Modelling microplastic fibre emissions from synthetic textiles: An Australian case

Microplastic fibre (MPF) pollution from synthetic textiles is a growing global concern with potentially irreversible impacts on human health and ecosystems. Yet, there is still a limited understanding of the full scale of emissions, hotspots, and receiving environmental compartments, creating a major barrier to effectively evaluating and mitigating exposure and health risk impacts. This study develops a comprehensive, dynamic model that quantifies MPF emissions from diverse emissions pathways across the entire life cycle of synthetic textiles, leveraging granular product-level activity data and corresponding emission factors. Applied to Australia as a case study, the model estimates that 30.9 ± 0.56 kilotonnes (kt) of MPFs were released cumulatively between 1988 and 2023, nearly half of which were airborne from household drying and wearing. In 2023, bedlinen, carpets, suits, and cleaning cloths together accounted for 66 % of airborne and 58 % of waterborne emissions. Without intervention, MPF emissions are projected to increase by 43 % by 2050, whereas an integrated strategy combining behavioural, technological, and infrastructural measures could reduce emissions by up to 65 %. The model is adaptable to textile systems in different regions, serving as a robust decision-supporting tool to tackle synthetic textile-derived microplastic pollution globally. The detailed MPF emission inventory generated by the model also provides a critical foundation for subsequent exposure and risk assessments.