Synthetic Microfibers: An Urban Emerging Pollutant Demanding for Sustainable Environmental Solutions

Synthetic microfiber contamination is posing an increasing hazard to both the environment and human health. Textiles release microfibers into the environment throughout production, use, and disposal at the end of their useful life. Microfiber (MF) pollution is a potentially significant and developing environmental issue in the textile and fashion sectors that requires protection and long-term growth. Each year, approximately five million metric tons of synthetic and natural microfibers enter the environment. It is estimated that more than six million metric tons of synthetic microfibers are presently contaminating the environment. The principal pathway revealed as air deposition of synthetic microfibers, releasing fibers at a rate many orders of magnitude faster than treated wastewater discharge. We examine several methods for minimizing microfiber emissions into the environment and find that intervention during the textile design stage is the most effective option. Current methods focus on minimizing plastic waste ending up in the environment through recycling while emphasizing its material value retention through a circular economy. This review aims to elucidate these concerns and gather the most up-to-date data that underscores the multifaceted methodology necessary to tackle microfiber contamination and accentuates the communal obligation essential for a viable and more hygienic forthcoming.