Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

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

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

The Effect of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Synthetic Fabrics on the Release of Microplastics during Washing and Drying

Researchers investigated how the physical and chemical properties of synthetic fabrics influence microplastic fiber release during washing and drying, finding that fabric construction, fiber type, and surface treatment are key determinants of the quantity and characteristics of released microplastic particles.

2022 Polymers 26 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
Article Tier 2

The mechanism of microplastic fibers release in a front-loading washing machine

This study examined the microplastic fibers released during front-loading washing machine cycles, finding that high water volumes and larger laundry loads increased fiber shedding, with most released fibers measuring 300–400 micrometers long. Abrasion between garments during the wash cycle drove fiber release, with fabric movement directing where fibers migrated. The findings give manufacturers and consumers clearer data on which washing conditions generate the most microplastic fiber pollution. Since laundry washing is considered one of the largest sources of microplastic fibers entering wastewater, this kind of research is key to designing solutions.

2025 Textile Research Journal 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of microplastic release caused by textile washing processes of synthetic fabrics

This study evaluated microplastic fiber release caused by washing synthetic fabrics, finding that washing processes generate substantial quantities of microfibers and that fabric construction affects release rates, with implications for filtering strategies.

2017 Environmental Pollution 686 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

Microplastics in Wastewater by Washing Polyester Fabrics

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber release from polyester fabrics during washing, characterizing the quantity and types of microplastics generated and their potential pathway into wastewater systems as a significant source of environmental microplastic pollution.

2022 Materials 139 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on the Relationship between Textile Microplastics Shedding and Fabric Structure

Researchers investigated the relationship between textile fabric structure and microplastic shedding during washing, finding that fabric type, weave pattern, and mechanical stress significantly influence the number of microfibers released.

2022 Polymers 23 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

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

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

A novel methodology to study the release of fragmented fibres, including microplastics, in laboratory washing conditions

Scientists developed a new way to study how tiny plastic fibers break off from clothes during washing and end up polluting our water. This research method lets them watch exactly how fibers tear away from fabrics in real-time, which could help us understand and reduce microplastic pollution from laundry. Understanding this process is important because these microscopic plastic fibers can end up in our drinking water and food chain.

2026 Scientific Reports
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

Effect of Washing Process on the Release of Microplastics from Polyester Fabrics

Researchers conducted an analytical evaluation of microplastic and fiber release from tri-color pile polyester fabrics during washing with detergent, employing multiple characterization methods on the fabric, wastewater, and filter cake before and after cryogenization to assess defragmentation and fiber shedding.

2025 Separations
Article Tier 2

Release of Microplastic Fibers from Polyester Knit Fleece during Abrasion, Washing, and Drying

Researchers studied how washing, drying, and mechanical abrasion of polyester fleece fabrics contribute to microplastic fiber release. They found that microplastic shedding increased through the first three to five wash cycles before stabilizing, and that a large proportion of released fibers originated as manufacturing residue. The study recommends practical measures including mesh filters in washing machines and factory prewashing to reduce microplastic fiber discharge into wastewater.

2025 ACS Omega 8 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
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

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

Quantification of different microplastic fibres discharged from textiles in machine wash and tumble drying

Researchers quantified synthetic microplastic fibre emissions from five sequential machine washes and tumble dryings of synthetic fabrics, finding that fibre release decreased with successive washes and that two commercial in-machine fibre traps varied substantially in their collection efficiency, with implications for reducing domestic microplastic emissions.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 105 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