ArticleEnvironmental science & technology2026
Mechanically Recycled Textiles: A Source of Microplastic Fiber Emissions.
Article in Environmental science & technology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Our research found that the shedding of microplastic fibers (MPFs) from textiles is exacerbated by repeated mechanical recycling, raising environmental concerns as the use of recycled fibers increases in industry. This study examined MPF release from fabrics containing 30% mechanically recycled polyester fibers subjected to one, two, or three recycling cycles, compared to primary (virgin) polyester (PES). Shedding was assessed under both simulated wear and laundering conditions using Martindale, ICI Pilling Box, and ISO 4484-1:2023 (microplastic from textile sources) protocols. Laundering tests showed no clear difference in MPF release between primary PES and once-recycled PES (rPES-1; ∼ 1.4-fold). In contrast, fabrics with fibers recycled twice (rPES-2) and three times (rPES-3) released about 4.3-fold and 6.2-fold more MPFs than PES, respectively. Fiber release was different under dry-state abrasion than in laundry tests, highlighting the limitations of current wet-state focused assessments. Progressive fiber fragmentation and increased yarn hairiness suggest cumulative structural degradation with each recycling cycle. These findings underscore the need for standardized dry-state shedding assessments and improved recycling strategies to mitigate MPF emissions. While mechanical recycling remains environmentally preferable to uncontrolled disposal, these findings reveal a trade-off in the form of increased MPF release after multiple recycling cycles, which could be mitigated through improved recycling processes and fabric design. Achieving a balance between textile circularity and environmental sustainability remains a critical challenge for the industry.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.