microfiber pollution

Microfiber pollution occurs when tiny synthetic fibers, derived from products like clothing, towels, and carpets, shed during washing and enter water systems. These microscopic fibers are too small to be filtered out by wastewater treatment plants, eventually accumulating in oceans and lakes. Marine life, including fish and plankton, mistake these fibers for food or get entangled, which can harm or kill them. Since microfibers are composed of plastics, they also contribute to broader environmental issues like pollution and the persistence of plastics in ecosystems, impacting wildlife and potentially entering the human food chain.