Papers

61,005 results
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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

Impact of textile composition, structure, and treatment on microplastic release during washing: a review

This review analyzed how textile composition, yarn structure, and fabric treatment affect microplastic release during washing, finding that natural and blended fabrics often shed more microfibers than pure synthetics. Woven fabrics released fewer microplastics than knitted structures, and finishing treatments also influenced shedding rates.

2024 Textile Research Journal 7 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

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

Characteristics of Microplastics Emissions from Fabrics with Different Designs by Laundering

This study (in Japanese) examined how the design of polyester fabric — including yarn type and fabric structure — affects the release of microplastic fibers during washing. Continuous filament yarn released 42–45% fewer microplastic fibers than staple yarn, and fabric washed without softener released 22–25% fewer fibers than softener-treated fabric.

2023 Japanese Journal of JSCE
Article Tier 2

Study on the Relationship between Textile Microplastics Shedding and Fabric Structure

Researchers investigated the relationship between textile fabric structure and microplastic shedding during washing, finding that fabric type, weave pattern, and mechanical stress significantly influence the number of microfibers released.

2022 Polymers 23 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

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

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

Investigating the influence of yarn characteristics on microfibre release from knitted fabrics during laundering

This study investigated how yarn characteristics such as fiber type, twist, and structure influence the quantity of microfibres released from knitted fabrics during laundering, identifying key design factors that could reduce textile microfiber pollution.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 8 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

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

Preliminary study of weave pattern influence on microplastics from fabric laundering

A preliminary study examined how fabric weave pattern affects the release of microplastic fibers from textiles during laundering. Different weave structures produced varying amounts of fiber release, suggesting that fabric design choices can influence the quantity of microplastics discharged to wastewater systems.

2020 Textile Research Journal 28 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

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

Laundering and textile parameters influence fibers release in household washings

Laboratory washing experiments showed that the release of synthetic microfibers from textiles is influenced by both laundering parameters (water volume, wash cycle) and fabric characteristics (yarn structure, weave type). Understanding these factors can help design more fiber-retaining fabrics and washing machines to reduce microfiber pollution in wastewater.

2019 Environmental Pollution 192 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

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

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

Microfiber Release to Water, Via Laundering, and to Air, via Everyday Use: A Comparison between Polyester Clothing with Differing Textile Parameters

Researchers measured microfiber release from polyester garments into both wash water and air during everyday wear, finding that release into air was comparable to or exceeded laundry release and was influenced by fabric structure, yarn type, and twist level.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 404 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

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

Weave structures of polyester fabric affect the tensile strength and microplastic fiber emission during the laundry process

Researchers found that polyester fabric weave structure affects both tensile strength and microplastic fiber shedding during laundry, with satin and twill weaves showing higher warp-direction strength, and quantified how fiber release varies by weave type at different washing stages.

2025 Scientific Reports 4 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