Cited by 92Microplastics and Plastic PollutionPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsFiber-reinforced polymer composites

Examining the release of synthetic microfibres to the environment via two major pathways: Atmospheric deposition and treated wastewater effluent

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Napper, I.E., Parker-Jurd, F.N.F., Wright, S.L., Thompson, R.C.·2023·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

Research on the discharge of synthetic microfibres to aquatic environments has typically focused on laundering, where fibres can be discharged via wastewater effluent. However emerging research suggests that microfibres generated during the wear of textiles in normal use could present a major, additional, pathway for microfibre pollution to the environment. This study aimed to quantify and compare the quantities of microfibre entering the marine environment via both these pathways; wastewater discharge and atmospheric deposition. Areas of high and low population density were also evaluated. Samples were collected in and around two British cities (Bristol and Plymouth) both of which are located on tidal waters. Fibres originating from the atmosphere were deposited at an average rate of 81.6 fibres m 2 d-1 across urban and rural areas. Treated wastewater effluent contained on an average 0.03 synthetic fibres L-1. Based on our results we predict ~20,000-500,000 microfibres could be discharged per day from the Wastewater Treatment Plants studied. When the two pathways were compared. Atmospheric deposition of synthetic microfibres appeared the dominant pathway, releasing fibres at a rate several orders of magnitude greater than via treated wastewater effluent. Potential options to reduce the release of microfibres to the environment are discussed and we conclude that intervention at the textile design stage presents the most effective approach. In order to guide policy intervention to inform the Plastics Treaty UNEA 5.2, future work should focus on understanding which permutations of textile design have the greatest influence fibre shedding, during both everyday use and laundering.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159317

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85 of 85 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Polyester microplastic fibers are one of the most dominant morphologies and polymer types found in the environment and within organisms.

    “We chose to investigate the effects of polyester microplastic fibers because they are one of the most dominant morphologies and polymer types found in the environment (Klasios & Tseng, 2023;Napper et al., 2023) and within organisms (Rebelein et al., 2021).”

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Authors
Napper, I. E., Parker-Jurd, F. N. F., Wright, S. L., & Thompson, R. C.
Affiliations
  • University of Plymouth (GB)
  • MRC Centre for Environment and Health (GB)
Corresponding author
Parker-Jurd, F.N.F.
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-01
Volume
857
Issue
Pt 1
Pages
159317
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4303648471
Cited by
92
References
85
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 2
FWCI
3.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PEARL (University of Plymouth) (submittedVersion)
Funders
DEFRA
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Fiber-reinforced polymer composites
Keywords
atmospheric deposition, treated wastewater effluent, marine microplastics, wastewater treatment plants, urban population density, textile design, Bristol, Plymouth
MeSH terms
Environmental Monitoring, Plastics, Textiles, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Purification, Wastewater

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