Microfibers from textiles - A key source of microplastics to the environment: Fate, effects, and mitigation strategies

Summary

Every time you wash synthetic clothes like polyester or nylon, tiny plastic fibers called microfibers shed into the water and eventually make their way into rivers, oceans, and even the air we breathe. This paper reviews existing research on how these fibers spread through the environment and what can be done to stop them—like better washing machine filters or improved fabric design—since these particles have been found in human blood, lungs, and organs, though scientists are still studying the full health impact.