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Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

biorxiv.org

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Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#31

Post by getcrunk »

mdp2021 wrote: post #23
0xbadcafebee wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If synthetic fabrics go, hooooo boy... talk about an industrial shakeup. Polyester accounts for ~50% of global fabric production. Non-plastic synthetic fibers made from wood pulp are pretty bad for the environment (you basically use harsh chemicals to liquefy wood and turn that into new fibers). The only thing "performance-wise" that comes close is wool, which is also not very sustainable, and difficult to care for.…

> wool, which is also not very sustainable This is a matter do be checked with some detail, since some position against wool have become vocal: wool is, as expected, biodegradable (though it may be subject to chemical treatments that ruin this property); wool is recyclable, both as fabric and as industrial-use material (e.g. as an insulant); as a material for clothing, the excellent properties relative to the other o…

Let's not forget cotton

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#33

Post by Terry_Roll »

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #5
multiplegeorges wrote: post #2

Plastic is incredible. It's one of the most amazing things humans have ever created. But we're due for a serious re-evaluation of where it is appropriate to use it. Single-use plastics have to be banned globally, outside of critical uses like medical. I know, good luck with this one. Plastic fabrics need to be severely curtailed, as this study shows.

If synthetic fabrics go, hooooo boy... talk about an industrial shakeup. Polyester accounts for ~50% of global fabric production. Non-plastic synthetic fibers made from wood pulp are pretty bad for the environment (you basically use harsh chemicals to liquefy wood and turn that into new fibers). The only thing "performance-wise" that comes close is wool, which is also not very sustainable, and difficult to care for.…

Well we do have a decent source for fibres in the form of Hemp. The Hemp fibre is longer and stronger than a cotton fibre, but the political favours pulled by the US Cotton growers association in the past has indirectly helped to bring man made fibres like these into play as a cheap alternative source for clothing and covers.

This issue, isnt restricted to clothing made of man made fibres, it will affect the leisure industry because tents & gazebo's are made of nylon and their exposure to the elements degrades them quickly. Footwear, trainers, sneakers watch how the likes of Nike handle this both for consumers and their employees.

Man made fibre's are everywhere and are the next Asbestos scandal, so watch how big business handles this one. The science will be restricted, there might be some private studies commissioned by some big names and the findings kept quiet. I've seen stock market listed supermarkets commission studies, results come back and it all gets hushed up!

A lot of Global businesses should best be viewed as a threat to your health!

Your politicians wont do anything about it either, they dont represent you they represent their unlined pockets!

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#34

Post by DoingIsLearning »

petra wrote: post #27

There's a difference between working in the industry and wearing a shirt. Does this article says that people wearing polyester clothing are at serious risk?

The article says we don't know enough yet.

The general principle is that if it can harm adults in high dosages it can equally harm newborns/toddlers in lower dosages due to smaller lung surface area and weight.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#35

Post by foerbert »

mdp2021 wrote: post #23
0xbadcafebee wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If synthetic fabrics go, hooooo boy... talk about an industrial shakeup. Polyester accounts for ~50% of global fabric production. Non-plastic synthetic fibers made from wood pulp are pretty bad for the environment (you basically use harsh chemicals to liquefy wood and turn that into new fibers). The only thing "performance-wise" that comes close is wool, which is also not very sustainable, and difficult to care for.…

> wool, which is also not very sustainable This is a matter do be checked with some detail, since some position against wool have become vocal: wool is, as expected, biodegradable (though it may be subject to chemical treatments that ruin this property); wool is recyclable, both as fabric and as industrial-use material (e.g. as an insulant); as a material for clothing, the excellent properties relative to the other o…

> processes for the production of wool may entail some impact, independent from the material but related to the sheep.

I suspect this is the massively buried lead here - one so huge and so buried that I'm having a hard time giving you the benefit of the doubt.

The lifecycle of wool itself is probably not at all the major concern. It will not take just a few more sheep to replace the entirety of the global use of polyester and other synthetics.

Livestock are notoriously land-intensive, and the reason behind much of the ongoing ecological devastation of places like the Amazon rainforest. Trying to pass those concerns off as minor considerations after the biodegradability and recyclability of wool is just... incredible.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#36

Post by yobbo »

danw1979 wrote: post #28

Just wear merino, folks. Not outrageously expensive, warm, rarely needs washing. I’m a 15 year convert to wearing it daily. Whenever I try a “plastic” jumper on at the shops I can tell immediately it feels sweaty and uncomfortable…

Seems more likely that vinyl and polyester is from furniture and carpeting and such.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#38

Post by Litost »

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #5
multiplegeorges wrote: post #2

Plastic is incredible. It's one of the most amazing things humans have ever created. But we're due for a serious re-evaluation of where it is appropriate to use it. Single-use plastics have to be banned globally, outside of critical uses like medical. I know, good luck with this one. Plastic fabrics need to be severely curtailed, as this study shows.

If synthetic fabrics go, hooooo boy... talk about an industrial shakeup. Polyester accounts for ~50% of global fabric production. Non-plastic synthetic fibers made from wood pulp are pretty bad for the environment (you basically use harsh chemicals to liquefy wood and turn that into new fibers). The only thing "performance-wise" that comes close is wool, which is also not very sustainable, and difficult to care for.…

There was a recent segment in a Radio 4 broadcast about wool being burnt in the UK because it wasn't worth selling: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00106k3

Judging by this article this is because of the rise of mass-produced synthetic fibres and a collapse in the hospitality market due to covid: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-581...

So much for science and the precautionary principle, economics and the power of the free market, politicians and regulation :(.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#39

Post by smileysteve »

foerbert wrote: post #35
mdp2021 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> wool, which is also not very sustainable This is a matter do be checked with some detail, since some position against wool have become vocal: wool is, as expected, biodegradable (though it may be subject to chemical treatments that ruin this property); wool is recyclable, both as fabric and as industrial-use material (e.g. as an insulant); as a material for clothing, the excellent properties relative to the other o…

> processes for the production of wool may entail some impact, independent from the material but related to the sheep. I suspect this is the massively buried lead here - one so huge and so buried that I'm having a hard time giving you the benefit of the doubt. The lifecycle of wool itself is probably not at all the major concern. It will not take just a few more sheep to replace the entirety of the global use of poly…

> Livestock are notoriously land-intensive

Yes, but in most cases, the wool today is considered waste; the primary market value of sheep is between mowing fields naturally and the meat. Which is why the industry has died as it has.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#40

Post by ericd »

cco wrote: post #14
ericd wrote: post #4

If you haven’t, you owe it to yourself to try merino wool shirts. Check to make sure you get just the 100% wool models, most brands have pure and blends.

I tried five different brands, from $40 to $120; only one was decently comfortable (most were itchy, stretched weirdly and were uncomfortable) and the extra burden of washing and maintenance, not to mention cost, made them a non-starter. For $5 a shirt, Gildan 100% cotton v-neck t-shirts allow you to buy a couple dozen and rotate through them for years. That's where I'm currently at, I wanted to love wool, but I just…

Interesting, I haven’t found any of them to be itchy, but maybe some are more sensitive to it them than others. Do you remember which you tried? I like the linen shirts I’ve tried for hot weather, but haven’t tried many yet. Luca Faloni makes nice linen dress shirts.
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