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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Cotton and polyester microfibers cause chronic toxicity in the freshwater invertebrate Chironomus dilutus
ClearAcute toxicity of natural and synthetic clothing fibers towards Daphnia magna: Influence of fiber type and morphology
Researchers tested the toxicity of natural and synthetic clothing fibers on small freshwater organisms (Daphnia magna) and found that nylon microfibers were acutely toxic, while natural fibers like cotton and silk caused no significant harm. Smoother fibers were more toxic than frayed ones, and the actual ingestion of fibers mattered more than how many were present in the water. These findings are important because textile fibers make up a large portion of microplastics in waterways and can enter the human food chain through contaminated aquatic organisms.
Uptake and effects of microplastic textile fibers on freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna
Researchers exposed the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna to ground PET textile microfibers for 48 hours and found that fiber ingestion increased mortality in food-deprived organisms and that daphnids could not recover after transfer to clean water, providing the first evidence of PET textile microfiber bioavailability and toxicity in a standard ecotoxicology model.
Effects of synthetic and natural microfibers on Daphnia magna–Are they dependent on microfiber type?
Researchers compared the effects of synthetic microfibers (polyester and polypropylene) and natural microfibers (lyocell) on the water flea Daphnia magna. The study found that even natural microfibers caused significant harm, including reduced gut microvilli length, impaired nutrient absorption, growth inhibition, and mortality, confirming that microfiber toxicity is not limited to synthetic materials.
Effects of Polyester Fibers and Car Tire Particles on Freshwater Invertebrates
Researchers assessed the ingestion and effects of polyester fibers and car tire particles on four freshwater invertebrate species under acute and chronic exposure conditions. The study found that while both microplastic types were ingested by all species tested, car tire particles caused greater mortality in Daphnia magna and Hyalella azteca. The results suggest that the chemical composition of microplastics plays an important role in their toxicity to freshwater organisms.
Difference in sensitivity of Daphnia magna to pristine and aged microplastic fibers
Researchers compared the acute and chronic toxicity of pristine versus UV-aged polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, and polyester microplastic fibers on the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna, also testing natural wool and cellulose fibers as references. Aged plastic fibers showed different toxicity profiles than unaged fibers, with effects on survival, reproduction, growth, and oxygen consumption.
Exposure to Cotton and Polyester Microfibers Leads to Different Fatty Acid Profiles and Chemical Contaminants (PBDE) Concentrations in Juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
Fish exposed to cotton versus polyester microfibers showed distinct fatty acid profiles and different patterns of chemical bioaccumulation, suggesting that fiber type matters for both metabolic and toxicological outcomes. Polyester microfibers acted as a more effective vector for persistent organic pollutants than cotton fibers.
Multi-level approach to investigate sublethal effects caused by synthetic and natural microfibers on Daphnia magna
Researchers exposed freshwater organisms including amphipods and oligochaetes to synthetic and natural microfibers at multiple levels of biological organization, finding that both fiber types caused sublethal physiological and behavioral effects, with synthetic fibers generally producing greater harm.
Microplastic and Organic Fibres in Feeding, Growth and Mortality of Gammarus pulex
Researchers found that microplastic fibres and organic fibres (cotton and wool) had measurable effects on the feeding, growth, and mortality of the freshwater crustacean Gammarus pulex, with both fibre types posing ecological risks in aquatic environments.
No Effect of Realistic Concentrations of Polyester Microplastic Fibers on Freshwater Zooplankton Communities
Researchers tested whether realistic concentrations of polyester microplastic fibers affect freshwater zooplankton communities in experimental settings. The study found no significant effects on zooplankton abundance, diversity, or community structure at environmentally relevant concentrations, suggesting that current levels of fiber pollution may not substantially impact these organisms.
Microfibers in the Riverine Environment
This review examines microfiber contamination in riverine environments, distinguishing cellulose-based natural fibers from petroleum-based artificial fibers originating from wastewater treatment plants and atmospheric deposition, highlighting their slow degradation, long residence times, and comparable harmful effects on zooplankton such as cladocerans, rotifers, and copepods.
Impacts of non-petroleum and petroleum-based microfibers on aquatic organisms: a meta-analysis
This meta-analysis compared the toxic effects of petroleum-based and non-petroleum microfibers on aquatic organisms. Surprisingly, natural fibers like cotton and viscose also caused significant biological harm, not just synthetic ones like polyester and nylon. This means that even "natural" textiles shed fibers that can damage aquatic ecosystems, complicating the assumption that non-synthetic clothing is automatically safer for the environment.
Natural and synthetic microfibers alter growth and behavior in early life stages of estuarine organisms
Researchers exposed early life stages of estuarine fish and invertebrates to natural cotton and synthetic polyester and polypropylene microfibers commonly found in coastal waters. Both natural and synthetic fibers affected growth and behavior, though synthetic fibers tended to cause more pronounced effects. The study suggests that microfiber pollution in coastal environments poses risks to young marine organisms during their most vulnerable developmental stages.
Beyond plastics: occurrence and ecological risks of non-plastic microfibres in aquatic organisms
This systematic review highlights that non-plastic microfibres from cotton, wool, and rayon clothing are also widespread pollutants in aquatic environments. These fibres, often overlooked in favor of plastic pollution, carry chemical additives and accumulate in aquatic organisms, suggesting the microparticle problem in our food chain is broader than previously thought.
Unraveling Physical and Chemical Effects of Textile Microfibers
This review examines both the physical and chemical effects of textile microfibers on organisms, discussing how these most prevalent microplastics expose biota to manufacturing chemicals and environmental contaminants across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.
Synthetic microfibers: Pollution toxicity and remediation
Researchers reviewed the sources, transport pathways, ecological impacts, and remediation approaches for synthetic microfiber pollution originating from domestic washing machines. The study highlights that urban laundry wastewater is a major contributor to microfiber pollution entering aquatic and terrestrial environments, with potential effects on the food chain and human health.
Microfibres from Textile Industry Effluents
Researchers reviewed the fate of microfibres released from textile industry effluents, finding that conventional wastewater treatment is insufficient to fully remove fibres, which then enter receiving waterways and contribute to environmental microplastic loads.
Impact of Microplastic Beads and Fibers on Waterflea (Ceriodaphnia dubia) Survival, Growth, and Reproduction: Implications of Single and Mixture Exposures
Researchers tested the acute and chronic effects of polyester fibers and polyethylene beads, both individually and as mixtures, on the freshwater zooplankton Ceriodaphnia dubia. Both types caused dose-dependent survival effects in acute exposures, and chronic exposure reduced growth and reproduction even at lower concentrations. The study found that fiber-bead mixtures produced less than additive effects, suggesting the two forms of microplastics interact in complex ways.
Impact of polyester and cotton microfibers on growth and sublethal biomarkers in juvenile mussels
Researchers exposed juvenile mussels to polyester and cotton microfibers at realistic ocean concentrations for 94 days and found that polyester microfibers reduced mussel growth rates by up to 36%, suggesting that microplastic fiber pollution could harm marine ecosystems and threaten shellfish aquaculture.
Transfer and effects of PET microfibers in Chironomus riparius
Researchers exposed the aquatic insect Chironomus riparius to PET microfibers in sediment and demonstrated for the first time that ingested microfibers transfer from larvae to adults, providing proof of aquatic-to-terrestrial microplastic transfer via insect emergence — though no significant growth, development, or stress-response effects were observed at the tested concentrations.
Effect of Microfiber Pollutants in Freshwater Ecosystems
This chapter reviews microfiber pollution in freshwater ecosystems, covering sources, environmental distribution, interactions with flora and fauna, and the pathways through which microfibers enter food webs and harm aquatic organisms.
Unraveling the ecological impact of textile microfibers: Current knowledge and research challenges
This review examines the ecological impact of textile microfibers, a major subset of microplastic pollution released during laundry and fabric wear. Researchers found significant knowledge gaps regarding how these fibers affect organisms and ecosystems, particularly when interacting with other environmental contaminants. The study calls for more standardized research methods and greater attention to this pervasive but understudied form of microplastic pollution.
The impacts of synthetic and cellulose-based fibres and their associated dyes on fish hosts and parasite health
Researchers tested the effects of polyester, cotton, and bamboo clothing fibers on freshwater fish and their parasites. The study found that polyester exposure was associated with significantly higher fish mortality, while bamboo fibers appeared to confer some resistance against parasites. Evidence indicates that synthetic microplastic fibers and their associated chemical dyes can be harmful to aquatic organisms, highlighting the need for greater transparency from textile industries about dye composition.
Clothes Encounters of the Microfibre Kind
This review examines how natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic textile fibers enter the environment and affect organisms and ecosystems, highlighting that fiber type influences toxicity and persistence. The authors conclude that textile fibers are an underappreciated category of microplastic pollution with diverse ecological effects.
Particle Shedding from Cotton and Cotton-Polyester Fabrics in the Dry State and in Washes
Researchers studied how washing cotton and cotton-polyester fabrics up to 50 times affects how many particles they shed, finding that cotton released significantly more particles than the blended fabric, and that most released particles were smaller than 25 micrometers. Because synthetic polyester fibers in laundry effluent are a recognized source of microplastic pollution in waterways, understanding differences between fabric types helps identify which textiles are higher-risk sources.