Future Perspectives

Microfibers are very fine fibers of synthetic fabrics and categorized under secondary microplastics, which are mainly composed of polyester, nylon, acrylic, polyethylene, and polypropylene having diameter less than 10 μm. Microfibers are usually used for manufacturing clothes due to certain advantages over other natural fibers. These attract dust particles like a magnet, and due to its fine particles size, they are usually not visible in the surrounding environment. Deposition of microfibers in the environment is increasing with time due to their lack of disintegration or degradation. Microfibers are the major cause of water pollution near fabric industries or where the laundry work is done. Microfiber pollution is a major threat to small aquatic organisms that derive their food from polluted water bodies This microfiber is dominantly present in various parts of the environment including water sources, sludge sediments of rivers, oceans, and top soil. Microfibers are simply consumed by the fish and other marine animals to enter in other trophic levels in the food chain. This cycle is unsustainable. Many modern technologies like membrane bioreactors, LUV-R filters, Raman spectra, and FTIR microscopy are used to filter and identify microfibers. This chapter focuses on global microfiber generation and its pathway into the environment. It also discusses the ill effects of microfiber on the survival of aquatic life forms and ways to reduce the adverse effect of microfiber in the environment and food chain, present treatment technologies, and future considerations.