Laundry Habits Can Impact Ocean Ecology
By Shari Roan
The way in which we laundry our clothes and linens can impact the amount of microplastics flowing into our oceans, according to a new study.
The research is the latest eye-opening study to demonstrate how behaviors at home can impact the environment.
The study shows that tiny synthetic fabric fibers – most of them polyester, nylon and acrylic – make up 92 percent of the microplastic particles found in parts of the world’s oceans. University of British Columbia scientists conducted the study in the Arctic Ocean.
While wastewater treatment plants can catch some of the microfibers leached from clothing and textiles, the rest flow into waterways and, eventually, oceans. Scientists have warned that microplastics can harm fish and sea life. Questions remain about the impact on humans who eat seafood contaminated with microplastics.
According to the authors of the paper, published in Nature Communications, the textile industry produces more than 40 million tons of synthetic fabrics each year, worldwide.
A 2020 study published by researchers at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom found changing laundry habits could reduce microfiber debris by up to 30 percent. Some tips:
Use high-efficiency wash machines.
Use cooler water and faster cycles.
Fill, but don’t overfill, your wash machine (about 3/4 full). Larger loads cause fewer microfibers to be released.
Microfiber release is less after the first eight washings.
Fabric softeners have no impact on microfiber release.
Sources: Nature.com and Northumbria University