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Occupational Awareness of Airborne Microplastics in the Dry-Cleaning and Laundry Industry
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Every time synthetic clothes get washed or dry-cleaned, they release tiny plastic particles into the air — and a new pilot study found that most dry-cleaning and laundry workers in Philadelphia don't know this is happening. Even among the minority who'd heard of microplastics, that awareness didn't translate into using protective gear like masks, suggesting these workers may be breathing in plastic particles daily without adequate protection. The findings highlight a gap in workplace safety education that could put small-business workers at risk from an exposure most people don't even realize exists.
Workers in dry-cleaning and laundry shops routinely handle large volumes of synthetic garments that shed airborne microplastics, potentially creating an underrecognized occupational exposure in this small-business sector. Despite growing concern about microplastics in environmental health research, little is known about their recognition as an occupational hazard among service-sector workers. This pilot study assessed awareness and knowledge of microplastics among dry-cleaning and laundry workers in Philadelphia and examined their associations with workplace protective practices. We collected information on workplace characteristics, microplastics awareness, knowledge, and personal protective equipment (PPE) use from 34 self-employed workers. Approximately one-third of participants had heard of microplastics, and those who were aware demonstrated higher knowledge scores (median: 71) than those who were unaware (median: 27). However, neither awareness nor knowledge was associated with PPE use. These findings suggest that microplastics remain an overlooked occupational hazard and underscore the need for enhanced occupational health education and worker protection efforts.
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