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Sources, Transport, and Accumulation of Synthetic Microfiber Wastes in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments
Summary
This review synthesizes current knowledge on synthetic microfiber pollution, tracing sources from textile laundering and manufacturing through transport pathways including wastewater, runoff, and atmospheric deposition, and finding accumulation across ecosystems from agricultural soils to deep-sea sediments — underscoring the need for improved removal technologies and mitigation strategies.
The global proliferation of synthetic microfiber waste has emerged as a pressing environmental concern due to its widespread distribution in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Primary sources of synthetic microfibers include laundering of synthetic textiles, manufacturing, and plastic breakdown, with transport via wastewater, runoff, atmospheric deposition, and animal ingestion. This review highlights the sources of microfiber formation and accumulation, ranging from freshwater lakes and rivers to deep-sea sediments. The presence of microfibers in agricultural soils, urban dust, and even remote locations indicates atmospheric transportation and diverse accumulation patterns. Additionally, this review discusses the transportation of microfibers through various pathways and elaborates on various treatment technologies for microfiber removal and reduction. The potential human health impacts and mitigation solutions are also highlighted. Overall, this review aims to provide comprehensive knowledge of the sources, transport mechanisms, and accumulation patterns of synthetic microfibers, emphasizing their multifaceted environmental impact and the need for further research to develop effective solutions.