plants per day (Mason et al. 2016a, b). It has been projected that approximately
5.25 trillion of micro-sized plastic particles having biomass of 270,000 tons are
suspended in the world’s oceans (Eriksen et al. 2013) from which 1.4 trillion are MF
particles, and these values seem to accelerate in future (Horton et al. 2017).
The MF pollution, a man-made disaster, is increasing gradually and expected to
envelop the total ocean surface. In actuality, micropieces of fabrics are the main
repeatedly identified type of garbage in different water streams. Oceanic
microplastic fibers occur in a variety of forms, size, and shape ranging from rough
fragments to rods. Their incidence and occurrence have been already recognized in
the oceans and coastal areas (Zalasiewicz et al. 2016; Thushari et al. 2017; Taylor
et al. 2016). Although a few papers deal with MFs in ocean waters, the presence of
these particles has been identified in many seawater samples (Waller et al. 2017).
The presence of microplastic particles in Ross Sea of Antarctica was recently noticed
from water samples (Cincinelli et al. 2017). In another investigation by Absher et al.
(2018), they identified the presence of these synthetic MF particles in zooplankton
samples collected from the Admiralty Bay of Antarctica (Isobe et al. 2017; Reed
et al. 2018). Identifying the sources and pathways of the MF particles into the
environment is necessary to manage the pollution and develop an effective remediation measure. Although the exact source of MF release and its pathway is still
unknown to all of us, it was generally accepted that household gray waters from
washing machine is the most important source.
9.3
Possible Pathways of Microfiber Entry into
the Environment
Primary source includes fiber particle less than 5 mm in dimension emitted during
making and extensive use of apparel products, and secondary sources include
disintegration and crumbling of larger particles such as used garments that have
been disposed. These synthetic fibers and particles having diameter < 10μm that can
easily escape through the filtration system of washing machine are entering oceans
via rivers (Carr 2017). Once released into the surroundings, these synthetic plastic
particles can be dispersed through air current and rain waters, especially with
rainstorm runoff water. These small particles of fabric can be noticed on garments
after laundry, uninterrupted floors, and display monitors of television, laptop, and
mobile phones. The fiber particles are discarded while laundering and are emitted
into various water bodies along with washing effluents. Due to lack of proper
filtration system in presently used indoor washing machines, these tiny fragments
can’t be captured (Brannan 2014). MF litters having terrestrial source supply about
80–85% of the pollutants found in oceanic debris (Andrady 2011) including primary
and secondary MFs along with cosmetics, fragments improperly disposed, and used
plastics. These secondary microplastic particles used both in cosmetics can enter
rivers via household sewage (Fendall and Sewell 2009). Small fabric particles can
pierce into rivers directly or indirectly through wastewater effluent treatment plant
(Browne et al. 2010).
9 Emerging Microfiber Pollution and Its Remediation
251
5.25 trillion of micro-sized plastic particles having biomass of 270,000 tons are
suspended in the world’s oceans (Eriksen et al. 2013) from which 1.4 trillion are MF
particles, and these values seem to accelerate in future (Horton et al. 2017).
The MF pollution, a man-made disaster, is increasing gradually and expected to
envelop the total ocean surface. In actuality, micropieces of fabrics are the main
repeatedly identified type of garbage in different water streams. Oceanic
microplastic fibers occur in a variety of forms, size, and shape ranging from rough
fragments to rods. Their incidence and occurrence have been already recognized in
the oceans and coastal areas (Zalasiewicz et al. 2016; Thushari et al. 2017; Taylor
et al. 2016). Although a few papers deal with MFs in ocean waters, the presence of
these particles has been identified in many seawater samples (Waller et al. 2017).
The presence of microplastic particles in Ross Sea of Antarctica was recently noticed
from water samples (Cincinelli et al. 2017). In another investigation by Absher et al.
(2018), they identified the presence of these synthetic MF particles in zooplankton
samples collected from the Admiralty Bay of Antarctica (Isobe et al. 2017; Reed
et al. 2018). Identifying the sources and pathways of the MF particles into the
environment is necessary to manage the pollution and develop an effective remediation measure. Although the exact source of MF release and its pathway is still
unknown to all of us, it was generally accepted that household gray waters from
washing machine is the most important source.
9.3
Possible Pathways of Microfiber Entry into
the Environment
Primary source includes fiber particle less than 5 mm in dimension emitted during
making and extensive use of apparel products, and secondary sources include
disintegration and crumbling of larger particles such as used garments that have
been disposed. These synthetic fibers and particles having diameter < 10μm that can
easily escape through the filtration system of washing machine are entering oceans
via rivers (Carr 2017). Once released into the surroundings, these synthetic plastic
particles can be dispersed through air current and rain waters, especially with
rainstorm runoff water. These small particles of fabric can be noticed on garments
after laundry, uninterrupted floors, and display monitors of television, laptop, and
mobile phones. The fiber particles are discarded while laundering and are emitted
into various water bodies along with washing effluents. Due to lack of proper
filtration system in presently used indoor washing machines, these tiny fragments
can’t be captured (Brannan 2014). MF litters having terrestrial source supply about
80–85% of the pollutants found in oceanic debris (Andrady 2011) including primary
and secondary MFs along with cosmetics, fragments improperly disposed, and used
plastics. These secondary microplastic particles used both in cosmetics can enter
rivers via household sewage (Fendall and Sewell 2009). Small fabric particles can
pierce into rivers directly or indirectly through wastewater effluent treatment plant
(Browne et al. 2010).
9 Emerging Microfiber Pollution and Its Remediation
251