Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Photodegradation Processes and Weathering Products of Microfibers in Aquatic Environments

Researchers conducted photodegradation experiments on three common microfiber types — polyester, nylon, and acrylic — to understand how they break down in aquatic environments under light exposure. They documented changes in surface morphology, polymer structure, and chemical properties over time, finding that each fiber type followed distinct degradation pathways. The study provides important insights into the environmental fate and secondary pollution potential of textile-derived microfibers.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 10 citations
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

UV degradation of natural and synthetic microfibers causes fragmentation and release of polymer degradation products and chemical additives

Researchers exposed natural and synthetic microfibers to UV radiation and found that degradation caused the fibers to fragment into smaller particles while releasing polymer breakdown products and chemical additives. Polyester and polyamide fibers showed distinct degradation patterns, with different chemicals leaching depending on polymer type. The study highlights that microfiber degradation in the environment creates secondary pollution through both physical fragmentation and chemical release.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 267 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiochemical Degradation of Plastic Fibers from Synthetic Fabrics and Effect of Natural Organic Matter in Aquatic Environments on Nanoplastics’ Behavior

Researchers studied how laundry conditions affect microfiber release from synthetic fabrics and how UV irradiation and pH alter fabric degradation, then examined how natural organic matter (NOM) influences nanoplastic behavior in water. They found that degradation conditions significantly changed fiber release rates and that NOM modified nanoplastic aggregation and stability.

2025 OpenSIUC (Southern Illinois University Carbondale)
Article Tier 2

Photo aging of polyester microfiber in freshwater and seawater environments: kinetics, mechanisms, and influencing factors

UV aging of polyester (PET) microfibers accelerates faster in seawater than in freshwater, driven by reactive ions like nitrate, bromide, and chloride. This matters because faster aging in marine environments means PET microfibers — the most abundant microplastic in aquatic systems — break down more rapidly into smaller, potentially more bioavailable nanoplastic fragments in the ocean.

2026 Emerging Contaminants and Environmental Health
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

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

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

Behaviour of different micro-plastics during degradation in fresh and sea waters, with focus on synthetic microfibers

This conference abstract compares how different types of microplastics, especially synthetic fibers, degrade under freshwater versus seawater conditions. Understanding degradation rates and pathways is important for predicting the environmental persistence and ultimate fate of microplastics in different aquatic ecosystems.

2020
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

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

Simulated degradation of differently manufactured polyester fibres released from laundry

This study examined how simulated degradation affects polyester microfibers from different fabric manufacturing methods, finding that woven versus knitted structures release fibers with distinct morphologies and at different rates under UV and mechanical stress.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Environmental Degradation due to Synthetic Fibres

This review chapter examines how synthetic textile fibres—nylon, polyester, rayon, and acrylic—contribute to microplastic pollution through their entire lifecycle, from manufacturing to washing. Because these fibres shed millions of microfibre particles into waterways with every laundry cycle and persist indefinitely in the environment, the global textile industry is identified as a major, ongoing source of plastic contamination.

2026
Article Tier 2

Pure Hydrolysis of Polyamides: A Comparative Study

This study examined the hydrolytic degradation of different polyamide (nylon) types under various environmental conditions. Understanding how nylon degrades is relevant to microplastics research, as nylon fishing gear and synthetic textiles are significant sources of microplastic fibers in aquatic environments.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel method for the isolation, characterisation, and quantification of nanoplastic fibres released from synthetic textiles during laundering

Researchers developed a novel method for isolating, characterising, and quantifying nanoplastic fibres (NPFs) released during laundering of synthetic textiles — including acrylic, nylon, and polyester — enabling fibre size differentiation from the micro to the nano scale. The method addresses a significant gap in textile pollution research by providing a tool to study the understudied nanoplastic fraction of laundry-derived fibre emissions.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Linking UV aging of polymers and microplastics formation: An assessment employing various characterization techniques

This study used environmental assessment tools to model how UV aging of plastic polymers drives microplastic formation in marine environments. The analysis identified polymer-specific degradation rates and environmental conditions that accelerate the conversion of plastic debris into microplastics.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Simulation of accelerated ageing of polyester fabric

Researchers simulated accelerated aging of polyester textile fabrics, finding that synthetic fiber degradation — driven by fast fashion, consumerism, and environmental exposure — contributes to microplastic pollution and raises ecological concerns about the lifecycle of synthetic textiles.

2023 Advanced technologies 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic Nano- and Microfibers

This book chapter covers synthetic nano- and microfibers including polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which are shed from textiles during wear and washing. Synthetic fibers are among the most abundant microplastic types found in aquatic and terrestrial environments worldwide, with global fiber production expected to reach 145 million metric tons by 2030.

2020 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic Nano- and Microfibers

This book chapter covers synthetic nano- and microfibers including polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which are shed from textiles during wear and washing. Synthetic fibers are among the most abundant microplastic types found in aquatic and terrestrial environments worldwide, with global fiber production expected to reach 145 million metric tons by 2030.

2020 Glasstree eBooks 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Влияние ультрафиолетового излучения на фрагментацию полимеров в водной среде

This review examines how UV radiation drives polymer fragmentation in aquatic environments through autocatalytic thermal oxidation initiated by solar radiation, which combined with wind and mechanical stress causes molecular chain scission. The authors also discuss how prior UV aging accelerates subsequent mechanical fragmentation, providing a mechanistic framework for understanding microplastic generation from larger plastic items in water.

2025 Vodosnabzhenie i sanitarnaia tehnika
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

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

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