![]() Did you know? Every time you wash certain synthetic fabrics, millions of microfibers are released into the water. Microfibers are too small to be filtered out by waste treatment plants, so they end up in our septic systems and our waterways and oceans, where they affect marine animals and the environment. Textiles used in the manufacturing of garments are often processed with hazardous chemicals throughout production and finishing. When the fibers from these garments are shed, these coatings are as well, and they both enter septic systems and wastewater treatment plants in large volumes. A 2016 study commissioned by outdoor clothing company Patagonia with graduate students from the University of California Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management found that we are sending significant amounts into rivers and oceans every day. Microplastics have been recovered from the gastrointestinal tracts and tissues of zooplankton, shrimp, mussels, many fish and whales. According to the research team, microfiber pollution is troubling on two levels.
When you do your laundry you can reduce microfiber pollution by:
There are a variety of products available on-line to help reduce microfiber pollution. I am going to try a Guppyfriend, a bag to hold synthetic garments, to trap microfibers which is touted to be 90% effective. I also saw filters for effluent from washing machines including the Lint LUV-R and Filtrol Lint Filter. Let us know what you find!
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