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Reducing microplastic fiber shedding from hand-washed polyester

  • 0Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada.
Scientific Reports +

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November 11, 2025

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November 11, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Hand washing textiles releases microplastic fibers (MPFs), with higher water total dissolved solids (TDS) increasing MPF release but decreasing fiber length. Anti-MPF coatings are effective during hand washing, though efficacy varies by fabric type.

Area Of Science

  • Environmental Science
  • Materials Science
  • Textile Engineering

Background

  • Microplastic fibers (MPFs) are an ecological and health concern, with textile washing being a major source.
  • Most MPF research focuses on machine washing, yet hand washing is prevalent globally.
  • Existing MPF-reducing coatings have primarily been tested under machine-washing conditions.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of MPF-reducing coatings during hand washing.
  • To investigate the impact of water quality, specifically total dissolved solids (TDS), on MPF release during hand washing.
  • To compare MPF release from different polyester fabric constructions (dyed black and green) under various hand-washing conditions.

Main Methods

  • Hand washing of coated and uncoated 100% polyester fabrics (green and black) in deionized water, tap water, and Lake Ontario water.
  • Quantification of microplastic fiber (MPF) release per gram of fabric.
  • Analysis of MPF length distribution in released fibers.
  • Assessment of anti-MPF coating efficacy across different water conditions and fabric types.

Main Results

  • Higher total dissolved solids (TDS) in water significantly increased MPF release from both coated and uncoated fabrics.
  • Hand washing in Lake Ontario water (high TDS) released 200-240% more MPFs/g from uncoated fabrics compared to deionized water.
  • Higher TDS water reduced the mean length of released MPFs, indicating further fiber fracturing.
  • The efficacy of MPF-reducing coatings varied significantly by fabric construction, reducing release by 77-92% for green polyester but only 26-37% for black polyester.

Conclusions

  • Anti-MPF coatings demonstrate efficacy in reducing fiber release during hand washing.
  • Water total dissolved solids (TDS) play a critical role in the quantity and characteristics of released MPFs.
  • Fabric construction significantly influences the performance of MPF-reducing coatings during hand washing.

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