Microfiber Pollution Project
The Problem
Plastic pollution, specifically microplastics, are an emerging concern in the marine and freshwater environments. Microfibers are plastic fibers that shed from textiles (including carpeting, clothes, cigarette butts, etc.). One of the biggest sources of microfiber pollution is laundry. With each washer and dryer cycle synthetic fibers can make their way into the environment.
For more on the problem, follow the Microfiber Pollution Project blog! |
The Project
Did you know your clothes shed thousands of synthetic fibers during every wash? Did you know those fibers have been found in fish sold for human consumption? Or that microfibers are in the household
dust and air you're breathing? No? Don't worry, many people (even many eco-warriors) don't know about microfiber pollution! The Microfiber Pollution Project is here to change that. The goal of the Microfiber Pollution Project is to educate the public on the dangers of microfiber pollution, break down the science, and share our current understanding of the problem, as well as to highlight everyday solutions to this global problem. You can follow the blog posts on their Home page or through their Tumblr blog. |
The Author
Plastic Ocean Project Director of Chapters, Sam Athey, has started her PhD at the University of Toronto studying microfiber pollution. She created the Microfiber Pollution Project blog in an effort to educate the public about the problem of microfiber pollution, as well as to share and highlight recent research, science, technology, and solutions. Her goal is to make everyone aware of this issue and to inspire every day action to mitigate plastic pollution.
Check out the Microfiber Pollution Project's website and follow her blog to learn more! |