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IN Malaysia, the garment market is increasingly dominated by polyester microfibre cloths, prized for their low cost and easy maintenance. Microfibre material is typically a blend of synthetic materials, like polyester and sometimes nylon, that are tightly woven or knitted to create a smooth, soft, and often moisture- wicking fabric. Polyester sheds more microplastics than any other woven material, making up nearly three-quarters of microplastic pollution in the environment and two-thirds of microplastics in household dust.
Research in recent years indicates that domestic laundry practices contribute substantially to microplastic fibre (MPF) emissions, with machine washing being the predominant method responsible for this pollution. The waste effluent from washing machines that contain microplastics will then travel via wastewater to sewage treatment plants. Due to the small size of the fibres, a considerable proportion could then pass through preliminary sewage treatment screens, which are more than 6mm, and be released into the aquatic environment.
These microfibres can absorb and transport toxic chemicals, causing harm to aquatic organisms and are also entering the human food web. Synthetic textiles, particularly polyester, release many microfibres during washing, with losses ranging from 9.6mg to over 6,877,000 microfibres per wash.
Approximately 93.7% of MPF emissions come from machine washing, making this practice the main contributor to microfibre pollution. It is also estimated that 5.
69 million tonnes of MPFs are released annually from daily washing activities; Asia accounts for 3.71 million tonnes due to inefficient wastewater management. The global nature of this issue necessitates international collaboration for effective management and mitigation strategies.
Several strategies can be used to reduce the release of microfibres into the environment. First, washing clothes less frequently and opting for full loads can help, as this reduces garment friction during the wash cycle, thereby lowering the amount of microfibre shedding. Additionally, using cold water instead of hot water leads to fewer microfibres being released.
When selecting washing machines, front-loading models are preferable, as their tumbling action tends to generate fewer microfibres compared with top-loading machines. Another effective measure is to avoid using dryers; instead, line-dry clothes as dryers can release a significant amount of microfibres into the air through their vents – approximately 40 times more than washing machines. Choosing clothing made from natural, sustainable, and plastic-free fabrics is also an alternative to synthetic options.
Furthermore, using liquid detergents instead of powder can make a difference. Liquid detergents are gentler and less abrasive, reducing the release of microfibres into wastewater. Unlike liquid detergents, powder detergents often contain microbeads, which can add to microplastic pollution when they wash down the drain, ultimately harming marine life.
While microplastic pollution remains an ongoing environmental challenge without a complete solution, making these efforts will, at the very least, mitigate one environment pollutant. They would also mark some progress towards a more sustainable, ecoconscious approach to textile use. DR ARINDAM CHAKRABORTY Senior lecturer Faculty of Science Universiti Malaya Affiliate member Young Scientists Network – Academy of Sciences Malaysia.
