Emerging Microfiber Pollution and Its
Remediation
9
Sunanda Mishra, Prasant Kumar Rout, and Alok Prasad Das
Abstract
Extensive allocation of synthetic microfiber (SMF) particles in the environment
has harmful ecological impacts. These are tiny threads of synthetic fabrics having
diameter less than 10 μm and are categorized under secondary microplastics,
which are mainly composed of polyester, nylon, acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene. These micropollutants are of increasing concern, especially due to their release into aquatic environments, including rivers and ocean.
Primary sources of these tiny particles are laundering of apparel products, household sludge, direct throwing away of unused garments into the rivers and oceans,
cosmetics, and cleaning agents. Approximately 13 million tons MFs all over the
world along with coastal waste are entering the ocean yearly from which around
3 million tons are entering through rivers. Once these particles enter into aquatic
sources, these are mistakenly ingested by various aquatic species and finally enter
into the human body through consumption of MF-contaminated aquatic foods.
Advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques are inspected for the successful detection of these synthetic micropollutants. Recent researches are focusing on the degradation of synthetic fibers using microbial enzymes that can be
employed as an effective method. Strategies for plummeting microfiber pollution
mainly focus on capturing these particles at source and consequently scheming of
cost-effective remediation technologies. In the future, investigations are also
required to develop techniques for an in situ remediation of these pollutants by
enhancing natural attenuation using native microorganisms.
S. Mishra · A. P. Das (*)
Department of Life Science, Rama Devi Women’s University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
P. K. Rout
Department of Material Science and Engineering, Tripura Central University, Agartala, Tripura,
India
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
R. Prasad (ed.), Environmental Pollution and Remediation, Environmental and
Microbial Biotechnology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5499-5_9
247
Remediation
9
Sunanda Mishra, Prasant Kumar Rout, and Alok Prasad Das
Abstract
Extensive allocation of synthetic microfiber (SMF) particles in the environment
has harmful ecological impacts. These are tiny threads of synthetic fabrics having
diameter less than 10 μm and are categorized under secondary microplastics,
which are mainly composed of polyester, nylon, acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene. These micropollutants are of increasing concern, especially due to their release into aquatic environments, including rivers and ocean.
Primary sources of these tiny particles are laundering of apparel products, household sludge, direct throwing away of unused garments into the rivers and oceans,
cosmetics, and cleaning agents. Approximately 13 million tons MFs all over the
world along with coastal waste are entering the ocean yearly from which around
3 million tons are entering through rivers. Once these particles enter into aquatic
sources, these are mistakenly ingested by various aquatic species and finally enter
into the human body through consumption of MF-contaminated aquatic foods.
Advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques are inspected for the successful detection of these synthetic micropollutants. Recent researches are focusing on the degradation of synthetic fibers using microbial enzymes that can be
employed as an effective method. Strategies for plummeting microfiber pollution
mainly focus on capturing these particles at source and consequently scheming of
cost-effective remediation technologies. In the future, investigations are also
required to develop techniques for an in situ remediation of these pollutants by
enhancing natural attenuation using native microorganisms.
S. Mishra · A. P. Das (*)
Department of Life Science, Rama Devi Women’s University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
P. K. Rout
Department of Material Science and Engineering, Tripura Central University, Agartala, Tripura,
India
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
R. Prasad (ed.), Environmental Pollution and Remediation, Environmental and
Microbial Biotechnology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5499-5_9
247