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More and more microplastics are showing up in drinking water because the particles are so small. They seem to be mostly coming from our clothing released during

by cronix 8y ago

More and more microplastics are showing up in drinking water because the particles are so small. They seem to be mostly coming from our clothing released during washing, which is increasingly made of synthetic materials. "The US had the highest contamination rate, at 94%, with plastic fibres found in tap water sampled at sites including Congress buildings, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters, and Trump Tower in New York. Lebanon and India had the next highest rates." https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/06/plastic-fibres-found-tap-water-around-world-study-reveals https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/06/plastic-...

tshannon 8y ago
Has there been any conclusive studies yet that say what impact if any microplastics have on us?
- steve_adams_86 8y ago
  It can harm small organisms at the very least. Things like zooplankton can have their bodily processes interrupted by ingesting the materials. This indicates it can result in death: http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/symposia/zp6/Pages/Effects-of-microplastics-on-zooplankton.aspx http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/symposia/zp6/Pages/Effect... Other studies indicating harm are available, while others have shown mixed results. For example, one where polystyrene microplastics depress and then appear to stimulate growth of algae: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653518310270 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004565351...
steve_adams_86 8y ago
People _really_ need to stop laundering synthetics. The amount of plastic and other material that sheds into our water is stunning.
- blacksmith_tb 8y ago
  I think that blames the victims a bit too much, it's analogous to "people need to stop buying food in single-use plastics" - I would put the onus on the manufacturers to fix their products and their distribution, rather than the end users. What's the alternative to laundering your clothing, realistically?
  - ada1981 8y ago
    Don’t buy synthetics is a start. Vote to pass legislation that taxes synthetics and the money is used for mitigation. Company’s make what consumers want.
    - blacksmith_tb 8y ago
      I agree that it'd be better not to buy synthetics as they stand, but that requires manufacturers to shift their production to natural fibers. I think regulation / remediation sounds like a good way to encourage that shift. Consumers buy what's on offer - if everything in the market was natural fiber, consumers would choose accordingly, otherwise they are likely to choose whatever meets their needs (which maybe low-price, or high-fashion, but without more education and alternatives, won't be cleaner water).
      - anon192831 8y ago
        It seems challenging as full-cotton shirts seem to be more prone to shrinkage and aren't necessarily as soft and resilient like the cotton/poly blends that are all so prevalent in just about every fabric out there.
    - ams6110 8y ago
      Which synthetics? Does that include polyester? Rayon?
      - blacksmith_tb 8y ago
        I believe polyester microfibers are the main culprit[1], rayon is made from cellulose so I would expect it to break down easily. 1: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/20/microfibers-plastic-pollution-oceans-patagonia-synthetic-clothes-microbeads https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/20/microfib...
- maxwell 8y ago
  Have you written to your representatives about this yet?
- rsync 8y ago
  "People _really_ need to stop laundering synthetics." I thought the major, overwhelming source of microplastic pollution was from plastic beads in makeup and skin products. Are synthetic fabrics, laundered, a significant source ? Genuinely curious and would appreciate a citation.
  - DanBC 8y ago
    Clothing is the main source of microplastics. Everyone wears and washes clothing. Lots of people don't have microbeads in their cosmetics. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jun/29/microfibers-plastic-pollution-apparel-oceans https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jun/29... > Multiple studies have shown synthetic fibers to make up the lion’s share of microplastics found in oceans, rivers and lakes, and clothes made from synthetics (polyester, nylon, and so on) are widely implicated as the source of that pollution.
- anigbrowl 8y ago
  I don't think I own many clothes with synthetic fabric but if it doesn't say dry clean only then of course I'm going to launder it. Why is it on consumers to become experts in every product to save the environment but there are few calls to stop manufacturers from putting products on the market that they know perfectly well are going to create more pollution?
- harimau777 8y ago
  I think one problem is that there aren't lots of good alternatives at least when it comes to warm weather gear. Wool tends to be expensive, difficult to care for, and some people are allergic or vegan. On the other hand, all of the plant fibers that I'm aware of do not keep you warm if they get wet.
andlier 8y ago
Microplastics from car tyres seems to be a big source as well: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664766/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664766/

by cronix 8y ago

tshannon 8y ago

Has there been any conclusive studies yet that say what impact if any microplastics have on us?

steve_adams_86 8y ago
It can harm small organisms at the very least. Things like zooplankton can have their bodily processes interrupted by ingesting the materials. This indicates it can result in death: http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/symposia/zp6/Pages/Effects-of-microplastics-on-zooplankton.aspx http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/symposia/zp6/Pages/Effect... Other studies indicating harm are available, while others have shown mixed results. For example, one where polystyrene microplastics depress and then appear to stimulate growth of algae: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653518310270 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004565351...

steve_adams_86 8y ago

People _really_ need to stop laundering synthetics. The amount of plastic and other material that sheds into our water is stunning.

blacksmith_tb 8y ago
I think that blames the victims a bit too much, it's analogous to "people need to stop buying food in single-use plastics" - I would put the onus on the manufacturers to fix their products and their distribution, rather than the end users. What's the alternative to laundering your clothing, realistically?
- ada1981 8y ago
  Don’t buy synthetics is a start. Vote to pass legislation that taxes synthetics and the money is used for mitigation. Company’s make what consumers want.
  - blacksmith_tb 8y ago
    I agree that it'd be better not to buy synthetics as they stand, but that requires manufacturers to shift their production to natural fibers. I think regulation / remediation sounds like a good way to encourage that shift. Consumers buy what's on offer - if everything in the market was natural fiber, consumers would choose accordingly, otherwise they are likely to choose whatever meets their needs (which maybe low-price, or high-fashion, but without more education and alternatives, won't be cleaner water).
    - anon192831 8y ago
      It seems challenging as full-cotton shirts seem to be more prone to shrinkage and aren't necessarily as soft and resilient like the cotton/poly blends that are all so prevalent in just about every fabric out there.
  - ams6110 8y ago
    Which synthetics? Does that include polyester? Rayon?
    - blacksmith_tb 8y ago
      I believe polyester microfibers are the main culprit[1], rayon is made from cellulose so I would expect it to break down easily. 1: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/20/microfibers-plastic-pollution-oceans-patagonia-synthetic-clothes-microbeads https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/20/microfib...
maxwell 8y ago
Have you written to your representatives about this yet?
rsync 8y ago
"People _really_ need to stop laundering synthetics." I thought the major, overwhelming source of microplastic pollution was from plastic beads in makeup and skin products. Are synthetic fabrics, laundered, a significant source ? Genuinely curious and would appreciate a citation.
- DanBC 8y ago
  Clothing is the main source of microplastics. Everyone wears and washes clothing. Lots of people don't have microbeads in their cosmetics. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jun/29/microfibers-plastic-pollution-apparel-oceans https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jun/29... > Multiple studies have shown synthetic fibers to make up the lion’s share of microplastics found in oceans, rivers and lakes, and clothes made from synthetics (polyester, nylon, and so on) are widely implicated as the source of that pollution.
anigbrowl 8y ago
I don't think I own many clothes with synthetic fabric but if it doesn't say dry clean only then of course I'm going to launder it. Why is it on consumers to become experts in every product to save the environment but there are few calls to stop manufacturers from putting products on the market that they know perfectly well are going to create more pollution?
harimau777 8y ago
I think one problem is that there aren't lots of good alternatives at least when it comes to warm weather gear. Wool tends to be expensive, difficult to care for, and some people are allergic or vegan. On the other hand, all of the plant fibers that I'm aware of do not keep you warm if they get wet.

andlier 8y ago

Microplastics from car tyres seems to be a big source as well: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664766/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664766/