water not only releases less plastic, but can extend the life of your clothing (thereby protecting your investment). See this post for more tips on creating a sustainable wardrobe.
There are also products to trap some of the microfibers in your washing machine before they can become an issue. The Cora Ball, for example, is Vermont product that can be placed in the washer with each load of laundry to catch 31% of microfibers before they go down the drain. Or, if you have only a few pieces of synthetic clothing, you may find that using garment washing bags is more effective. The Guppyfriend bag, for example, reduces the friction on clothing and decreases released fibers by 75% to 86%.
Installing a larger filter to the hose of your machine such as these from Girlfriend Collective, Filtrol, or PlanetCare can help capture fibers in a way similar to a dryer lint catcher. There is legislation that’s been proposed in California to require manufacturers of washing machines to install microfiber filtration systems into new products. If this is an important issue for you it would be worth asking your state representatives if they would propose or support similar legislation. Microplastics are a widespread issue and the scale of the problem or its solution is not yet clear, but awareness could advance research and understanding.
Amanda Clement is serving as the ECO AmeriCorps member at CVSWMD. Amanda is a life-long Vermonter who has a BA in Environmental Studies and Political Science from Castleton University. In her free time Amanda likes to visit covered bridges, explore new places, and experimenting with baking or fermenting.
There are also products to trap some of the microfibers in your washing machine before they can become an issue. The Cora Ball, for example, is Vermont product that can be placed in the washer with each load of laundry to catch 31% of microfibers before they go down the drain. Or, if you have only a few pieces of synthetic clothing, you may find that using garment washing bags is more effective. The Guppyfriend bag, for example, reduces the friction on clothing and decreases released fibers by 75% to 86%.
Installing a larger filter to the hose of your machine such as these from Girlfriend Collective, Filtrol, or PlanetCare can help capture fibers in a way similar to a dryer lint catcher. There is legislation that’s been proposed in California to require manufacturers of washing machines to install microfiber filtration systems into new products. If this is an important issue for you it would be worth asking your state representatives if they would propose or support similar legislation. Microplastics are a widespread issue and the scale of the problem or its solution is not yet clear, but awareness could advance research and understanding.
Amanda Clement is serving as the ECO AmeriCorps member at CVSWMD. Amanda is a life-long Vermonter who has a BA in Environmental Studies and Political Science from Castleton University. In her free time Amanda likes to visit covered bridges, explore new places, and experimenting with baking or fermenting.
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