The Ocean's Microfiber Menace: Understanding Plastic's Impact

Microfibres are a growing environmental concern, with scientists finding that a single load of laundry can generate up to 18 million plastic microfibres, which make their way into the ocean. In the last 60 years, 5.6 million metric tons of synthetic fibres have been released from clothes washing, and it is estimated that 40% of microfibres make their way through sewage treatment plants into our rivers, lakes and, eventually, the ocean.

Microfibres are released from clothes washing

A single load of laundry can generate up to 18 million plastic microfibres, which make their way into freshwater environments and the ocean. Following wastewater treatment, this adds up to a collective release by households of 3.5 quadrillion microfibres, or 878 tonnes, into the aquatic environment. About 40% of microfibres make their way through sewage treatment plants into our rivers, lakes and, eventually, the ocean.

The presence of microplastics in the ocean has been found to impact ocean animals in many different ways, from impaired growth to impaired reproduction, decreased feeding, weight loss, energy depletion and damage to cells and DNA.

Synthetic fibres are a major source of microfibres

Microfibres are a growing environmental challenge because our clothes are increasingly made from plastics. A single load of laundry can generate up to 18 million plastic microfibres, which exit our homes and make their way into freshwater environments and the ocean. Following wastewater treatment, this adds up to a collective release by households of 3.5 quadrillion microfibres – or 878 tonnes – to the aquatic environment. About 40% of microfibres make their way through sewage treatment plants into our rivers, lakes and, eventually, the ocean.

While the scientific community is still piecing together the full story of what the presence of these microplastics means for the health of the ocean, studies show that plastic can impact ocean animals in many different ways, from impaired growth to impacted reproduction, decreased feeding, weight loss, energy depletion and damage to cells and DNA.

Microfibres are released into the ocean via sewage treatment plants

Microfibres are a growing environmental challenge. Our clothes are increasingly made from plastics, with synthetic fibres like polyester or nylon making up about 69% of the materials used in textiles. In the last 60 years, 5.6 million metric tons of synthetic fibres have been released from clothes washing.

A single load of laundry can generate up to 18 million plastic microfibres, which exit our homes and make their way into freshwater environments and the ocean. When synthetic clothing such as fleeces or yoga pants is washed, microfibres are released from the fabric and rinsed away with the washing water. They then make their way to water treatment centres where, due to their small size, a majority escape through the cleansing process and are released directly back into our waterways. Those that are captured in treatment centres become part of a muddy mass that is applied to fields as fertiliser. Carried by rivers, rain, and flood, these microfibres then end up in our oceans where they’re further dispersed by tides and currents or settle on the ocean floor.

The Bren School researchers found that top-loading washing machines released 7x more microfibres than front-loading washing machines. The more you wash, the worse it gets (aged jackets released almost 2x the amount as new jackets). When possible, avoid powder detergents and wash clothing at a low temperature.

Microfibres are a growing environmental challenge

Synthetic fibres like polyester or nylon make up about 69% of the materials used in textiles, and that number is only expected to grow. Scientists have found that a single load of laundry can generate up to 18 million plastic microfibres, which exit our homes and make their way into freshwater environments and the ocean. Following wastewater treatment, this adds up to a collective release by households of 3.5 quadrillion microfibres – or 878 tonnes – to the aquatic environment. About 40% of microfibres make their way through sewage treatment plants into our rivers, lakes and, eventually, the ocean.

While the scientific community is still piecing together the full story of what the presence of these microplastics means for the health of the ocean, wildlife and humans, studies show that plastic can impact ocean animals in many different ways, from impaired growth to impacted reproduction, decreased feeding, weight loss, energy depletion and damage to cells and DNA.

Microfibres can impact ocean animals in many ways

Microfibres are a growing environmental challenge because our clothes are increasingly made from plastics. Synthetic fibres like polyester or nylon make up about 69% of the materials used in textiles, and that number is only expected to grow. As a result, about 40% of microfibres make their way through sewage treatment plants into our rivers, lakes and, eventually, the ocean.

The impact of these microfibres on ocean animals is significant. Studies show that plastic can impact ocean animals in many different ways, from impaired growth to impaired reproduction, decreased feeding, weight loss, energy depletion and damage to cells and DNA. The presence of microfibres in the ocean is therefore a serious threat to the health and well-being of ocean animals.

The Ocean Wise Plastics Lab in Vancouver, Canada, has investigated the potential sources of microplastic pollution, which is now understood to be an emerging threat to ocean health. The loss of fibres by textiles during home laundry may explain the abundance of microfibres found in the ocean. Following wastewater treatment, households in the US and Canada collectively release 3.5 quadrillion microfibers, or 878 tonnes, into the aquatic environment (freshwater and ocean).

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