Polluting Textiles: The Problem with Microfibres

"Our field should welcome this piece of writing with open arms. Although there are many writings about microplastics, microfibers are complex and include more than just plastic materials. I’m thrilled to see a comprehensive book, covering both science and solutions for microfibers specifically, led by a wonderful team of experts." Chelsea M. Rochman, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Canada "Microplastics are poorly understood but pose a serious environmental and public health risk. This book shines a light on the problem. Unlike what policy makers and society did with climate change, it is imperative that we listen to the scientists on this vital issue. This book will help do that." Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator and President of Beyond Plastics "Microfibers – a form of microplastics - present significant challenges to scientists, policymakers, and the textile industry. This comprehensive book provides a summary of the state-of-the-science of the sources, pathways, monitoring techniques, and impacts of microfibers from leading scientists in this rapidly emerging field. Potential solutions to the hazards of microfibers and their added chemicals - from upstream measures such as policy and design innovations to downstream measures such as pollution pathway controls - are critically assessed through collaborations between textile professionals and environmental scientists alike." Scott Coffin, Research Scientist at the California State Water Resources Control Board, developing health-based regulations for microplastics "This book's investigation of microplastics is not only crucial for our understanding of the plastics problem for advocates and policymakers, it reveals the necessary shift textile manufacturers must make if we are to ever stop it." Stiv Wilson, CoDirector at Peak Plastic Foundation, creator The Story of Plastic film "For a long time, textile microfibers have been simply considered as a sub-category of microplastics, thus preventing us from fully understanding the real extent of this global pollution issue. The publication of this book by an excellent team of authors provides us for the first time with all necessary tools to better comprehend this emerging pollutant, its sources, its impacts and the relevant solutions. Shifting the focus to fibres, and finally considering them as a very specific class of contaminants, represent a much-needed groundbreaking step in the right direction." Giuseppe Suaria, Research Scientist at CNR-ISMAR, Italy “There are a number of different sustainability considerations across the entire life-cycle of textiles, including environmental pollution. This book highlights one important aspect of environmental pollution from textiles: microplastic fibers. Featuring prominent scientists in the field today, a wide array of problems and solutions are addressed in this collection which can serve as an important resource for those interested in reducing the negative environmental impacts of textiles from a number of different viewpoints.” Denise Mitrano, Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Switzerland "Our field should welcome this piece of writing with open arms. Although there are many writings about microplastics, microfibers are complex and include more than just plastic materials. I’m thrilled to see a comprehensive book, covering both science and solutions for microfibers specifically, led by a wonderful team of experts." - Chelsea M. Rochman, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Canada "Microplastics are poorly understood but pose a serious environmental and public health risk. This book shines a light on the problem. Unlike what policy makers and society did with climate change, it is imperative that we listen to the scientists on this vital issue. This book will help do that." - Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator and President of Beyond Plastics "Microfibers – a form of microplastics - present significant challenges to scientists, policymakers, and the textile industry. This comprehensive book provides a summary of the state-of-the-science of the sources, pathways, monitoring techniques, and impacts of microfibers from leading scientists in this rapidly emerging field. Potential solutions to the hazards of microfibers and their added chemicals - from upstream measures such as policy and design innovations to downstream measures such as pollution pathway controls - are critically assessed through collaborations between textile professionals and environmental scientists alike." - Scott Coffin, Research Scientist at the California State Water Resources Control Board, developing health-based regulations for microplastics "This book's investigation of microplastics is not only crucial for our understanding of the plastics problem for advocates and policymakers, it reveals the necessary shift textile manufacturers must make if we are to ever stop it."- Stiv Wilson, CoDirector at Peak Plastic Foundation, creator The Story of Plastic film "For a long time, textile microfibers have been simply considered as a sub-category of microplastics, thus preventing us from fully understanding the real extent of this global pollution issue. The publication of this book by an excellent team of authors provides us for the first time with all necessary tools to better comprehend this emerging pollutant, its sources, its impacts and the relevant solutions. Shifting the focus to fibres, and finally considering them as a very specific class of contaminants, represent a much-needed groundbreaking step in the right direction." - Giuseppe Suaria, Research Scientist at CNR-ISMAR, Italy “There are a number of different sustainability considerations across the entire life-cycle of textiles, including environmental pollution. This book highlights one important aspect of environmental pollution from textiles: microplastic fibers. Featuring prominent scientists in the field today, a wide array of problems and solutions are addressed in this collection which can serve as an important resource for those interested in reducing the negative environmental impacts of textiles from a number of different viewpoints.” - Denise Mitrano, Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Switzerland "Microfibers are a small but ubiquitous pollutant just under our radar that escapes readily into the atmosphere, posing a serious threat to our environment and health of all organisms great and small. Similar to asbestos, studies have found that ingested and inhaled microplastics and microfibers get into cells and tissues and can cause harm. This book gives us a deeper understanding of problems posed by these tiny textile fragments, and shares practical solutions, from material redesign to particle capture. More importantly, it confirms without a doubt the need to classify problematic plastics as the hazardous waste that it is." - Jackie Nuñez, Founder, The Last Plastic Straw, and Advocacy & Engagement Manager, Plastic Pollution Coalition