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Degradation of synthetic and wood-based cellulose fabrics in the marine environment: Comparative assessment of field, aquarium, and bioreactor experiments.
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This study examined how quickly synthetic and wood-based cellulose textile fabrics degrade in the marine environment and how many microfibers they release. Researchers found that wood-based cellulose fabrics broke down much faster than synthetic fibers like polyester, shedding fewer persistent microfibers. The findings support a shift toward natural cellulose textiles as a more ocean-safe alternative.
As global production of textiles rapidly grows, there is urgency to understand the persistence of fabrics in the marine environment, particularly from the microfibers they shed during wearing and washing. Here, we show that fabrics containing polyester (one of the most common plastics) remained relatively intact (viz., with a limited biofilm) after >200 days in seawater off the Scripps Oceanography pier (La Jolla, CA), in contrast to wood-based cellulose fabrics that fell apart within 30 days. We also show similar results under experimental aquaria (in open circuit with the pier waters) as well as bioreactor settings (in close circuit, using microbial inoculum from the North Sea, off Belgium), using nonwoven fabrics and individual fibers, respectively. The fact that fibers released from synthetic textiles remain persistent and non-biodegradable despite their small (invisible) size, highlights concern for the growing industry that uses polyester from recycled plastics to make clothing.
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Researchers buried cotton-polyester blended textiles in soil and monitored the differential biodegradation of natural versus synthetic microfibers over time. Cotton fibers degraded within months while polyester fibers persisted across the entire study period with minimal degradation, confirming that synthetic textile fibers accumulate in soil environments as persistent microplastic contaminants.
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Researchers simulated accelerated aging of polyester textile fabrics, finding that synthetic fiber degradation — driven by fast fashion, consumerism, and environmental exposure — contributes to microplastic pollution and raises ecological concerns about the lifecycle of synthetic textiles.
A review on the biodegradation of textiles in the environment
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Researchers reviewed how textile composition, production processes, and environmental conditions influence biodegradation rates in natural settings, finding that synthetic fibres persist far longer than cellulosic alternatives and that fragmentation into microfibers during degradation represents an understudied pathway for environmental microplastic release.
Microplastic fibres from synthetic textiles: Environmental degradation and additive chemical content
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Researchers studied how common synthetic textile fibers — polyester, polyamide, and polyacrylonitrile — degrade in seawater and freshwater under UV light exposure. They found that these fibers release chemical additives as they break down, with polyester and polyamide releasing particularly concerning levels of plastic-related chemicals into the surrounding water.
Polyester fibres slowly degrade in marine sediments
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Researchers evaluated the degradation of polyester, rayon, and cotton sewing threads buried in marine sediment in Waitematā Harbour, New Zealand over nine months, using tensile strength testing and FTIR spectroscopy to track physical and chemical changes. The study found that polyester fibres degraded very slowly compared to natural fibres, confirming their long-term persistence as microplastic sources in marine sediment environments.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.