Microfiber Plastics in the Environment

Dec 3, 2024 - The findings, reported in the journal, Water Resources Research, (open access) mean that the fibers could get easily trapped in sediment. The work helps to improve understanding of the exposure risks and possible health impacts of the pervasive pieces of plastic, which are the largest pollutant in the world by mass. The fibers have been found to negatively affect small marine organisms, but it’s unclear what their impact is on human health and ecosystems, partly because researchers don’t know how mobile they are. “The fibers tend not to want to move. If anything, they want to stay put and want to attach to something,” said Nick Engdahl, corresponding author on the paper and an associate professor in Washington State University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.