Effect of Textile Parameters on Microfiber Shedding …
3
synthetic textiles in microplastic pollution. It is estimated that annually around 0.19
million tons of microfibers are entering the marine environment [7]. The increasing
trend of synthetic textile production and consumption will proportionately increase
the microfiber emission and it is estimated that the microfiber release into the marine
environment will reach up to 22 million tons by the year 2050 [8].
Various researches have been made to understand the presence of microplastics
in the environment and to analyze their characteristics to get a clear idea of their
source. Microfibers are found to be present in different levels of the environment due
to their varied densities [9]. Microfibers are found to be present in various samples
that are taken from surface waters [10], sea ice [11], and even in the atmosphere
[12]. Browne et al. collected 18 samples of sediments in the coastal region of six
continents and they found microplastics in all the samples. The collected microplastics showed a close resemblance to the synthetic microfibers that are collected from
the sewage treatment plant which confirms that the coastal regions are contaminated
with microplastic fibers which are originated from the synthetic textiles [13]. The
presence of microplastics in the sea ice in the arctic region has also been studied and
the characterization of collected microplastics has shown that rayon accounts for a
maximum of 54% which is then followed by polyester and nylon contributing 21%
and 16%, respectively [11]. The other researcher has found microfibers in the river
water samples. It has been estimated that around 300 million individual microfibers
are being discharged along the surface of the river (Hudson River, USA) [10]. The
research made in Saigon River also confirms the presence of microfibers in the river
water. They noticed a huge proportion of synthetic fibers which contributes around
92% of total microfibers, where polyester being the dominant one with a 70% contribution [14]. The sewage effluents could be the potential source of microplastics in
the freshwater systems and marine environment. A study on the effectiveness of
wastewater treatment plants has concluded that sewage effluents have a variety of
microplastics from various sources. The characterization of microplastics has shown
that flakes hold a huge proportion of 67.3% which is followed by fibrous particles
which account for 18.5%. They have also reported polyester as the most prominent
polymer followed by polyamide with each contributing 28% and 20%, respectively,
in the collected microplastics [15]. In addition to this, microfibers are also found
in the air as the size was so smaller, and unfortunately, we are inhaling microfibers
too [16]. A study on the analysis of microfibers in the air sampled in indoor and
outdoor sites has confirmed the presence of microfibers in the atmosphere and a
considerable number of microfibers ranging from 1.0–60.0 fibers per cubic meter
are found. Another interesting fact to be noted here is the nature of fibers. Out of
total microplastics found, around 33% of fibers found were synthetic fibers and they
can add on to the microplastics [17].
Through various studies on microplastics’ prevalence in the environment, it is
confirmed that the synthetic textiles that are shedding microfibers are one of the major
contributors to microplastic pollution. This arises the need for a detailed analysis of
textiles throughout their lifetime to understand their potentiality of releasing short
fibers which can add on to the microplastic load in the environment. This chapter
tries to address the existing gap in the research area by providing the role of textile
3
synthetic textiles in microplastic pollution. It is estimated that annually around 0.19
million tons of microfibers are entering the marine environment [7]. The increasing
trend of synthetic textile production and consumption will proportionately increase
the microfiber emission and it is estimated that the microfiber release into the marine
environment will reach up to 22 million tons by the year 2050 [8].
Various researches have been made to understand the presence of microplastics
in the environment and to analyze their characteristics to get a clear idea of their
source. Microfibers are found to be present in different levels of the environment due
to their varied densities [9]. Microfibers are found to be present in various samples
that are taken from surface waters [10], sea ice [11], and even in the atmosphere
[12]. Browne et al. collected 18 samples of sediments in the coastal region of six
continents and they found microplastics in all the samples. The collected microplastics showed a close resemblance to the synthetic microfibers that are collected from
the sewage treatment plant which confirms that the coastal regions are contaminated
with microplastic fibers which are originated from the synthetic textiles [13]. The
presence of microplastics in the sea ice in the arctic region has also been studied and
the characterization of collected microplastics has shown that rayon accounts for a
maximum of 54% which is then followed by polyester and nylon contributing 21%
and 16%, respectively [11]. The other researcher has found microfibers in the river
water samples. It has been estimated that around 300 million individual microfibers
are being discharged along the surface of the river (Hudson River, USA) [10]. The
research made in Saigon River also confirms the presence of microfibers in the river
water. They noticed a huge proportion of synthetic fibers which contributes around
92% of total microfibers, where polyester being the dominant one with a 70% contribution [14]. The sewage effluents could be the potential source of microplastics in
the freshwater systems and marine environment. A study on the effectiveness of
wastewater treatment plants has concluded that sewage effluents have a variety of
microplastics from various sources. The characterization of microplastics has shown
that flakes hold a huge proportion of 67.3% which is followed by fibrous particles
which account for 18.5%. They have also reported polyester as the most prominent
polymer followed by polyamide with each contributing 28% and 20%, respectively,
in the collected microplastics [15]. In addition to this, microfibers are also found
in the air as the size was so smaller, and unfortunately, we are inhaling microfibers
too [16]. A study on the analysis of microfibers in the air sampled in indoor and
outdoor sites has confirmed the presence of microfibers in the atmosphere and a
considerable number of microfibers ranging from 1.0–60.0 fibers per cubic meter
are found. Another interesting fact to be noted here is the nature of fibers. Out of
total microplastics found, around 33% of fibers found were synthetic fibers and they
can add on to the microplastics [17].
Through various studies on microplastics’ prevalence in the environment, it is
confirmed that the synthetic textiles that are shedding microfibers are one of the major
contributors to microplastic pollution. This arises the need for a detailed analysis of
textiles throughout their lifetime to understand their potentiality of releasing short
fibers which can add on to the microplastic load in the environment. This chapter
tries to address the existing gap in the research area by providing the role of textile