Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

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 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

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

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

Liquidlike, Low‐Friction Polymer Brushes for Microfibre Release Prevention from Textiles

Researchers developed a polymer brush coating strategy that practically eliminates microfiber release from synthetic textiles during washing. The study demonstrates that applying liquid-like, low-friction coatings to fibers significantly reduces the mechanical abrasion that causes millions of microplastic fibers to shed into wastewater.

2024 Small 16 citations
Article Tier 2

“The effect of the detergent on microfibre release during the washing process of polyester textiles”

This study examined how detergent type affects microfiber release from polyester fabrics during washing, finding that detergent surfactant concentration and formulation significantly influenced fiber shedding, with some products reducing fiber release while others increased it compared to water-only washing.

2021 10 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

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

Eco-conception d'étoffes en polyester pour limiter le relargage de fragments de fibres microplastiques lors du premier lavage

Researchers investigated the release of microplastic fibre fragments from polyester textiles during the first machine wash, evaluating how production-stage design choices affect fibre shedding with the goal of developing lower-emission textile manufacturing approaches.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
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

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

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

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
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

Microplastic Fiber Release by Laundry: A Comparative Study of Hand-Washing and Machine-Washing

Researchers compared microplastic fiber release from hand-washing versus machine-washing of textiles. Machine-washing released roughly 13 times more fibers by count than hand-washing, though hand-washing produced longer fibers on average, and factors like detergent use, soaking time, and washboard use influenced fiber release during hand-washing.

2023 ACS ES&T Water 73 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

Designing out microplastic pollution released from textiles and apparel during laundering

This study explored source-directed design and manufacturing interventions to reduce microplastic fiber release from synthetic textiles during washing, using standardized wash tests to quantify shedding from fabric surfaces and edges. Structural fabric design modifications were identified as effective strategies to reduce microplastic fiber shedding at the point of manufacture.

2024 Cambridge Prisms Plastics 4 citations
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

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

How Low-Friction Coatings Affect Microplastic Fiber Release When Laundering Coated and Uncoated Textiles Together

Researchers tested whether low-friction silicone coatings on polyester fabrics could reduce microplastic fiber release during laundering, including when coated and uncoated fabrics are washed together. They found that the coating reduced overall fiber release by up to 37%, with the effect depending on the orientation of coated versus uncoated fabrics. The study suggests that low-friction textile finishes could be a practical strategy for reducing microplastic pollution from laundry.

2026 ACS Environmental Au
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