Unveiling Microplastic Release from Discarded Textiles: A Potential Threat to Aquatic Environments

The life cycle of clothing is becoming increasingly shorter due to the rapid growth of fast fashion. Developed countries export tons of clothes to developing nations, particularly in Africa. However, rather than being reused as intended, a significant amount of this clothing ends up discarded on shores and riverbanks, leading to various environmental problems. This study explores the microplastic release from discarded clothes into the water body when exposed under different conditions, assessing their environmental impact. Two commonly used types of synthetic fabrics (polyester and nylon) were selected as representative materials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation damaged the fiber surface and released tiny particles. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests indicated that UV irradiation leads to the degradation of the polymers that compose the fibers, and cross-linking or chain breaking occurs, leading to the friability of the fibers, resulting in the release of microplastics. However, the short-term UV radiation resulted in a more stable mechanical strength of the nylon fibers due to the cross-linking that occurs. In addition, abrasion from grit and changes in turbulent kinetic energy can rapidly damage fibers, accelerating the release of microplastics from the fabrics. Experimental results demonstrated that nylon textiles were more likely to release microplastics. However, polyester fibers had a greater tendency to release microplastics with increasing turbulent rotational speed. Future research could further investigate the environmental risks associated with microplastic release from discarded clothing.