We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Colored microplastics: A review on environmental and health risks from dyed textiles
Summary
Every time you wash or wear synthetic clothing, tiny plastic fibers can shed into the environment—and this review of existing research shows that the dyes and chemicals used to color these fibers may make them even more harmful than plain microplastics, potentially amplifying risks as we breathe them in, touch them, or ingest them through food and water. The science on exactly how dangerous these "colored microplastics" are to human health is still developing, but this paper argues we can't ignore the added toxicity that dyes bring to the microplastics problem. The takeaway: it's not just about reducing plastic in general—the color and chemical treatments on our
Dyed textiles are increasingly recognized as a major source of colored microplastics (CMPs) in the environment. Throughout their life cycle, including manufacturing, washing, wearing, and environmental weathering, these materials release fibrous plastics embedded with persistent dyes and chemical additives. While microplastics have been extensively investigated, the distinct behavior and toxicological relevance of textile CMPs remain insufficiently understood. This review primarily focuses on textile-derived CMPs, particularly dyed synthetic textile microfibers, while also considering dyed natural fibers containing persistent synthetic colorants whose environmental behavior may differ according to dye–fiber interactions. This review critically examines the generation mechanisms, environmental fate, and transformation pathways of CMPs originating from textiles, with particular attention to wastewater systems, ageing processes, dye leaching, and fragmentation into nanoplastics. The interactions of CMPs with co-existing organic and inorganic pollutants, as well as their bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological impacts across aquatic food webs, are comprehensively assessed. Furthermore, potential human exposure routes, including ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, are evaluated alongside emerging evidence of fiber- and dye-mediated health risks. By highlighting the synergistic toxicity arising from interactions among fibers, dyes, polymers, and co-existing pollutants, this review underscores critical knowledge gaps and regulatory limitations, and calls for integrated strategies spanning textile design, dye chemistry, wastewater management, and environmental health research to mitigate the growing risks posed by textile CMPs.