Research reveals that particles released from polyester textiles during washing are often not nanoplastics but oligomer clumps, whose effects on health and the environment are still uncertain, prompting the need for further investigation.Plastic household items and clothing made of synthetic fibers release microplastics: particles less than five millimetres in size that can enter the environment unnoticed. A small proportion of these particles are so small that they are measured in nanometers.
Researchers led by Bernd Nowack have investigated the release of nanoparticles during the washing of polyester textiles. Credit: Empa The nanoparticles on the surface of the fleece fiber are visible under a scanning electron microscope . The particles detach during washing , so that after four washes there are hardly any left. Credit: Empa
The mechanism of release has not been clarified yet either – neither for nanoplastics nor for the oligomer particles. The good news is that the amount of particles released decreases significantly with repeated washes. It is conceivable that the oligomer particles are created during the manufacturing of the textile or split off from the fibers through chemical processes during storage. Further studies are also required in this area.
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