Synthetic Microfibres: Sources, Fate, and Toxicity

Abstract

Synthetic microfibers (SMFs) are a class of non-biodegradable polymers having a length of less than 5 mm and diameter of less than 10 µm. They consist of nylon, polyester, rayon, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, acrylic, spandex and other synthetic materials, mostly manufactured from petroleum derivatives They can enter the environment from both primary sources: during the manufacturing of textiles, or secondary sources: due to usage of textiles and disintegration of larger plastic items. Like plastics in general, they display resistance to natural breakdown, and their minuscule dimensions make them challenging to identify and study, resulting in their prolonged existence in the environment. The water ecosystem is most affected by this microscopic threat, where they can be ingested by various marine life forms, affect their metabolism, movement, and digestion, and eventually deteriorate them to death. They also pose an underlying harm to humans since they can reach the tissues via diet. This chapter explores the origin of SMFs from various sources—air, sea, and land-based sources, their fate in the ecosystem, and their toxic effects on life forms. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.