Fleece sweaters, yoga pants, and other clothing made of synthetic materials release thousands of plastic microfibers every time they are washed. These microfibers are accumulating in waterways all over the world, entering the bodies of aquatic organisms and eventually humans.
Mark Browne, an ecologist at the University of New South Wales in Australia, first discovered the problem in 2011. He recalled a meeting he had with Nike representatives shortly thereafter as part of his efforts to get clothing companies to look for solutions. They asked him if microfibers are the new asbestos. Browne said, “It’s probably more abundant than asbestos.”
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