Effort to Minimize Microfibers in Oceans: Focusing on Addressing the Source Issue
In an effort to combat the rising issue of microfibers in our oceans, a new campaign titled "Only One: One Planet, One Ocean, One Health" has been launched by Marevivo, Marina Militare, and Fondazione Dohrn. The initiative, which is also supported by Beko, aims to reverse the current trend that sees concentrations of microfibers in all seas, and impose a change of course.
Each load of laundry produces between 6 and 17 million microfibers, with 40% not captured by filters or wastewater treatment plants. This significant amount of plastic waste ends up in the sea, with 40% originating from microfibers released during the washing of clothing.
The production of textile microfibers reached 120 million tons in the year 2019. These microfibers, which are flexible synthetic fibers often shed from textiles and fishing gear, enter marine environments through multiple pathways including wastewater effluent, storm runoff, coastal activities, atmospheric deposition, and degradation of larger plastic debris.
The goal of the campaign is to reduce the presence of microfibers in seas and oceans, which currently range from 1 fiber per 50 liters to over 25 fibers per single liter of water. The ingestion of these microfibers by marine species has frequencies that can exceed 90% of the organisms analyzed.
The potential effects on marine species and the food chain are diverse and concerning. Microfibers and other microplastics are ingested by a broad range of marine organisms, from benthic invertebrates to fish. This ingestion can cause physical blockages, false satiation, and reduced feeding efficiency. It can also lead to the accumulation of toxic additives or adsorbed pollutants on microplastics entering organisms, disrupt normal physiological processes and growth, and affect species at multiple trophic levels, potentially altering food web dynamics and the integrity of marine ecosystems.
The distribution of microfibers in the water column depends on their density, influencing their bioavailability to different marine organisms, with benthic regions often showing higher concentrations and associated impacts. Ecologically, the penetration of microfibers into marine environments threatens biodiversity, marine carbon cycling, and potentially human health through seafood consumption.
Raffaella Giugni, head of institutional relations at Marevivo, presented the goals of the campaign and stated that 40% of the 13 million tons of plastic that end up in the seas each year come from microfibers released during the washing of clothing. The campaign aims to raise public awareness about this type of pollution, as highlighted by Raffaella Giugni.
Plastic and microplastic pollution is an emergency affecting all the seas and oceans of the world, as stated by Francesco Regoli, the director of the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at the Università Politecnica delle Marche. The campaign is part of a larger international effort called "Only One: One Planet, One Ocean, One Health".
Continued monitoring and research are critical for understanding long-term impacts and managing these emerging pollutants. The campaign represents a significant step towards addressing this pressing environmental issue and preserving the health of our oceans for future generations.
- The campaign "Only One: One Planet, One Ocean, One Health" aims to reduce the presence of microfibers in seas and oceans, as these microfibers can impact the health of marine species and potentially disrupt normal physiological processes, affecting species at multiple trophic levels and potentially altering food web dynamics and the integrity of marine ecosystems.
- The initiative supports the goal of environmental science to combat climate change by addressing the issue of microfibers in the environment, as microfibers from fitness-and-exercise wear and health-and-wellness products contribute significantly to plastic pollution in our oceans.
- Scientists in the field of environmental science and mental-health professionals stress the importance of addressing microplastics pollution, as the ingestion of microfibers by marine organisms can lead to negative effects on human health through seafood consumption. The aim is to raise public awareness and combat this pollution to ensure the health-and-wellness of future generations.
