Papers

61,005 results
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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
Review Tier 2

Microplastic pollution from textiles: A literature review

This review examines the current state of knowledge on microplastic pollution, focusing specifically on synthetic microfibre shedding from textiles during washing and the significance of this source for marine and freshwater contamination.

2018 Duo Research Archive (University of Oslo) 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic Textiles and Microplastics

This review examines how synthetic textiles shed microfibers during washing and drying, covering the mechanisms of release, the environmental fate of microfibers in aquatic systems, and strategies for reducing microplastic pollution from the fashion and textile industry.

2024
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Approaches in Textile Finishing to Control Microfiber Releases

This review examines sustainable textile finishing approaches designed to reduce microfiber releases from synthetic fabrics. Researchers discuss various treatment methods that can minimize the shedding of microplastic fibers during washing and use, addressing one of the major sources of microplastic pollution entering waterways.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics from textile origin – emission and reduction measures

This paper reviews the emission of fibrous microplastics from synthetic textiles during washing and their pathway through wastewater treatment plants into aquatic environments. It also summarizes available reduction measures such as laundry filters and fiber-releasing fabric design modifications.

2021 Green Chemistry 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic microfibers: Pollution toxicity and remediation

Researchers reviewed the sources, transport pathways, ecological impacts, and remediation approaches for synthetic microfiber pollution originating from domestic washing machines. The study highlights that urban laundry wastewater is a major contributor to microfiber pollution entering aquatic and terrestrial environments, with potential effects on the food chain and human health.

2020 Chemosphere 284 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review on Advanced Technology for Sustainable Management of Synthetic Microplastic Waste

This review examines how synthetic microfibers released from textiles during manufacturing, washing, and disposal contribute to microplastic pollution. The paper evaluates advanced technologies for capturing and breaking down these microfibers, which are important because textile-derived microplastics are among the most commonly found types in both the environment and human tissues.

2024 36 citations
Article Tier 2

From production to pollution: a review of microfiber release mechanisms and mitigation strategies in the textile industry

This review examines the origins, pathways, and environmental impacts of microfiber pollution from the textile industry. Researchers found that microfibers are released during both textile manufacturing and garment use, and that solutions include biodegradable fiber development, washing machine filtration systems, and advanced wastewater treatment. The study emphasizes that collaboration among industry, governments, research institutions, and consumers is critical to reducing microfiber release.

2025 Journal of the Textile Institute 1 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

Textile recycling- A review

This review examines the growing global textile waste problem and technologies for recycling synthetic and natural fibers. Synthetic textile waste is a major source of microplastic pollution because fibers shed during washing and break down into microplastic fragments in landfills.

2021 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution from synthetic textiles:quantitative evaluation and mitigation strategies

This thesis quantified microplastic pollution from synthetic textiles, finding that washing processes account for about 35% of primary microplastic release into marine environments, and evaluated mitigation strategies including laundry filters and fabric treatments. Synthetic textile washing is one of the most significant and widespread sources of microfiber contamination globally.

2018
Article Tier 2

Synthetic microfibers and tyre wear particles pollution in aquatic systems: Relevance and mitigation strategies

This review compiles evidence on synthetic microfibers from textiles and tire wear particles as major sources of aquatic microplastics, estimating concentrations across different water body types and evaluating mitigation strategies ranging from washing machine filters to stormwater treatment.

2021 Environmental Pollution 94 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic emissions in textile wet processing: Progress, challenges, and mitigation strategies

This review examines how textile wet processing, including dyeing and finishing operations, contributes to microplastic emissions that are more substantial in volume and chemically diverse than those from domestic laundry. Researchers found that mechanical forces, water, and chemical treatments during industrial processing release significant quantities of synthetic microfibers into wastewater. The study explores mitigation strategies including bioengineered materials, improved textile design, surface coatings, and enhanced filtration technologies.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Fibras Têxteis Sintéticas E a Liberação De Microplásticos: Uma Revisão

This review synthesizes published research on the release of microplastic fibers from synthetic textiles during domestic laundering, examining the mechanisms, quantities, and environmental fate of fiber shedding into waterways and the resulting risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health.

2022 MIX Sustentável 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Review on alternatives for the reduction of textile microfibers emission to water

This review evaluated strategies to reduce textile microfiber emissions to water, comparing washing machine filters, laundry bags, fabric finishing treatments, and effluent filtration technologies, finding that no single solution is sufficient and that a combined approach across the textile lifecycle is needed.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Microfiber Fragment Pollution: Sources, Toxicity, Strategies, and Technologies for Remediation

This review examines microfiber fragment pollution from synthetic textiles, which now make up over 65% of the global textile market. These tiny fibers shed during manufacturing, washing, and wearing, carrying toxic organic pollutants and causing cell damage, oxidative stress, and genetic harm even at low exposure levels. The review covers current remediation strategies from washing machine filters to wastewater treatment, highlighting the scale of this often-overlooked source of microplastic exposure through both air and water.

2024 Sustainability 22 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

Sustainable Filtering Systems to Reduce Microfiber Emissions from Textiles during Household Laundering

This study evaluated sustainable filtration systems for capturing microfibers released from synthetic textiles during household washing, assessing their efficiency in reducing the entry of these microplastic fibers into wastewater.

2023 Polymers 17 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

Wastewater treatment plant effluent and microfiber pollution: focus on industry-specific wastewater

Researchers examined microfiber pollution from wastewater treatment plant effluent, finding that industry-specific wastewater from textile operations released significantly higher concentrations of synthetic microfibers compared to municipal sources.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 82 citations
Article Tier 2

Tackling microfibre pollution through science, policy, and innovation: A framework for Canadian leadership

A policy framework report for the Canadian government reviews microfibre pollution sources, transport pathways, environmental fate, measurement methodologies, and solution strategies, finding laundry wastewater from synthetic textiles as the dominant source requiring mitigation.

2024 1 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

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

Future Perspectives

This book chapter reviews future perspectives for addressing microfiber pollution, summarizing current knowledge on the environmental fate of synthetic microfibers composed of polyester, nylon, acrylic, polyethylene, and polypropylene, and evaluating emerging mitigation strategies. The chapter identifies key research gaps and calls for integrated approaches spanning textile design, wastewater treatment, and regulatory frameworks to reduce microfiber accumulation in aquatic ecosystems.

2024