World-first research from Deakin University and Simba Global tackles global microplastics issue

It’s hoped a world-first research project in Geelong could reduce the amount of microplastics in the air we breathe and food we eat. WATCH THE VIDEO

Reducing the amount of harmful microplastics in the air we breathe and food we eat is the dream for a world-first research project out of Waurn Ponds.

Researchers at the ARC Research Hub for Future Fibres in Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) have teamed up with Simba Global, a global textile manufacturing and supply company, to investigate the extent and type of microplastics shed when their products are laundered.

Deakin University Associate professor Maryam Naebe, left and Dr Yi Zhang. Picture: Alison Wynd

IFM lead scientist Maryam Naebe said the Geelong-based research could have a huge real world impact.

Clothing and textiles are estimated to generate up to 35 per cent of the microplastics found in the world’s oceans, making them one of the biggest contributors.

Simba Global is the major linen supplier to Australia’s hospitals, hotels and mining camps, resulting in 950,000 tonnes of textile products – including bedsheets, bath towels, scrubs and much more – going through the commercial laundering process each year.

Deakin University's Dr Yi Zhang, left, and Associate professor Maryam Naebe with a sample of waste water with Micro plastic shedding from textiles after washing. Picture: Alison Wynd

The company and Deakin want to learn more about the characteristics of these, and exactly how and why they are generated.

Associate Professor Naebe said the magnitude of the problem was bigger than previously thought.

“Microplastics are now ubiquitous in the environment, they’re in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the earth we walk on,” she said.

“Of serious concern is the mounting evidence that microplastics are having a negative impact on human and animal health.

“There are not just physical, but chemical and biological impacts.”

Professor Naebe said researchers will investigate potential solutions, including the pre-treatment of textiles to reduce the shedding of microplastics, or increasing the size of the plastics so they can be better captured and removed by the filtering system.

The first steps have already been taken in the project, with the Deakin team analysing wastewater samples from commercial laundries.

The team also recently presented a new paper which started the process of formally categorising these types of microplastics, as well as developing standard terminology and testing methods.

Professor Naebe said there needed to be a standard definition of what is a microplastic.

She said up to now it had been lacking, making it difficult to compare and incorporate other studies.

“We are now developing a systematic method for sampling and identifying microplastics in laundry wastewater,” she said.

“It has been tricky to measure the different sizes, but this is important information to have. “For example, there are studies that suggest some sizes of microplastics are causing more issues in certain animals.”

The team’s next step will be establishing a method to prevent the release of microplastics from textile laundering, which may involve a coating on the surface of the textile or better ways to collect the waste during the washing process.

Originally published as World-first research from Deakin University and Simba Global tackles global microplastics issue