Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic emissions from household washing machines: preliminary findings from Greater Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

This study measured microplastic emissions from household washing machines in the Kuala Lumpur area, finding between 6 and 30 microplastic particles released per liter of laundry water. Household washing machines in Malaysia contribute to microplastic pollution in wastewater, consistent with findings from other parts of the world.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in three types of household cleaning products and their estimated emissions into the aquatic environment

Researchers detected microplastics in three types of household cleaning products (laundry detergents, toilet bowl cleaners, and dishwashing detergents) and estimated that global use of these products represents a significant and largely overlooked pathway for primary microplastic emissions into aquatic environments.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Residential houses — a major point source of microplastic pollution: insights on the various sources, their transport, transformation, and toxicity behaviour

This review highlights residential homes as a major but overlooked source of microplastic pollution, identifying personal care products, laundry, cooking, and household dust as key generators. These microplastics enter municipal wastewater and eventually reach rivers, lakes, and oceans. The authors emphasize that reducing microplastic pollution requires addressing household sources, not just industrial and wastewater treatment plant emissions.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 49 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

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

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

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

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

Mechanical recycling of plastic waste as a point source of microplastic pollution

Researchers found that mechanical recycling of plastic waste is a significant point source of microplastic pollution, releasing plastic fragments into wastewater during washing, shredding, and processing stages of the recycling chain.

2022 Environmental Pollution 181 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne emissions of microplastic fibres from domestic laundry dryers

Domestic tumble dryers were confirmed as a source of airborne microplastic fibers, with samples taken during operation containing significantly more fibers than background air levels. The study is the first to measure microplastic fiber emissions from mechanical drying, identifying indoor air as a key exposure environment.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 234 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

Quantity and fate of synthetic microfiber emissions from apparel washing in California and strategies for their reduction

Researchers quantified synthetic microfiber emissions from apparel washing across California, finding laundry to be a major microplastic source, and evaluated strategies including appliance filters and fabric standards to reduce microfiber releases to wastewater systems.

2022 Environmental Pollution 37 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 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

Evaluation of MiniPlast Filters for Microplastic Removal from Laundry Wastewater

Researchers evaluated MiniPlast in-washing machine filters for capturing synthetic microfibers released during laundry cycles, finding that the filters significantly reduced microplastic emissions in wastewater and could serve as a practical household intervention for reducing microfiber pollution.

2025 Jurnal Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam dan Lingkungan (Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Management)
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

Microplastic pollution in aquatic environments from washing synthetic textiles

Washing synthetic textiles releases microplastic fibers into wastewater, and this study reviewed the scale of the problem and explored strategies to reduce emissions at the washing machine, garment design, and wastewater treatment levels. Textile laundering is considered one of the largest sources of microplastic fiber pollution reaching aquatic environments.

2021 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Modelling microplastic fibre emissions from synthetic textiles: An Australian case

Researchers modeled microplastic fiber emissions from synthetic textiles across Australia, estimating emission quantities, identifying geographic hotspots, and tracing fibres to their environmental receiving compartments. The model found that domestic laundry is the dominant emission source, with most fibres ultimately reaching wastewater treatment systems or water bodies.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
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

Microfiber pollution: Assessment, emission estimation, and time-series-based forecast of microfibers from domestic washing machine laundering and mitigation measures.

This study measured microfiber release from domestic washing machines in India, finding substantial emissions with each wash cycle, and used the data to forecast future microfiber pollution as laundry machine use grows. The findings highlight domestic laundry as a major and growing source of synthetic microfiber pollution in emerging economies.

2024 Integrated environmental assessment and management
Article Tier 2

Assessing the contribution of sewing threads to microfiber release during domestic laundering

Researchers measured microfiber release from sewing threads during domestic laundering, an overlooked source of synthetic fiber pollution that is separate from the fabric itself. Sewing threads released measurable quantities of microfibers per wash cycle, contributing a previously unquantified fraction of total laundry-derived microplastic emissions to wastewater.

2024 Environmental Pollution 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The significant impacts of laundry wastewater on microplastics: a case study in a residential area

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in laundry wastewater from a residential area and tracked their contribution to urban drainage, finding that laundry effluent is a significant and underestimated source of microfibers entering municipal sewer systems and subsequently rivers.

2024 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplásticos em água cinza

This study examined microplastic contamination in greywater (household wastewater from washing), finding that laundry and personal care product use introduce significant quantities of microplastics into domestic wastewater streams. The research highlights greywater as an underexamined pathway of microplastic release into water systems.

2024 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Textile microfibers reaching aquatic environments: A new estimation approach

Researchers developed a new estimation approach for quantifying the mass flow of textile microfibers from household laundry that ultimately reaches aquatic environments, addressing the absence of accurate models for assessing microfiber contributions to microplastic pollution. The method provides a more systematic framework for estimating the environmental load from domestic washing.

2020 Environmental Pollution 89 citations