128
R. Rathinamoorthy and S. Raja Balasaraswathi
1 Introduction
Microfibers are a type of microplastics, which are generally released from the
synthetic textile material, whereas microplastics are common plastic particles that
have other non-textile sources. Microfiber is a synthetic textile fiber with a diameter
of fewer than 10 micrometers and with a higher length to diameter ratio [2]. Recent
research data from environmental investigators reported that microfibers are one of
the rising pollutions to the aquatic system. Mishra et al. reported that approximately
1.5 million trillion microfibers were already deposited in the ocean beds and every
year around 2 million tons are released into the ocean [3]. Though synthetic textile
materials are referred to as microfibers that contribute to microplastics, any fibers
in <10 µm are considered to be microfiber, irrespective of the origin (natural or
synthetic). Studies also reported that in some regions, the microfibers present in the
freshwater system and air were dominated by natural fiber too. However, compared
to the synthetic textiles, the biodegradability of the natural textile materials made
their impact on the environment as an insignificant one [4]. Several research results
indicated that the majority of the microplastics found were microfiber types in several
parts of the globe. Many in situ sampling studies reported the presence of microfiber
as a major pollutant in the sea and ocean bed. In a detailed study, the researchers have
collected samples from 18 different seashores across six continents and measured
for microplastic pollution. The results showed that approximately 2–31 microplastics were found in every 250 ml of the water sample. Out of which, polyester (56%)
occupies the majority of the plastics found followed by acrylic (23%), polypropylene (7%), polyethylene (6%), and polyamide fibers (3%). The results also showed a
strong positive correlation between the human population density and microplastic
concentration. Out of all the fiber types, polyester and acrylic fibers were dominating
in every sample. Hence, in their study, they have evaluated and confirmed that the
microfibers are the most common pollutant type and those were mainly derived from
sewage due to the cloth laundry rather than other modes of microplastic generation
namely fragmentation, cleaning of products [5].
A similar study performed in the Swedish coastal area confirmed the presence of
microfibers in the ocean beds. The research identified that the synthetic textile, tyre
abrasives, and fishnets are major sources of microfiber pollution in seawater. Out of
which, 90% of the particles obtained were microfibers from the synthetic textiles
[6]. The other report estimated the microfiber release based on the assumption from
literature as no direct measurement of the microfiber emission is not available. They
have assumed that 30–50% of used clothing was made off synthetic textiles and the
volume of the synthetic textiles laundered per capita per year is 200–300 kg. Based on
their predictions, results reported that for the population of 9.85 million (as of 2015),
the average mass of the microfibers released per year was 8–945 tons. The results
also reported that approximately 12–640 mg microfiber sheds per kg of synthetic
fabric washing [7]. Woodall et al. analyzed the deep-sea samples from different
parts of the world and confirmed the microfiber presence. Their results showed that
for every 50 ml of water, approximately 1.4–4 pieces of microfibers were found in
R. Rathinamoorthy and S. Raja Balasaraswathi
1 Introduction
Microfibers are a type of microplastics, which are generally released from the
synthetic textile material, whereas microplastics are common plastic particles that
have other non-textile sources. Microfiber is a synthetic textile fiber with a diameter
of fewer than 10 micrometers and with a higher length to diameter ratio [2]. Recent
research data from environmental investigators reported that microfibers are one of
the rising pollutions to the aquatic system. Mishra et al. reported that approximately
1.5 million trillion microfibers were already deposited in the ocean beds and every
year around 2 million tons are released into the ocean [3]. Though synthetic textile
materials are referred to as microfibers that contribute to microplastics, any fibers
in <10 µm are considered to be microfiber, irrespective of the origin (natural or
synthetic). Studies also reported that in some regions, the microfibers present in the
freshwater system and air were dominated by natural fiber too. However, compared
to the synthetic textiles, the biodegradability of the natural textile materials made
their impact on the environment as an insignificant one [4]. Several research results
indicated that the majority of the microplastics found were microfiber types in several
parts of the globe. Many in situ sampling studies reported the presence of microfiber
as a major pollutant in the sea and ocean bed. In a detailed study, the researchers have
collected samples from 18 different seashores across six continents and measured
for microplastic pollution. The results showed that approximately 2–31 microplastics were found in every 250 ml of the water sample. Out of which, polyester (56%)
occupies the majority of the plastics found followed by acrylic (23%), polypropylene (7%), polyethylene (6%), and polyamide fibers (3%). The results also showed a
strong positive correlation between the human population density and microplastic
concentration. Out of all the fiber types, polyester and acrylic fibers were dominating
in every sample. Hence, in their study, they have evaluated and confirmed that the
microfibers are the most common pollutant type and those were mainly derived from
sewage due to the cloth laundry rather than other modes of microplastic generation
namely fragmentation, cleaning of products [5].
A similar study performed in the Swedish coastal area confirmed the presence of
microfibers in the ocean beds. The research identified that the synthetic textile, tyre
abrasives, and fishnets are major sources of microfiber pollution in seawater. Out of
which, 90% of the particles obtained were microfibers from the synthetic textiles
[6]. The other report estimated the microfiber release based on the assumption from
literature as no direct measurement of the microfiber emission is not available. They
have assumed that 30–50% of used clothing was made off synthetic textiles and the
volume of the synthetic textiles laundered per capita per year is 200–300 kg. Based on
their predictions, results reported that for the population of 9.85 million (as of 2015),
the average mass of the microfibers released per year was 8–945 tons. The results
also reported that approximately 12–640 mg microfiber sheds per kg of synthetic
fabric washing [7]. Woodall et al. analyzed the deep-sea samples from different
parts of the world and confirmed the microfiber presence. Their results showed that
for every 50 ml of water, approximately 1.4–4 pieces of microfibers were found in