Your favorite workout clothes or your cozy fleece jacket may be poisoning your body with microplastics.
A lot of synthetic fabrics commonly used for clothes like nylon, acrylic, polyester, and spandex release small plastic microfibers into the water supply when they’re washed.
Microplastics enter into the food chain and the human body and may cause issues we’re not even yet aware of.
According to emerging research, microplastics found in seafood and animals are also present in human organs and human blood.
This is why it’s important to be more cautious about our clothing choices if we want to stop contributing to the plastic pollution of our planet.
Keep reading to learn about the latest scientific findings about microplastics in textiles, how microplastics enter the body and how it affects it, as well as important tips to make healthier and more sustainable material choices.
Microplastics Explained
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that are smaller than 5 millimeters in size.
They’re a result of the breakdown of bigger pieces of plastic or the shedding of synthetic materials such as polyester.
Microplastics can be primary (made to be small, for example, the microbeads used in certain cosmetic products and personal care products which have been banned in a lot of countries; secondary are a result of the breakdown of bigger plastic pieces through wear and weathering (plastic bottles degrading into smaller pieces); and tertiary microplastics that originate from synthetic textiles that are shedding and releasing tiny particles upon washing. These fibers often end up in the environment.
They accumulate in aquatic organisms that are then transferred up the food chain into larger predators and fish that humans consume.
Microplastics are bad for aquatic organisms because they mistake them for food. The microplastics cause blockage in their gills and digestive tract, prevent growth and development, and weaken their immunity.
Plastic debris is also damaging to the tissue of animals and it also affects the soil, resulting in poor plant growth and weakened soil.
Microplastics in the human body may contribute to inflammation and cellular level damage and also have a negative effect on the good gut bacteria, increase the risk of allergies and autoimmune disorders, and increase the risk of cancer.
How to Avoid Microplastics in Your Life as Much as Possible
These valuable and simple lifestyle improvements can help you reduce your exposure to microplastics:
- Wash synthetic clothes less often
If you wash synthetics frequently, lower fiber shedding by using a front-loading machine and a liquid detergent.
- Opt for natural fiber clothes
Avoid synthetics like polyester because they shed microfibers upon washing. When possible, wear silk, cotton, wool, and linen.
- Avoid using plastic containers and plastic packaging
Instead of plastic, opt for metal, glass, or cardboard containers and packaging to lower your overall contribution to the presence of microplastics in food.
- Install a microfiber filter on your washing machine
Specialized filters like Guppy Friend and Cora Ball will catch microfibers before they enter the wastewater.
- Support recycling of textile
Become an advocate for microfiber filtration and recycling of plastic textiles. Inform yourself about how you can contribute to your society to reduce plastic waste and microplastics.
- Drink tap water
Bottled water contains more microplastics than the bottle itself. If possible, opt for water from the tap. Use a filter if you worry about the water’s quality.
Safer Materials for Clothes
When choosing clothing materials, opt for ones made of the following sustainable materials:
- Organic cotton because it’s breathable, durable, and biodegradable. It’s grown without the use of fertilizers and synthetic pesticides.
- Hemp because it needs little water and no pesticides to grow. It’s durable and antimicrobial and lasts for years.
- Linen is lightweight, breathable, and biodegradable. It softens as time goes by and it’s made from flax plants.
- Wool is a natural renewable fiber that is also biodegradable. It helps in temperature regulation and has moisture-wicking characteristics.
- Silk is a gentle fiber made by silkworms. It has very strong protein fiber as well as insulating and antibacterial characteristics.
- Bamboo is not demanding in terms of growth and it possesses natural antimicrobial and moisture-wicking properties.
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