We all know about the microfibers shredding from clothes every time we wash them. However, the impact and outreach of these microfibers are far beyond what one can imagine. A new draft report to Congress by the US Environmental Protection Agency highlights how microfibers have been observed throughout the oceans, lakes, and other waterbodies across the globe, and are also commonly found in the air, soil, animals, and drinking water and food for human consumption. It cites several studies that have raised concerns that microfibers themselves can injure animal tissue, cause intestinal blockages and inflammation in certain organisms, and they may increase exposure to chemicals and heavy metals.
According to the report, textile waste accounted for 5.8% of all municipal solid waste in 2018, up from 3.9% in 2000, and more than 11 million tons were landfilled in 2018. The report calls on the textile and fashion industry to reduce its waste, develop manufacturing processes that reduce pre-consumer microfiber emissions, and design low-shedding fabrics during use or laundering. It also calls on EPA to review and update Clean Water Act effluent limit guidelines for the textile industry. Separately, EPA had already announced plans to update the effluent guidelines for the organic chemicals, plastics, and synthetic fibers point source category, with a proposed rule expected in September 2023.
The report also recommends additional research to fill other gaps in data, especially concerning the prevalence of microfibers in all environmental media and potential impacts on human health and the environment. The report’s authors also note that no single definition exists for the term “microfiber,” making it difficult for scientists and policymakers to communicate consistently when discussing the scope of the problem and how humans and the environment are affected.
