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A Good Reason To Not Wear Synthetic Fibers
Expert Opinion
Thursday, December 22, 2011
by Debra Lynn Dadd, author and advocate hailed as the “Queen of Green” by the New York Times
We're all well aware of plastic pollution from plastic bags and bottles and other big items. But did you know that microscopic bits of plastic are also polluting the world's oceans and ending up in the fish we eat?
According to a study published in the American Chemical Society's journal, Environmental Science & Technology, bits of polyester and acrylic smaller than the head of a pin are likely rinsing off garments during the wash cycle of washing machines and ending up on shorelines. Researchers say this debris contains potentially harmful ingredients that fish can ingest and then transfer to people who eat them.
More than 1,900 fibers can rinse off a single garment.
Here are two more articles on macro and micro plastics in the ocean that lists more sources and chemicals:
- USA Today: Washing machines cause microplastic pollution
- Macro and Micro Plastic Debris Adsorbed and Transport Endocrine Disrupters in the Ocean.
The solution, of course, is to wear and wash organic cotton, linen, silk, wool and hemp. These fibers are biodegradable and break down in the environment, rather than accumulating in living organisms. See Debra's List: Textiles.
What do you wear? Will this news influence your future purchasing decisions?
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Healthy Child Healthy World.
Photo courtesy Vato Bob / CC BY 2.0
Posted by Carl Zegan on 12/24/2011 at 08:22 AM
Great reminder for us all.
Posted by Cece on 12/23/2011 at 01:52 PM
yes, yes, yes! I have been thinking this for quite a while now…......
Posted by Anastasia @ eco-babyz on 12/23/2011 at 01:39 PM
I never thought of this! I’ve always avoided synthetic clothing, but will pay even more attention now :)
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Posted by Jennifer on 01/21/2012 at 10:05 AM
Synthetics are made using petrochemicals. This means OIL. All those fossil fuels we’re importing from the Middle East are ending up next to our skin. Synthetic fabrics don’t hold dye as well as natural fabrics. This means they have to be sprayed with a chemical fixative which is made from heavy metals. This fixative is not only bad for us, but it’s incredibly bad when the leftovers and by-products are dumped into local waterways.