90
I. G. Breaban and A. I. Breaban
Fig. 3.24 Cleaning action by ANAR of plastic wastes from the Izvorul Muntelui
lake in July 2018 (https://www.green-report.ro/administatia-nationala-apele-romane-a-inceput-ooperatiune-de-ecologizare-a-lacului-bicaz/)
Fig. 3.25 Plastic in Black Sea (https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/plastics-in-the-black-sealevel-3/)
One of the main sources is packing with our clothing. Very small acrylic, nylon,
spandex and polyester fibers are removed and discarded each time we wash clothes
and are transported to wastewater treatment plants or discharged into the open
environment.
According to a recent study, more than 700,000 microscopic plastic fibers could be
released into the environment during each cycle of a washing machine. This has not
yet been studied in handwashing, which is more common in developing regions, but
the effects could also be significant there. In order to influence the physical effects of
the micro-plastic itself, ingested plastic remains can act as a concentration medium