Once again, we as humans are negatively impacting the water on our planet because our Washing Machines are Polluting Our Oceans. I swear, one would think that we would do everything possible to protect water, being that we are 70% water ourselves and cannot live for more than 3 days without it.
Washing Machines are Polluting Our Oceans
According to a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, our washing machines are a main source of the microplastic pollution in our oceans. Mark Anthony Browne, a biologist with University College in Dublin, investigated the microplastic contamination on 18 coastlines around the world. They then tracked down its likely source; clothing fibres.
Many of the clothes that we wear today are manufactured from synthetic textile materials such as polyester, acrylic, and rayon. The study found that in excess of 1 900 fibres can wash off in a single wash, and that these fibres closely resembled the microplastic debris they found on the various coastlines.
The shores of densely populated areas contain more microplastic, and the source of most of this has been identified as domestic washing machines.
The accumulation of huge swathes of theses microplastic bits in the marine environments raised health and safety concerns from various sources. These microscopic pieces of plastic contain ingredients that are potentially harmful to marine life that eat them thinking they are food. Once ingested this microplastic will remain in the cells of the fish for months, and much of it could eventually end up in the stomachs of humans who eat them.
Researchers say that the pollution by these microfibers is only going to become worse unless something is done about it. They suggest that designers of clothing fibres and domestic washing machines should collude in order to ensure that fewer fibres are released into wastewater when the clothing is washed. Alternatively, methods for removing microplastic from sewage need to be studied and put into place.
One way for each of us to protect our oceans and ultimately the ecosystem and ourselves from this type of pollution is to wear only clothing made from natural fibres such as wool, organic cotton, linen, hemp and silk. Remember, protecting all the water on earth, including our oceans, rivers and drinking water is also up to each of us individually, not only the governments.
Sources:
Water cooler hire London and purchase water coolers online from Living-Water.
