Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Characterization of fiber fragments released from polyester textiles during UV weathering

Researchers characterized fiber fragments released from polyester textiles during UV weathering, identifying weathering as an additional pathway for microplastic fiber generation beyond the commonly studied laundry washing mechanism.

2023 Environmental Pollution 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Artificial Ageing on Microfibre Release from Polyester Textiles

This study assessed how artificial ageing through UV exposure and repeated washing affects microfiber release from polyester textiles, finding that ageing significantly increases the number and changes the characteristics of shed microfibers.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Nanoplastics, Fibrils, and Microplastics Released during Washing and Abrasion of Polyester Textiles

Researchers analyzed the full range of plastic particles released during washing and physical abrasion of polyester textiles, including nanoplastics smaller than 1000 nanometers. They found that both washing and abrasion produced substantial numbers of nanoplastics and microfibers, with abrasion generating even finer fragments. The study highlights synthetic clothing as a significant and underappreciated source of very small plastic particles entering the environment.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 168 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of ultraviolet and thermal degradations of four common microplastics and evidence of nanoparticle release

Researchers studied how UV light and elevated temperature break down four common plastics and found that weathering releases nanoscale plastic particles. Polystyrene and polypropylene were particularly susceptible to UV degradation, generating significant numbers of nanoparticles. The findings confirm that environmental conditions actively fragment microplastics into even smaller, potentially more harmful nanoplastics.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiochemical Degradation of Plastic Fibers from Synthetic Fabrics and Effect of Natural Organic Matter in Aquatic Environments on Nanoplastics’ Behavior

Researchers studied how laundry conditions affect microfiber release from synthetic fabrics and how UV irradiation and pH alter fabric degradation, then examined how natural organic matter (NOM) influences nanoplastic behavior in water. They found that degradation conditions significantly changed fiber release rates and that NOM modified nanoplastic aggregation and stability.

2025 OpenSIUC (Southern Illinois University Carbondale)
Article Tier 2

Simulation of accelerated ageing of polyester fabric

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.

2023 Advanced technologies 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Formation of microplastic fibers and fibrils during abrasion of a representative set of 12 polyester textiles

Abrasion testing of representative polyester fabrics generated microplastic fibers and fibrils, with fiber characteristics reflecting the mechanical and chemical properties of the parent textile. The findings suggest that real-life wear and abrasion during use, not just laundering, is a significant pathway for microfiber release from synthetic textiles.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the environmental impact of textile polymer photodegradation through a multianalytical approach

Researchers used a multi-analytical approach to study how photodegradation of textile polymers generates microfibers and other plastic fragments with potential ecotoxicological impacts. The study characterized degradation products and their effects on aquatic organisms, linking polymer weathering to broader environmental harm.

2025 BOA (University of Milano-Bicocca)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic fibres from synthetic textiles: Environmental degradation and additive chemical content

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.

2020 Environmental Pollution 304 citations
Article Tier 2

UV degradation of natural and synthetic microfibers causes fragmentation and release of polymer degradation products and chemical additives

Researchers exposed natural and synthetic microfibers to UV radiation and found that degradation caused the fibers to fragment into smaller particles while releasing polymer breakdown products and chemical additives. Polyester and polyamide fibers showed distinct degradation patterns, with different chemicals leaching depending on polymer type. The study highlights that microfiber degradation in the environment creates secondary pollution through both physical fragmentation and chemical release.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 267 citations
Article Tier 2

Simulated degradation of differently manufactured polyester fibres released from laundry

This study examined how simulated UV and mechanical degradation affects the release and properties of polyester microfibers from differently manufactured fabrics during laundry, finding that fiber structure and manufacturing method influence fragmentation rates and fragment characteristics.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Formation of Nano- and Microplastics and Dissolved Chemicals During Photodegradation of Polyester Base Fabrics with Polyurethane Coating

Researchers investigated the photodegradation of polyester fabrics with polyurethane coating, a common composite material in synthetic leather, to understand microplastic and chemical release. The study found that the PU coating delayed but did not prevent degradation, with both microplastic fibers and particles being released along with dissolved chemicals, highlighting the environmental risks of composite plastic materials.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterisation of microplastic fibres and their degradation under environmental conditions

This study investigated how UV radiation and mechanical stress degrade common synthetic microfibers including polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which represent the largest fraction of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments. Understanding how fibers degrade helps predict their persistence and how their physical properties change as they age in the environment.

2019 Duo Research Archive (University of Oslo) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nano-particles release from disposable plastic face masks under simulated UV weathering

Disposable plastic face masks, widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, break down under UV exposure into a heterogeneous mix of microplastics and nanoplastics that can enter water, soil, and food chains. This study used state-of-the-art analytical tools to characterize the particles released, helping quantify masks as a significant novel source of environmental plastic pollution that emerged alongside the pandemic.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Simulated degradation of differently manufactured polyester fibres released from laundry

This study examined how simulated degradation affects polyester microfibers from different fabric manufacturing methods, finding that woven versus knitted structures release fibers with distinct morphologies and at different rates under UV and mechanical stress.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Effects and Characterization of Environmental Conditions on Microplastic Fibers Release from Synthetic Textile

Researchers investigated how environmental conditions such as moist heat, high-temperature drying, and abrasion affect the release of microplastic fibers from synthetic textiles. The study found that these aging processes significantly increased fiber shedding, highlighting synthetic clothing as a major ongoing source of microplastic contamination in water environments.

2024 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel method for the isolation, characterisation, and quantification of nanoplastic fibres released from synthetic textiles during laundering

Researchers developed a novel method for isolating, characterising, and quantifying nanoplastic fibres (NPFs) released during laundering of synthetic textiles — including acrylic, nylon, and polyester — enabling fibre size differentiation from the micro to the nano scale. The method addresses a significant gap in textile pollution research by providing a tool to study the understudied nanoplastic fraction of laundry-derived fibre emissions.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Quantifying shedding of synthetic fibers from textiles; a source of microplastics released into the environment

Researchers quantified the shedding of synthetic fibers from textiles during simulated washing, finding that fabric type, age, and wash conditions significantly affected fiber release, and establishing a quantitative basis for estimating textile-derived microplastic inputs.

2017 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 590 citations
Article Tier 2

Domestic laundry and microfiber pollution: Exploring fiber shedding from consumer apparel textiles

Researchers measured microfiber shedding from a range of consumer apparel textiles during simulated laundry cycles, finding that fiber release varied substantially by fabric type, construction, and wash conditions, with polyester fleece releasing the most microfibers per wash.

2021 PLoS ONE 144 citations
Article Tier 2

Formation of Fiber Fragments during Abrasion of Polyester Textiles

Researchers investigated how physical abrasion of polyester textiles produces microplastic fibers and found that the process generates both standard-diameter fibers and much finer fibrils, some as thin as 2.4 micrometers. The number of fibrils produced during abrasion exceeded the number of regular microplastic fibers, and abrasion released 5 to 30 times more fiber fragments than washing. The study suggests that everyday wear of synthetic clothing may be a more significant source of microplastic pollution than previously recognized.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 104 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling Microplastic Release from Discarded Textiles: A Potential Threat to Aquatic Environments

Researchers investigated microplastic release from discarded polyester and nylon clothing exposed to different environmental conditions, finding that ultraviolet radiation and mechanical abrasion accelerated fiber shedding into water bodies. The study highlights fast-fashion textile waste on African shorelines and riverbanks as an underappreciated source of aquatic microplastic pollution.

2025 Journal of Environmental Engineering
Article Tier 2

Weathering of geotextiles under ultraviolet exposure: A neglected source of microfibers from coastal reclamation

Researchers found that UV weathering of geotextiles used in coastal reclamation projects causes significant microfiber release, identifying these widely used polymeric materials as a neglected source of microplastic pollution in coastal environments.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental Degradation and Fragmentation of Microplastics: Dependence on Polymer Type, Humidity, UV Dose and Temperature

A systematic study of UV dose, humidity, and temperature effects on six polymer types found that photo-oxidation is the primary driver of microplastic fragmentation and release of secondary nano-sized particles, with the relationship between weathering conditions and fragmentation rates varying by polymer type.

2024
Article Tier 2

UV Irradiation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polypropylene and Detection of Formed Microplastic Particles Down to 1 μm

UV irradiation experiments showed that both polypropylene and PET plastics rapidly shed microplastic particles down to 1 micrometer in size when exposed to UV light in water, with recycled PET producing significantly more particles than virgin PET. This confirms that UV weathering — occurring continuously outdoors — is an active mechanism generating very small microplastics from everyday plastic products and packaging.

2023 ChemPlusChem 12 citations