Toxic Chemicals in Textiles and the Role of Microplastic Fibres as a Source and Vector for Chemicals to the Environment

The textile industry is chemical intensive, resulting in use and emissions of large volumes of functionally different chemicals at all stages of the textile life cycle, including extraction of raw materials, production of fibres, dyeing and finishing of products, consumer usage and end of life practices. The role of microplastics as a vector for transfer of contaminants in the environment, including to biota, has been heavily debated in the scientific literature. On one hand, it is argued that their small sizes and large surface-to-volume ratios make them efficient carriers of contaminants through the environment, increasing uptake in biota compared to uptake natural pathways. Other studies argue that the role of microplastics as a vector for hazardous chemical additives and contaminants is negligible in comparison to the efficiency of natural exposure pathways due in part to their low environmental concentrations. In order to advance our understanding of microplastics as potential vectors of chemicals, a better understanding of the governing processes is needed. In this chapter, we will contribute to this process by addressing the use of toxic chemicals in textiles and exploring the role of textile-derived microplastic fibres as a source and vector for chemicals to the environment. The focus will be on microplastics and chemical additives and contaminants that are relevant to textiles and textile production.