How do microplastics from clothing enter the food chain?

Microfibers shed from synthetic clothing during washing flow through wastewater treatment into rivers and oceans, where they are consumed by plankton, fish, and shellfish. These organisms mistake the tiny plastic particles for food. Once ingested, microplastics move up the food chain as smaller organisms are eaten by larger ones, a process called trophic transfer. Studies have found microplastic fibers in commercially sold fish, mussels, shrimp, and sea salt.

The contamination extends beyond seafood. Microplastics from treated wastewater sludge spread onto agricultural land as fertilizer, where they are taken up by crops. Airborne textile fibers settle on produce. The result is that microplastics from clothing end up in fruits, vegetables, honey, and drinking water. Current estimates suggest that the average person may ingest 5 grams of microplastic per week, roughly the weight of a credit card.

This cycle connects your wardrobe directly to your dinner plate. Every synthetic garment washed contributes to the microplastic load in the food system. Natural-fiber clothing breaks this cycle because any fibers that shed biodegrade harmlessly. ONDU's focus on natural materials is motivated by these systemic connections between clothing, water, food, and health.