Release of synthetic microplastic plastic fibres from domestic washing machines: Effects of fabric type and washing conditions

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:112

Article

Napper, Imogen E.¹  Thompson, Richard C.¹ 

[1] Univ Plymouth, Sch Marine Sci & Engn, Marine Biol & Ecol Res Ctr, Plymouth PL4 8AA, Devon, England

关键词: Microplastic;    Fabric;    Waste water treatment;    Ocean pollution;    Litter;    Debris;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.09.025

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Washing clothes made from synthetic materials has been identified as a potentially important source of microscopic fibres to the environment. This study examined the release of fibres from polyester, polyester-cotton blend and acrylic fabrics. These fabrics were laundered under various conditions of temperature, detergent and conditioner. Fibres from waste effluent were examined and the mass, abundance and fibre size compared between treatments. Average fibre size ranged between 11.9 and 17.7 mu m in diameter, and 5.0 and 7.8 mm in length. Polyester-cotton fabric consistently shed significantly fewer fibres than either polyester or acrylic. However, fibre release varied according to wash treatment with various complex interactions. We estimate over 700,000 fibres could be released from an average 6 kg wash load of acrylic fabric. As fibres have been reported in effluent from sewage treatment plants, our data indicates fibres released by washing of clothing could be an important source of microplastics to aquatic habitats. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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