Microfiber Emissions from Functionalized Textiles: Potential Threat for Human Health and Environmental Risks

Abstract

The growing worldwide population is directly responsible for the increased production and consumption of textile products. One of the key reasons for the generation of microfibers is the use of textiles and garment materials, which is expected to increase. The textile industry is responsible for the invisible pollution that is created by textile microfibers, which have been detected in marine sediments and organisms. The present review paper demonstrates that the microfibers discharged from functionalized textiles exhibit non-biodegradable characteristics and that a considerable proportion of them possess toxic properties. This is primarily attributed to the impact of textiles’ material functionalization on their biodegradability. The potential for these microfibers, which are released from textiles that contain a variety of dyes, toxic chemicals, and nanomaterials, to pose a variety of health risks to both humans and other living organisms is discussed in this paper. In addition, this paper covers a wide variety of preventative and minimizing measures for reduction, which are discussed in terms of several phases ranging from sustainable production through the consumer, end of life, domestic washing, and wastewater treatment phases.

Recent Advances in the Remediation of Textile-Dye-Containing Wastewater: Prioritizing Human Health and Sustainable Wastewater Treatment

“…The effluents discharged by the textile industry in their untreated state consist of a wide array of organic contaminants, including unfixed colors, acids, alkalis, and notably, very poisonous dyes [70]. The textile business employs many categories of dyes, with azo dyes being the predominant group utilized, accounting for over 60% of the industry's usage [71].…”

Boosting plant oil yields: the role of genetic engineering in industrial applications

“…Over the projected period (2017-2024), the global market for textile finishing chemicals is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 3.8%, rising from USD 8.9 billion in 2022 to USD 12 billion in 2030 (Prescient and Strategic Intelligence, 2023). However, a significant portion of textile finishes currently available in the market pose potential harm to the environment and human health, with compounds like triclosan known for accumulating in aquatic environments and posing toxicity risks to aquatic organisms (Bhat et al, 2022;Periyasamy, 2023).…”

Environmentally Friendly Approach to the Reduction of Microplastics during Domestic Washing: Prospects for Machine Vision in Microplastics Reduction

“…Typically, the implementation of biodegradable fibers is known to enhance sustainability and mitigate the prevalence of toxic contamination in both marine and terrestrial environments. Nevertheless, the introduction of functional additives, such as dyes and finishing chemicals, has been observed to yield microfiber emissions with diminished biodegradability [ 20 ]. The production of fully biodegradable fibers necessitates the incorporation of biodegradable additives, such as colorants derived from natural sources, and other functional finishes.…”

“…Inside the context of environmental degradation, the textile sector is not a newcomer by any stretch of the imagination. In point of fact, the textile industry is considered one of the primary polluters on the planet due to the use of potentially hazardous chemicals, the consumption of water and energy, the generation of waste, transportation, and the use of non-biodegradable materials for packaging [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. In this review article, we will discuss the various eco-friendly and sustainable techniques that may be put to use in order to minimize the quantity of microfibers released during domestic laundry.…”