Over half of the samples collected from Kenyan and Tanzanian coastlines have been found to contain natural microfibres from wool, cotton, silk, vegetables and minerals, according to a new study.
- The study shows the presence of textile fibres in every sample collected, from a minimum of about one fibre per litre up to a maximum of about 60 fibres per litre.
- This research, ‘Prevalence and characterisation of microfibres along the Kenyan and Tanzanian coast’ has been published by Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
The Highlights: Of the microfibres found in this study, only 37% of them were synthetic, and almost half of all natural identified as cotton fibres.
- This finding substantiates recent evidence, speculations and laundry experiments that natural microfibres are more prevalent in the aquatic environment than their synthetic and regenerated cellulosic counterparts.
- Moreover, forensic science studies that aim to determine the frequency of occurrence of different fibre types in terrestrial environments, have consistently shown that natural fibres, and particularly cotton, are more prevalent compared to other fibre types.
- The findings of this and other recent environmental studies are thus congruent with that of forensic science studies; terrestrial and aquatic environments appear to be dominated by natural fibre types.
The Context: Washing clothes releases microfibres, which can be synthetic (plastic) and non-synthetic, but little is understood about the environmental impact.
- It has been estimated that less than a quarter of the households in Kenya use these, and many instead wash clothes by hand, dumping the wastewater onto the ground.
- What isn’t absorbed by the soil runs off into the water, polluting the ocean.
The Study: During an expedition from Lamu (in Kenya) to Zanzibar (East Africa), a citizen science strategy was employed to innovate, educate and influence microfibre pollution reform through the Flipflopi project, a circular economy effort to stop the use of single-use plastic.
- Simple sampling methods were developed to replace costly equipment, which local citizens could use to partake in the collection and sampling of surface water samples from the previously understudied Kenyan and Tanzanian coast.
- To maintain the reliability of samples and to minimise contamination, a forensic science strategy was embedded throughout the methodology of the study, collection and analysis of the samples.
- A total of 2,403 microfibres from 37 sites were recovered and fully characterised with 55% found to be of natural origin, 8% regenerated cellulosic and 37% synthetic microfibres.
- Natural microfibres were in higher abundance in 33 of the 37 sampled sites.
- Congruent with recent studies, these findings further support the need for greater understanding of the anthropogenic impact of natural microfibres.
- The Flipflopi project is an initiative which uses the world’s first recycled plastic sailing dhow, a handmade boat constructed from materials found on African beaches, including 30,000 discarded flip flops. The seven-tonne boat has received more than 90,000 kg of plastics from the world’s oceans.
What They Said:
This is a kind of pollution that everybody irremediably contributes to, willing or not. It is not something that can be avoided easily. We all need to use garments in our daily life and some of the textile fibres they are made of can find their way into the environment, meaning that each of us is an integral part of the pollution chain by simply living our life.
— Matteo Gallidabino
Lecturer in Forensic Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine
King's College London
Textile fibres, commonly referred to as microfibres, and their prevalence in the environment have been studied by forensic scientists for decades. However, the majority of recent environmental studies have overlooked that knowledge and focused only on the characterisation of microplastic fibres. This has led to inaccurate microfibre data and much misunderstanding in the literature, culminating in a general underestimation of the threat posed by natural fibres.
— Kelly Sheridan
Assistant Professor of Forensic Science
Northumbria University
