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Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

biorxiv.org

1–10 of 52 posts

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#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.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#3
Tangent: HEPA filters are one of the best QoL investments you can make. You should start caring about what you breathe right now if you don’t already.

WHO recently tightened PM2.5 guidance closer to zero and all the evidence so far is that the more we learn about PM1 and finer pollution, the more horrifying the health effects.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#5

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. This seems like it'll become the next "anti-smoking" battle.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#6
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.

Same experience here. Bought a couple for 60 usd each at amazon. Way more comfortable and keep fresh longer than synthetic/cotton t-shirts.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#8
post #7
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.

Any brand recommendations?

I’m currently trying Duckworth, I’ve been liking them. They’re a bit of a novelty in that the entire shirt is made sheep to shirt in the US. Only a couple of their lines are pure wool, though, so read carefully. The fabric seems a bit heavier/less soft than others, but they’ve been holding up better so far. Maybe related?

Icebreaker seems like the biggest brand in merino, and their shirts are pretty good, very light and breathable, but a bit fragile (my jeans buttons seem to be forming holes in them somehow, all in the same spot). Big fan of their long underwear, too, makes a huge difference in the winter.

Woolly shirts are super soft, probably the most comfortable, and not too expensive, but even more fragile than icebreaker IME.

Still looking for the perfect shirt, but I’ve liked the ones I’ve had from all of these.

Re: Inhalable textile microplastic fibers impair lung repair

#9
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.

Same experience here. Bought a couple for 60 usd each at amazon. Way more comfortable and keep fresh longer than synthetic/cotton t-shirts.

Yeah, completely counterintuitive if your mental association growing up is with super hot sweaters.
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