Submitted 1 year ago by silentknyght@lemmy.world to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world
It seems like microfiber materials should be a major contributor to micro plastics, especially with all the laundering of the microfiber cloths and clothes.
Is the microfiber made of plastic? If yes it’s covered by the term microplastics already, if no then it really doesn’t apply does it.
Plastic fibers would be covered under microplastic concerns, and organic fibers (cotton, wool, etc) are easily broken down and don’t stick around in your system.
Plastics don’t ever go away. They hang around, and we’re discovering they hang around in our bodies too. Organic fiber stuff can be easily broken down or passed through your body.
There’s outrage over microplastics because it’s a petroleum product and not only is it showing up in our food but also our organs. One of if not the worst contributor to microplastics is tire wear spewing rubberized dust into the air.
Microfiber is generally a petroleum product too. It’s usually made of polyamides, like nylon, and polypropylene woven with polyester.
85% of man made debris found on shores are microfiber.
Microfiber is one of the biggest contributors to microplastics, with on average 1.7g being shed per wash.
Then it falls under the microplastics talk already. Why make a distinction?
I don’t know about you, but I need all the fiber I can get to get my “downstairs flowing” in the mornings…
Shittiest comment I’ve seen all day
AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Others have pointed out that microfiber would already be considered microplastic, but maybe you’re aware of that and are thinking that microplastics are plastics that are manufactured to be microscopic (like fiberglass is manufactured as microscopic glass).
But all (petroleum-based) plastics break down into microplastics, whatever scale they’re originally manufactured at. Microfiber is no different from other synthetic cloth in that respect—while it should be avoided like other synthetics, there’s no reason to single it out.