When I think about plastic pollution, my mind will be filled with images of plastic bottles from beverages, plastic bags and straws almost immediately. However, plastic pollution could also be quite commonly found in our clothing in terms of plastic-based fibres such as polyester, nylon and acrylic (UNEP, 2019). It was reported that 60% of our clothes constitute plastic, with 63% of them being virgin plastics and another 3% as recycled textiles (Melina, 2022).
Plastic pollution in fashion could occur during the process of clothing production. In this blog, we will be delving specifically into microplastic pollution attributed by the washing process of synthetic materials utilised in clothing (De Falco et al., 2019).
An image of microplastics that could be found in different places such as the sea, air and soil. (Source: Earth.org)
Firstly, what are microplastics? Microplastics are characterised as synthetic solid particles or compounds with regular or irregular shapes with sizes extending from 1 micrometre to 5 millimetres, of either primary or secondary production origins and are insolvable in water (Campanale et al., 2020). Microplastic pollution in fashion occurs when these microplastics are directly disseminated into the environment or water sources (Periyasamy & Tehrani-Bagha, 2022).
One such common microplastic used in fashion is synthetic fibres, namely polyester (Lin, n.d.). Polyester is one of the most convenient materials to produce clothes quickly, however, done at the expense of the environment (Lin, n.d.). Lin highlights that polyester is interrelated to the oil sector and is a byproduct of petroleum production (plastic), hence making it never disintegrate. Therefore, during the production and washing process of the clothing, these microplastics are scattered into the water sources (Lin, n.d.).
When scattered into water sources, these microplastics could infiltrate the human body through the food chain (Galvao et al., 2020). Galvao et al (2020) underscore that firstly, these microplastics would be ingested by marine organisms such as zooplankton and invertebrates. Next, these microplastics would pass on in the food chain through fish and other seafood followed by humans. This process, also known as biomagnification, can have detrimental impacts on human health and pose possible food security issues (Akhbarizadeh et al., 2019).
The process of producing and disseminating microplastics could also be further exacerbated by fast fashion where there is an increasing demand and production for clothing. Therefore, the impacts and pollution situation could be further aggravated by fast fashion. Hence, it is important us to consider alternatives or ways that can help mitigate the production of microplastics, in order for us to live in a safer and less polluted environment.
References
Akhbarizadeh, R., Moore, F., & Keshavarzi, B. (2019). Investigating microplastics bioaccumulation and biomagnification in seafood from the Persian Gulf: A threat to human health? Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 36(11), 1696–1708. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2019.1649473
Campanale, C., Massarelli, C., Savino, I., Locaputo, V., & Uricchio, V. F. (2020). A detailed review study on potential effects of microplastics and additives of concern on human health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4), 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041212
De Falco, F., Di Pace, E., Cocca, M., & Avella, M. (2019). The contribution of washing processes of synthetic clothes to microplastic pollution. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 6633. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43023-x
Galvão, A., Aleixo, M., De Pablo, H., Lopes, C., & Raimundo, J. (2020). Microplastics in wastewater: Microfiber emissions from common household laundry. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(21), 26643–26649. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08765-6
Lin, Y. W. (n.d.). Microplastic pollution and the fast fashion industry. CP3; Concordia Precious Plastic Project (CP3). https://www.cp3montreal.com/articles/microplastic-pollution-and-the-fast-fashion-industry
Melina . (2022). Your clothes are probably made of plastic: What fabrics to avoid. Sustainable Rookie. https://www.sustainablerookie.com/fashion/your-clothes-are-made-of-plastic
Periyasamy, A. P., & Tehrani-Bagha, A. (2022). A review on microplastic emission from textile materials and its reduction techniques. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 199, 109901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2022.109901
UNEP. (2019). Fashion’s tiny hidden secret. UNEP; United Nations Environment Programme. http://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/fashions-tiny-hidden-secret
