The contribution of washing processes of synthetic clothes to microplastic pollution

Francesca De Falco,Mariacristina Cocca,Maurizio Avella,Emilia Di Pace

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43023-x

Francesca De Falco, Mariacristina Cocca + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43023-x

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Abstract

Microplastic pollution caused by washing processes of synthetic textiles has recently been assessed as the main source of primary microplastics in the oceans. Therefore, understanding the effective contribution of the washing process of synthetic clothes to this environmental problem, is of great importance. In this study, wash trials at real scale were performed on commercial clothes by using a household washing machine in order to gain reliable data about the release of microplastics, and to identify possible influences of textile characteristics on the release. The wastewater was collected and filtered through subsequent filters with decreasing porosity, and the amount and dimensions of microfibres were determined. Microfibre release was analysed in relation to the nature and characteristics of the washed clothes. Results showed that microfibres released during washing range from 124 to 308 mg for kg of washed fabric depending from the type of washed garment that corresponds to a number of microfibres ranging from 640,000 to 1,500,000. Some textile characteristics, such as the type of fibres constituting the yarns and their twist, influenced the release of microfibres during washing. A great amount of microfibres of cellulosic nature was also released during washing of clothes made with a blend of polyester/cellulose. Finally the most abundant fraction of microfibres shed was retained by filters with pore size of 60 µm, presenting an average length of 360–660 μm and an average diameter of 12–16 μm, indicating dimensions that could pass through wastewater treatment plants and pose a threat for marine organisms.

Highlights

Microplastic pollution caused by washing processes of synthetic textiles was discovered to be one of the main source of primary microplastics[1]
As concluded by Talvitie et al.[9], even if low concentrations of microplastics can pass through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), considering the large volumes of effluents discharged to the aquatic environment, eventually WWTPs have the potential to act as a pathway to release microplastics
Yarns are mainly arranged in two structures: woven fabrics produced by interlacing two sets of yarns, the warp which runs in a lengthways direction and the weft which runs in a widthways direction and knitted fabrics produced by interlacing loops of yarn[20]

Summary

Introduction

Microplastic pollution caused by washing processes of synthetic textiles was discovered to be one of the main source of primary microplastics[1]. The release of microplastics from synthetic clothes is mainly caused by the mechanical and chemical stresses that fabrics undergo during a washing process in a laundry machine, which lead to the detachment of microfibres from the yarns that constitute the textile Due to their dimensions, the released microfibres could partially pass through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and reach directly the oceans. Taking into account the state of the art, there is still a lack of knowledge on the effective contribution of the washing process of synthetic clothes to this environmental problem, on the real amount and on the dimensions of microfibres that are released in washing machine wastewater In such scenario, this work aimed: (1) to obtain reliable quantitative data about the microplastic release from commercial synthethic clothes during washings in real household laundry machines; (2) to identify possible influences of textile characteristics on the release. The usage of a washing load compatible with the one generally used in domestic conditions and of a common washing program for “synthetics”, allowed to simulate as much as possible a real household washing process

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