Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Pollution characteristics and fate of microfibers in the wastewater from textile dyeing wastewater treatment plant

Researchers found that a textile industry wastewater treatment plant achieved 95.1% removal of microfibers, reducing concentrations from 334.1 items/litre in influent to 16.3 items/litre in final effluent, yet still released 4.89 x 10^8 microfibers into receiving waters daily due to the enormous treatment volume.

2018 Water Science & Technology 115 citations
Article Tier 2

Reducing microfiber release from polyester fabrics through optimization of spinning process parameters

Researchers identified yarn hairiness — the tiny fibers sticking out from a thread — as the primary driver of microfiber release from polyester fabrics during washing, and showed that selecting the right spinning method (Siro compact spinning) at manufacturing can reduce microplastic shedding by minimizing those protruding fibers at the source.

2025 Fashion and Textiles
Article Tier 2

Microfiber from textile dyeing and printing wastewater of a typical industrial park in China: Occurrence, removal and release

Textile dyeing and printing wastewater in a Chinese industrial park contained up to 54,100 microfibers per liter, and even after treatment the effluent released 430 billion microfibers per day into receiving waterways. The study identifies textile wastewater as a far larger source of microfibers than municipal sewage treatment plants.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 156 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024
Article Tier 2

Detection and Analysis of Microfibers and Microplastics in Wastewater from a Textile Company

Researchers analyzed microfiber and microplastic levels in wastewater from a textile company, finding that the on-site treatment plant removed only 38–65% of microfibers, meaning up to 62% — including acrylic, polyester, and polyamide particles — can escape into receiving waterways.

2022 Microplastics 32 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

Investigation of ring, airjet and rotor spun yarn structures on the fragmented fibers (microplastics) released from polyester textiles during laundering

This study tested whether the type of yarn structure used in polyester fabrics affects how many microplastic fibers are shed during washing. Fabrics made from airjet and rotor yarns released 28% and 33% less fiber mass, respectively, than those made from the more common ring-spun yarn, and they shed shorter fiber fragments. Since textile washing is one of the major routes for microplastics entering wastewater, this finding suggests that changing yarn manufacturing processes could meaningfully reduce textile microplastic pollution at the source.

2023 Textile Research Journal 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Microplastics Released from Plain Woven Classified by Yarn Types during Washing and Drying

Researchers analyzed microplastic release from plain woven fabrics classified by yarn type during washing and drying cycles, finding that yarn composition significantly influenced the quantity and characteristics of shed microplastic fibers. The study aims to identify fabric types that release fewer microplastics to reduce textile-derived microplastic emissions to wastewater.

2021 Polymers 33 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of the current status of microfiber pollution research in textiles

This review synthesizes research on microfiber shedding from textiles, examining how fiber properties (length, diameter, twist, surface treatment) influence how much a fabric sheds during laundering. Microfibers from textile washing are one of the largest sources of microplastic fiber pollution in wastewater and aquatic environments globally.

2020 International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of shedding propensity of polyesterfabrics in the washing process

Researchers quantified microplastic shedding from three polyester fabric types — woven, knitted, and double-faced plush — under standardized washing conditions at 60°C using gravimetric analysis and physicochemical characterization of wastewater over 5- and 10-cycle wash experiments. Results showed fabric structure influences shedding propensity, and that the majority of fragments are released during the first washing cycles.

2024 The holistic approach to environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Fibrous Microplastics Release from Textile Production Phases: A Brief Review of Current Challenges and Applied Research Directions

This review examines how microplastic fibers are shed during various stages of textile production, from spinning and weaving to dyeing and finishing. Researchers found that fibrous microplastics account for roughly half to 70% of all microplastics found in global wastewater, primarily originating from synthetic fabric manufacturing and household laundering. The study identifies gaps in current knowledge and explores recycling technologies and regulatory approaches that could help reduce textile microplastic pollution.

2025 Materials 15 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

Systematic study of the presence of microplastic fibers during polyester yarn production

Researchers systematically sampled polyester yarn at each stage of production from bale opening to spinning and found microplastic fibers at every step, ranging from 44 to 8,057 fibers per gram. Rotor-spun yarns contained the highest fiber counts (2,000 to 8,000 per gram), suggesting that spinning method is a critical factor controlling microplastic fiber generation during textile manufacturing.

2022 Journal of Cleaner Production 59 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

A review on microplastic emission from textile materials and its reduction techniques

Researchers reviewed how synthetic textile fibers — tiny plastic threads released from clothes during washing, drying, and wearing — are a major source of microplastic pollution, entering waterways and food chains through seafood, salt, and drinking water. They identify fabric type, detergent, and washing conditions as key factors affecting fiber release, and propose textile finishing and regulatory strategies to reduce emissions.

2022 Polymer Degradation and Stability 291 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

TextileRecycling’s Hidden Problem: Surface-ModifiedFiber Fragments Emitted at Every Stage

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber (MPF) release during chemical recycling of polyester/cotton-blended textiles, finding that the dye removal stage emitted the highest MPF count at nearly 10,055 MPFs per gram, while alkaline hydrolysis reduced MPF release by 87.55% compared to acid hydrolysis during the treatment stage.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

TextileRecycling’s Hidden Problem: Surface-ModifiedFiber Fragments Emitted at Every Stage

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber (MPF) release during chemical recycling of polyester/cotton-blended textiles, finding that the dye removal stage emitted the highest MPF count at nearly 10,055 MPFs per gram, while alkaline hydrolysis reduced MPF release by 87.55% compared to acid hydrolysis during the treatment stage.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

TextileRecycling’s Hidden Problem: Surface-ModifiedFiber Fragments Emitted at Every Stage

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber (MPF) release during chemical recycling of polyester/cotton-blended textiles, finding that the dye removal stage emitted the highest MPF count at nearly 10,055 MPFs per gram, while alkaline hydrolysis reduced MPF release by 87.55% compared to acid hydrolysis during the treatment stage.

2025 Figshare
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

Textile Recycling’s Hidden Problem: Surface-Modified Fiber Fragments Emitted at Every Stage

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber release during chemical recycling of polyester-cotton blended textiles and found that the dye removal stage generated the highest fiber counts, averaging around 10,055 fibers per gram of textile waste. Alkaline hydrolysis reduced fiber emissions during the treatment stage by nearly 88% compared to acid hydrolysis. The study highlights that textile recycling processes, while essential for sustainability, can themselves be a significant source of microplastic fiber pollution.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microfibres Release from Textile Industry Wastewater Effluents Are Underestimated: Mitigation Actions That Need to Be Prioritised

This review highlights that the release of tiny fibers from textile manufacturing wastewater is likely far greater than current estimates suggest, making it a major underrecognized source of microplastic pollution. Researchers found that existing wastewater treatment processes capture many fibers but still release significant quantities into the environment. The study calls for prioritizing better filtration technologies and upstream interventions in the textile industry to reduce fiber shedding.

2023 Fibers 19 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

Release of fibrous microplastics from functional polyester garments through household washing

Functional polyester garments released measurable quantities of fibrous microplastics during household washing, with fiber shedding rates influenced by garment type and washing conditions, while German wastewater treatment plants captured a significant but incomplete fraction.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 9 citations