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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to The impacts of synthetic and cellulose-based fibres and their associated dyes on fish hosts and parasite health
ClearAnalysis of bamboo fibres and their associated dye in the parasite-host dynamics of freshwater fish
Bamboo-derived textile fibers — often marketed as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic plastics — were tested for effects on guppy fish health and disease resistance over a three-week exposure period. While the fibers did not significantly change infection outcomes or survival, they did alter fish metabolism in measurable ways, suggesting that even "natural" textile fibers can have subtle biological effects and that greenwashing claims deserve more scrutiny.
Analysis of bamboo fibres and their associated dye on a freshwater fish host-parasite system
Researchers assessed the health effects of bamboo-viscose and bamboo-elastane textile fibers and their associated dye on a freshwater fish host-parasite system. The study found that even fibers marketed as biodegradable and environmentally friendly can impact fish health, suggesting that organic textile fibers may not be the benign alternative to synthetic microplastics that marketing claims imply.
The impacts of fibre pollution on fish host-parasite interactions
Researchers exposed guppies infected with the ectoparasite Gyrodactylus turnbulli to polyester, cotton, and bamboo fibres and found that polyester exposure significantly increased mortality in uninfected fish, while bamboo fibre exposure reduced parasite burdens in infected fish, demonstrating that fibre type determines host-parasite interaction outcomes.
A comparative analysis of synthetic and natural fabrics
Researchers compared the durability and microplastic-shedding properties of bamboo fabric versus synthetic polyester fabric. Bamboo fabric does not release microplastic fibers into wash water, making it a more environmentally friendly textile option compared to synthetic fabrics that are a major source of microplastic fiber pollution.
Polyester Microfiber Accumulation and Toxicological Effects on Freshwater Fish Labeo rohita.
Scientists found that tiny plastic fibers from polyester clothing seriously harm freshwater fish when they eat them, causing stress, behavioral changes like increased aggression, and disrupting their body chemistry. This matters because these same plastic fibers are widespread in our water systems and food chain, potentially affecting the fish we eat and the water we drink. The study shows we need to reduce plastic pollution from synthetic clothing to protect both aquatic life and human health.
Cotton and polyester microfibers cause chronic toxicity in the freshwater invertebrate Chironomus dilutus
Researchers compared the chronic toxicity of cotton and polyester microfibers on the freshwater invertebrate Chironomus dilutus, testing both clean fibers and fibers soaked in wastewater treatment effluent. The study found that both fiber types caused toxic effects, highlighting that microfiber pollution in aquatic environments is not limited to synthetic plastics and that associated chemicals can increase toxicity.
Microplastic fibers — Underestimated threat to aquatic organisms?
This review highlights that microplastic fibers, mostly from synthetic clothing, are the most commonly found type of microplastic in water but are often overlooked in research. Studies that did examine fibers found they cause tissue damage, reduced growth, and even death in aquatic organisms, particularly smaller creatures at the base of the food chain. Since these organisms are eaten by fish that humans consume, fiber pollution could ultimately affect human health through seafood.
Less impact than suspected: Dietary exposure of three-spined sticklebacks to microplastic fibers does not affect their body condition and immune parameters
Researchers found that dietary exposure to polyester microplastic fibers at environmentally relevant and elevated concentrations had no significant effects on growth, body condition, or immune parameters of three-spined sticklebacks over nine weeks.
Acute 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.
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.
Integrated analysis of microplastics origins and impact on prominent aquaculture ecosystems in Bangladesh
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in aquaculture ponds in Bangladesh, finding widespread particles in both the water and farmed fish including tilapia and pangas. Fibers were the most common type, likely from textile and fishing net waste, and the contamination levels posed potential health risks to consumers. Since farmed fish is a major protein source in Bangladesh and many developing countries, these findings highlight a direct pathway for microplastics to reach people through their diet.
Plastic microfibers as a risk factor for the health of aquatic organisms: A bibliometric and systematic review of plastic pandemic
Aquatic organisms exposed to plastic microfibers showed accumulation primarily in the digestive tract and exhibited DNA damage, physiological alterations, digestive damage, and mortality. Fiber toxicity depended on size, shape, chemical composition, and association with other pollutants, with nanofiber effects representing a major knowledge gap.
Effects of Polyester Microplastic Fiber Contamination on Amphibian–Trematode Interactions
This study tested how polyester microplastic fibers affect amphibian-trematode interactions, finding that fibers can reduce parasite survival but also alter amphibian immune function in ways that complicate infection outcomes, suggesting microplastics could disrupt host-parasite dynamics.
Influence of synthetic and natural microfibers on the growth, substance exchange, energy accumulation, and oxidative stress of field-collected microalgae compared with microplastic fragment
Researchers tested how synthetic microfibers from plastics like PET and polypropylene affect freshwater algae compared to natural fibers like cotton and wool. The synthetic fibers inhibited algae growth more than natural fibers and caused oxidative damage to the cells, with fiber-shaped particles being more harmful than fragments of the same material. Since algae form the base of aquatic food chains, damage to them from microplastic fibers could ripple through ecosystems and affect the fish and water that humans depend on.
Characterization and spatial distribution of microplastics in two wild captured economic freshwater fish from north and west rivers of Guangdong province
Microplastics were found in two economically important freshwater fish species sampled across Guangdong Province, China, with fibers being the most common type and polypropylene and polyester the dominant polymers. The widespread contamination of commercial freshwater fish in China indicates a significant pathway for human exposure through fish consumption.
Natural or synthetic – how global trends in textile usage threaten freshwater environments
Researchers compared the freshwater environmental impacts of natural wool and synthetic polyester textiles across their entire lifecycle. They found that wool poses the greatest risk during production, while polyester textiles are most harmful during use and disposal phases, largely through microfiber release. The study highlights that both natural and synthetic textiles present substantial challenges for freshwater environments, requiring tailored solutions in different regions.
Direct and indirect ecological impacts of microplastic fibers on host-parasite and host-microbiota interactions
Researchers experimentally tested how polyester microplastic fibers of two sizes affect trematode parasite infection rates and gut microbiome composition in leopard frog tadpoles. Microplastic fibers altered both host-parasite dynamics and microbiota structure in size-dependent ways, demonstrating that plastic fiber pollution has cascading effects on freshwater ecological interactions.
Environmental Impact of Textile Materials: Challenges in Fiber–Dye Chemistry and Implication of Microbial Biodegradation
This review examines how the textile industry contributes to environmental pollution through both chemical dye waste and microplastic fiber release. Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon shed non-biodegradable microfibers during manufacturing and washing, while the dyeing process generates contaminated wastewater. The paper highlights microbial biodegradation as a promising and cost-effective approach to breaking down both textile waste and the microplastics it produces.
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.
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.
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.
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.