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Microfiber Masses Recovered from Conventional Machine Washing of New or Aged Garments.
Synthetic textiles can shed numerous microfibers during conventional washing, but evaluating environmental consequences as well as source-control strategies requires understanding mass releases. Polyester apparel accounts for a large proportion of the polyester market, and synthetic jackets represent the broadest range in apparel construction, allowing for potential changes in manufacturing as a mitigation measure to reduce microfiber release during laundering. Here, detergent-free washing experiments were conducted and replicated in both front- and top-load conventional home machines for five new and mechanically aged jackets or sweaters: four from one name-brand clothing manufacturer (three majority polyester fleece, and one nylon shell with nonwoven polyester insulation) and one off-brand (100% polyester fleece). Wash water was filtered to recover two size fractions (>333 μm and between 20 and 333 μm); filters were then imaged, and microfiber masses were calculated. Across all treatments, the recovered microfiber mass per garment ranged from approximately 0 to 2 g, or exceeding 0.3% of the unwashed garment mass. Microfiber masses from top-load machines were approximately 7 times those from front-load machines; garments mechanically aged via a 24 h continuous wash had increased mass release under the same wash protocol as new garments. When published wastewater treatment plant influent characterization and microfiber removal studies are considered, washing synthetic jackets or sweaters as per this study would account for most microfibers entering the environment
Microfiber Masses Recovered from Conventional Machine Washing of New or Aged Garments
Synthetic textiles
can shed numerous microfibers during conventional
washing, but evaluating environmental consequences as well as source-control
strategies requires understanding mass releases. Polyester apparel
accounts for a large proportion of the polyester market, and synthetic
jackets represent the broadest range in apparel construction, allowing
for potential changes in manufacturing as a mitigation measure to
reduce microfiber release during laundering. Here, detergent-free
washing experiments were conducted and replicated in both front- and
top-load conventional home machines for five new and mechanically
aged jackets or sweaters: four from one name-brand clothing manufacturer
(three majority polyester fleece, and one nylon shell with nonwoven
polyester insulation) and one off-brand (100% polyester fleece). Wash
water was filtered to recover two size fractions (>333 μm
and
between 20 and 333 μm); filters were then imaged, and microfiber
masses were calculated. Across all treatments, the recovered microfiber
mass per garment ranged from approximately 0 to 2 g, or exceeding
0.3% of the unwashed garment mass. Microfiber masses from top-load
machines were approximately 7 times those from front-load machines;
garments mechanically aged via a 24 h continuous wash had increased
mass release under the same wash protocol as new garments. When published
wastewater treatment plant influent characterization and microfiber
removal studies are considered, washing synthetic jackets or sweaters
as per this study would account for most microfibers entering the
environment