Impacto ambiental gerado por microplásticos têxteis

Abstract

The textile industry, since its emergence during the industrial revolution, has undergone several transformations to expand its productive capacity and diversify raw materials, such as the discovery of synthetic fibers, which gained prominence in the textile market. Currently, these fibers occupy 60% of the world's demand for fibers and generate concern in the environmental context because when released from textiles during laundry, they contribute to environmental pollution caused by microplastics. Liberation occurs both in the use of the articles and in the processes of washing and manufacturing them. This work is theoretical research about the impacts caused by textile microplastics to water bodies, addressing: the pollution caused by their presence in water bodies, the main factors that contribute to their release to water bodies and possible actions to minimize the amount of textile microplastics discarded in water bodies. Exploratory research based on articles, books and works was used to achieve the proposed objective. It was found that textile microplastics are spread across the oceans, affecting animals and plants present in aquatic environments, and may even reach humans through the food chain. The parameters that influence the detachment of textile microplastics are the characteristics of the fabrics and process conditions both in domestic washing and in textile industry processes. And measures such as laws that oblige washing machine manufacturers to sell them with filters already installed and the increase in coverage and efficiency of effluent treatment stations are important for the reduction of textile microplastics released into water bodies. It is concluded that the textile microplastics present in water bodies affect the aquatic fauna and flora, having the potential to reach humans through food, the main factors that contribute to the release of textile microplastics are type of yarn used to make fabrics, conditions of washing processes, manufacturing conditions of textile products and the lack of treatment of part of the urban sewage effluents.