Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

Garment ageing in a laundry care process under household‐like conditions

This study measured how repeated household-style washing affects garments and how much fiber is released into wash water over 30 cycles. The findings contribute to understanding synthetic microfiber shedding from textiles during laundry, which is a significant source of microplastic fiber pollution in waterways.

2023 Applied Research 1 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

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

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
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

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

Accelerated Hydrolysis Method for Producing Partially Degraded Polyester Microplastic Fiber Reference Materials

An accelerated hydrolysis method was developed to produce partially degraded polyester microplastic fibers that more closely resemble environmentally weathered materials than pristine reference microplastics used in most toxicity studies. The approach allows researchers to test realistic, aged microplastic fibers from textiles, which dominate environmental microplastic contamination.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Textile Fiber Pollution: Relating Textile Features to Fiber Release in Pilling Experiments

Researchers evaluated how physical, dynamic, and thermomechanical textile properties influence fiber release during pilling experiments, aiming to identify which fabric characteristics predict microplastic fiber shedding during normal garment wear.

2025 ACS Omega
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

Ecodesign of polyester fabrics to limit the release of microplastic fibre fragments during the first wash

Researchers investigated how textile production parameters affect the release of microplastic fibre fragments from polyester fabrics during the first wash, aiming to develop ecodesign strategies for the textile industry which is responsible for 35% of microplastics released into oceans.

2025 theses.fr (ABES)
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

Aging of textile-based microfibers in both air and water environments

Researchers aged textile-based microfibers under controlled air and water environments over extended periods, characterizing changes in surface chemistry, mechanical properties, and morphology, finding that degradation pathways differed substantially between air and aquatic conditions.

2025 Water Research 3 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

Differences in the release of microplastic fibers and fibrils from virgin and recycled polyester textiles

Researchers compared microplastic fiber and fibril release from virgin versus mechanically recycled polyester textiles during abrasion testing. They analyzed four pairs of commercially available textiles that were identical except for the type of polyester used. The findings provide important data for understanding whether the growing use of recycled polyester in clothing changes the amount or character of microplastic shedding during wear.

2024 Resources Conservation and Recycling 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of Textile Industries in Microfiber Pollution

This review examines the role of textile industries in generating microfiber pollution, tracing microfiber release during fabric production, consumer use, laundering, and end-of-life disposal as synthetic textile demand grows with fast fashion. The review documents pathways by which textile microfibers enter freshwater and marine environments and accumulate in aquatic biota, linking industry growth trends to escalating environmental microfiber loads.

2024
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

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

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

Changes in Mechanical Properties of Fabrics Made of Standard and Recycled Polyester Yarns Due to Aging

This study compared how standard and recycled polyester fabrics age mechanically, finding that recycled polyester performs comparably to virgin polyester without developing additional surface cracking that could increase fiber shedding. Knowing whether recycled synthetic textiles shed more or fewer microplastic fibers during use and washing is important for evaluating the environmental trade-offs of textile recycling programs.

2023 Polymers 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Formation of nanoparticles during accelerated UV degradation of fleece polyester textiles

Researchers investigated how UV degradation of fleece polyester textiles releases nanoparticles, finding that sunlight exposure generates significant quantities of nanoscale plastic particles. Both laboratory-simulated and real-world weathering conditions produced nanoparticle release, with particle counts increasing over time. The findings suggest that textile degradation from sun exposure, not just washing, is an important but overlooked source of nanoplastic pollution.

2024 NanoImpact 7 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