Microplastic pollution in aquatic environments from washing synthetic textiles
Creators: name: Shameem Kazmi
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: 160802 Environmental Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: 111705 Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: 50206 Environmental Monitoring
subject: Environmental Science
subject: 220303 Environmental Philosophy
subject: FOS: Philosophy, ethics and religion
subject: FOS: Philosophy, ethics and religion
subject: 50205 Environmental Management
subject: 90703 Environmental Technologies
subject: FOS: Environmental engineering
subject: FOS: Environmental engineering
subject: 160507 Environment Policy
subject: FOS: Political science
subject: FOS: Political science
subject: 140205 Environment and Resource Economics
subject: FOS: Economics and business
subject: FOS: Economics and business
subject: 70504 Forestry Management and Environment
subject: FOS: Agriculture, forestry and fisheries
subject: FOS: Agriculture, forestry and fisheries
subject: 120306 Textile and Fashion Design
subject: FOS: Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music)
subject: FOS: Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music)
subject: 91012 Textile Technology
subject: FOS: Materials engineering
subject: FOS: Materials engineering
subject: 91006 Manufacturing Processes and Technologies (excl. Textiles)
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
subject: 91209 Polymers and Plastics
subject: 60113 Synthetic Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 70402 Aquatic Ecosystem Studies and Stock Assessment
subject: 180114 Human Rights Law
subject: FOS: Law
subject: FOS: Law
subject: Environmental Humanities
subject: 169999 Studies in Human Society not elsewhere classified
subject: 80703 Human Information Behaviour
subject: FOS: Media and communications
subject: FOS: Media and communications
subject: 220207 History and Philosophy of the Humanities

description: Textile washing is a major contributor to the accumulation of microplastics in the environment. While the use of plastics in textiles positively impacts the industry’s safety, hygiene, and innovation, there are detrimental effects resulting from the subsequent release of microplastics into the environment, much of which contaminate the aquatic environment. Current research on the microplastics problem already establishes relationships between certain parameters and the tendency and rate of microplastics release. Relating factors such as washing method, number of washes, and processing of textile to the rate of release of microplastics can help guide policies and actions towards the management of microplastics released from textiles washing. This article examines several aspects of the issue of microplastics in the environment with a particular focus on microplastics originating from the textiles industry. Their small size, lower ease of detection, and tendencies to absorb harmful microbes and metals make them more of threat to aquatic environments than macroplastics. The environmental and health impacts are explored as well as other issues, such as the route from textiles to the environment. Finally, this paper examines the current global status on microplastics, understanding future perspectives and identifying recommendations.