Keywords
Microfiber · Pollution · Aquatic ecosystem · Human health · Microbial
remediation
9.1
Introduction
Microfibers (MFs) are small synthetic apparel products having less than
10 micrometers in diameter and length approximately 0.5–2 cm. Polyester, nylon,
acrylic, polypropylene, and rayon are the universally used synthetic fibers for
manufacturing garments (Gago et al. 2018). Commercial and domestic laundering
process is the principal sources of this pollution in a variety of water bodies. Due to
lack of filtration system, these tiny fabric particles are discharged into rivers by the
sludge treatment plants (Mason et al. 2016a, b). Fabrics experience disintegration
when clothing is worn or mishandled, particularly following the exposure to the
environments. Waste-fractured macrofiber which is prone to physical abrasion and
mechanical disintegration due to ultraviolet, thermal, and oxidative weathering
results in formation of microfragments of fiber. Every year, the clothing industries
manufacture million tons of garment, and the manufacture of these artificial fabrics
has been escalating annually. Synthetic filaments are now included into almost every
contemporary apparel product; this trend is chiefly conspicuous in the modern-style
industries. The global production of textile fibers can be categorized as synthetic
fibers, cotton, and blend fibers, which account for about 60%, 30%, and 10%,
respectively. Polyester fibers are predominantly used for the manufacturing of
apparels and other textile products. The magnitude of fibers produced per annum
is increasing day by day, and prevalent integration of these modern fabrics justifies
greater concentration in the world’s mark. The amount of polyester manufactured
increased yearly from approximately 5.5 million tons to 75 million tons in just
40 years (Brown et al. 2011). The actual and estimated amount of MF pollution is
shown in Fig. 9.1. When these synthetic fibers undergo laundering, small filaments
of garments are discharged into drainages. Synthetic microfleece particles are major
pollutants, as they can be up taken by many small aquatic lives. These tiny constituent parts are then absorbed in the intestine of these innocent animals. Fragments of
these particles in water bodies can be the basis of diverse health problems such as
esthetic issues, entanglement, and other reported health diseases (Carr 2017).
Recently, employment of microorganisms for the degradation of synthetic plastic
particles has been developed. These biological agents and their enzyme machineries
can be utilized as an effective means for degrading polymer squalor. Mostly bacterial
and fungal species have distinct degradation capability for degrading synthetic
polymers. Some of the microorganisms which are associated with polymer degradation has been reported such as some species of Pseudomonas sp., Streptomyces sp.,
Rhodococcus sp., Clostridium sp., and Butyrivibrio sp. Similarly, Aspergillus sp.,
Aspergillus sp., and Fusarium sp. are prevalent fungal species (Pathak and Navneet
2017). On the other hand, the problem of this pollution has shaped a prospect for the
248
S. Mishra et al.
Microfiber · Pollution · Aquatic ecosystem · Human health · Microbial
remediation
9.1
Introduction
Microfibers (MFs) are small synthetic apparel products having less than
10 micrometers in diameter and length approximately 0.5–2 cm. Polyester, nylon,
acrylic, polypropylene, and rayon are the universally used synthetic fibers for
manufacturing garments (Gago et al. 2018). Commercial and domestic laundering
process is the principal sources of this pollution in a variety of water bodies. Due to
lack of filtration system, these tiny fabric particles are discharged into rivers by the
sludge treatment plants (Mason et al. 2016a, b). Fabrics experience disintegration
when clothing is worn or mishandled, particularly following the exposure to the
environments. Waste-fractured macrofiber which is prone to physical abrasion and
mechanical disintegration due to ultraviolet, thermal, and oxidative weathering
results in formation of microfragments of fiber. Every year, the clothing industries
manufacture million tons of garment, and the manufacture of these artificial fabrics
has been escalating annually. Synthetic filaments are now included into almost every
contemporary apparel product; this trend is chiefly conspicuous in the modern-style
industries. The global production of textile fibers can be categorized as synthetic
fibers, cotton, and blend fibers, which account for about 60%, 30%, and 10%,
respectively. Polyester fibers are predominantly used for the manufacturing of
apparels and other textile products. The magnitude of fibers produced per annum
is increasing day by day, and prevalent integration of these modern fabrics justifies
greater concentration in the world’s mark. The amount of polyester manufactured
increased yearly from approximately 5.5 million tons to 75 million tons in just
40 years (Brown et al. 2011). The actual and estimated amount of MF pollution is
shown in Fig. 9.1. When these synthetic fibers undergo laundering, small filaments
of garments are discharged into drainages. Synthetic microfleece particles are major
pollutants, as they can be up taken by many small aquatic lives. These tiny constituent parts are then absorbed in the intestine of these innocent animals. Fragments of
these particles in water bodies can be the basis of diverse health problems such as
esthetic issues, entanglement, and other reported health diseases (Carr 2017).
Recently, employment of microorganisms for the degradation of synthetic plastic
particles has been developed. These biological agents and their enzyme machineries
can be utilized as an effective means for degrading polymer squalor. Mostly bacterial
and fungal species have distinct degradation capability for degrading synthetic
polymers. Some of the microorganisms which are associated with polymer degradation has been reported such as some species of Pseudomonas sp., Streptomyces sp.,
Rhodococcus sp., Clostridium sp., and Butyrivibrio sp. Similarly, Aspergillus sp.,
Aspergillus sp., and Fusarium sp. are prevalent fungal species (Pathak and Navneet
2017). On the other hand, the problem of this pollution has shaped a prospect for the
248
S. Mishra et al.