Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The mechanism of washing parameters and fabric movement on microplastic fiber release in top-loading washing machines

Researchers constructed a dimensionless washing machine model to investigate the release mechanism of microplastic fibers from synthetic fabrics in top-loading washing machines, examining the effects of washing parameters and fabric movement. They found that released microplastic fibers averaged 300-400 μm in length and that the interaction between surface friction coefficient and water volume ratio showed a positive correlation with mass of fibers shed.

2025 Textile Research Journal
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Derived from Chemical Fibers

Japanese researchers measured the release of synthetic microfibers from laundry, finding that front-loading drum-type washing machines release significantly more fibers per wash than top-loading agitator machines. Synthetic textile washing is a major source of microplastic fiber pollution in wastewater, and these findings can guide efforts to reduce fiber shedding.

2023 Material Cycles and Waste Management Research
Article Tier 2

Release of synthetic microplastic plastic fibres from domestic washing machines: Effects of fabric type and washing conditions

Researchers measured synthetic microfiber release from domestic washing machines in real household conditions, finding that millions of fibers are shed per wash cycle, with fiber release influenced by fabric type and wash parameters.

2016 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1556 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microfibers emission from textile washing from a domestic environment

Researchers found that household laundry machines release millions of microfibers per wash cycle, with top-loading machines emitting slightly more than front-loaders, and synthetic fibers accounting for only about 19% of total emissions, with the majority of fibers under 5 micrometers in length.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 29 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of mechanical action on the release of microplastic fibers during washing

Researchers designed a washing simulation device to isolate and study the effects of three mechanical actions — abrasion, hydrodynamic flow, and beating — on the release of microplastic fibers from fabrics during laundering. The study found that floating fibers from the production process are released first, while mechanical abrasion generates additional fiber fragments, with implications for understanding and reducing microplastic fiber emissions to wastewater.

2023 Textile Research Journal 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Importance of Water-Volume on the Release of Microplastic Fibers from Laundry

This laboratory study found that water volume used during laundry washing significantly influences the release of microplastic fibers from polyester textiles, with larger water volumes releasing more fibers per wash cycle. The findings suggest that high-efficiency washing machines using less water may inadvertently release more concentrated fiber-laden effluent to wastewater treatment systems.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 223 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Emission of fibres from textiles: A critical and systematic review of mechanisms of release during machine washing

This systematic review examines how washing clothes in machines releases microfibers, both natural and plastic, into wastewater. Understanding the factors that drive fiber release during laundry is important because these microfibers are a major source of microplastic pollution in waterways and oceans, and they ultimately enter our food and water supply.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling microfiber emissions: A comprehensive analysis of household washing activities and mitigation measures

Researchers measured microfiber release from real household washing machines across different wash programs and found that machine type, spin speed, and cycle duration all significantly affect how many synthetic fabric fibers — a major source of microplastic pollution — escape into wastewater. They identified optimal washing conditions (higher spin speed, longer cycle) that can meaningfully reduce microfiber emissions during everyday laundry.

2024 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The contribution of washing processes of synthetic clothes to microplastic pollution

Real-scale wash trials of synthetic commercial garments measured microfiber release per wash, finding that release varied significantly with textile type, structure, and age, with some items releasing over 700,000 fibers per wash. The study quantifies the contribution of synthetic textile washing to microplastic pollution and identifies fiber characteristics that govern release rates.

2019 Scientific Reports 752 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Release from Domestic Washing

Researchers measured microfiber release from domestic washing of textile materials across five washing cycles, finding that the amount of microplastic fiber shed varied significantly with washing conditions and fiber type, contributing to aquatic microplastic pollution.

2021 European Journal of Science and Technology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Washing load influences the microplastic release from polyester fabrics by affecting wettability and mechanical stress

Washing load size significantly influenced microfiber release from polyester fabrics, with larger loads generating greater absolute fiber quantities but lower per-item release, linked to changes in fabric wettability and the mechanical abrasion forces experienced during the wash cycle.

2021 Scientific Reports 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastics release from polyester fabrics: The impact of different washing conditions

Researchers assessed microplastic fiber release from polyester and polyamide fabrics during simulated washing, finding that fabric construction, fiber type, and washing conditions all influenced the quantity of fibers released. The study provides data to help quantify the contribution of laundry to microplastic emissions in wastewater.

2020 Environmental Pollution 147 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification and morphological characterization of microfibers emitted from textile washing

Textile microfibers released during washing machine cycles were quantified and characterized, with the study finding that fiber type, fabric construction, and wash conditions all influenced emission quantities. The results confirm textile washing as a significant and ongoing source of microplastic fiber pollution in wastewater.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyester Textiles as a Source of Microplastics from Households: A Mechanistic Study to Understand Microfiber Release During Washing

Researchers conducted a mechanistic study of microplastic fiber shedding from polyester textiles in household washing machines, identifying wash temperature, spin speed, and detergent type as key variables affecting fiber release rates.

2017 Environmental Science & Technology 744 citations
Article Tier 2

Laundering and textile parameters influence fibers release in household washings

Laboratory washing experiments showed that the release of synthetic microfibers from textiles is influenced by both laundering parameters (water volume, wash cycle) and fabric characteristics (yarn structure, weave type). Understanding these factors can help design more fiber-retaining fabrics and washing machines to reduce microfiber pollution in wastewater.

2019 Environmental Pollution 192 citations
Article Tier 2

The Influence of Textile Type, Textile Weight, and Detergent Dosage on Microfiber Emissions from Top-Loading Washing Machines

Researchers investigated how different textile types, fabric weights, and detergent amounts affect microfiber shedding from top-loading washing machines. The study found that all four tested fabric weave structures released both synthetic and natural microfibers during washing, with textile type and weight being significant factors, contributing to our understanding of how everyday laundry contributes to microplastic pollution.

2024 Toxics 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in wastewater: microfiber emissions from common household laundry

A household laundry study found that a 6 kg load of synthetic clothing released an average of 18 million microfibers into wastewater, with 93% of fibers under 500 micrometers in length. This is the first characterization of microfiber emissions under real household conditions, confirming laundry as a major domestic source of small microplastic pollution.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 157 citations
Article Tier 2

Emissions of microplastic fibers from microfiber fleece during domestic washing

Researchers measured microfiber shedding during 10 washing cycles of a new polyester fleece and found that a single garment released hundreds of thousands of fibers per wash. This is one of the first quantitative studies to confirm domestic laundry as a major source of microfibers entering wastewater and ultimately aquatic environments.

2016 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 381 citations
Article Tier 2

Release of polyester and cotton fibers from textiles in machine washings

Researchers quantified the release of polyester and cotton microfibers from textiles during sequential machine washings. They found that the first wash released the most fibers, with amounts decreasing in subsequent washes, and estimated that household washing machines in Finland release hundreds of thousands of kilograms of textile microfibers annually. The study highlights laundry as a significant and ongoing source of microplastic and microfiber pollution entering wastewater systems.

2017 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 246 citations
Article Tier 2

Microfiber release from real soiled consumer laundry and the impact of fabric care products and washing conditions

Researchers measured microfiber release from real soiled consumer laundry from UK households, finding a mean release of 114 ppm (mg microfiber per kg fabric) under typical washing conditions, and investigated how fabric care products, washing machine design, and cycle settings affect fiber shedding. The study found that certain fabric conditioners and appliance features can meaningfully reduce microfiber release during domestic washing.

2020 PLoS ONE 113 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Fiber Release by Laundry: A Comparative Study of Hand-Washing and Machine-Washing

Researchers compared microplastic fiber release from hand-washing versus machine-washing of textiles. Machine-washing released roughly 13 times more fibers by count than hand-washing, though hand-washing produced longer fibers on average, and factors like detergent use, soaking time, and washboard use influenced fiber release during hand-washing.

2023 ACS ES&T Water 73 citations
Article Tier 2

The Effect Of Top-Loading Washing Operational Setting On Microplastic Fibers Released From Cloth During The Washing Process And Filtered By Filter Cloth

Researchers investigated the effects of washing machine spin speed, operation time, and repeated wash cycles on microplastic fiber release from textiles in a top-loading machine, evaluating how washing operational settings influence the amount of microplastics captured by filter cloth before reaching wastewater treatment.

2024 Asian Journal of Engineering Social and Health 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Garment ageing in a laundry care process under household‐like conditions

This study measured how repeated household-style washing affects garments and how much fiber is released into wash water over 30 cycles. The findings contribute to understanding synthetic microfiber shedding from textiles during laundry, which is a significant source of microplastic fiber pollution in waterways.

2023 Applied Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Microplastics Released Based on Polyester Fabric Construction during Washing and Drying

Researchers characterized microplastic fiber release from polyester fabrics during washing and drying, finding that fabric construction type significantly influences fiber shedding rates, with looser fabric structures releasing substantially more microplastic fibers per wash cycle.

2021 Polymers 31 citations