What's the link between garments and microplastics?

But first, what are microplastics? and how do they form? Microplastics are defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, and are further divided on the basis of their origin, as “primary microplastics” if they are intentionally produced either for direct use or as precursors to other products (manufacturing, use and maintenance of goods made of, or containing, plastic or synthethic materials); and “secondary microplastics” if they are formed in the environment from breakdown of larger plastic materials.

This process occurs as a result of various environmental factors such as photo-degradation, oxidation, humidity, extreme temperatures, etc. Some examples of secondary microplastics are those that result from plastic waste, such as shopping bags, fishing nets or plastic cups. From any point of view, MPs are a microscopic, yet a major, problem, since they contain or carry hazardous chemicals that have a negative impact on nature and human health, such as plasticisers (a substance added to improve plasticity and flexibility of a material), flame retardants, antimicrobial agents, organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals, which adhere to the surface of microplastics when exposed to the environment; and so their ingestion through water, or foods such as fish or shellfish, is of particular concern. While wastewater emitted from industrial and household sewage is processed at wastewater treatment plants to cleanse the water and remove toxic substances before the water returns to the water cycle, plants are unable to remove microplastics because of their extreme small sizes.