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Environment
Judith Weis, Professor Emerita of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University - Newark

Laundry is a top source of microplastic pollution – here's how to clean your clothes more sustainably

Laundry washwater is a major source of microplastic fibers that can end up in water and soil. Venca-Stastny/iStock via Getty Images

Microplastics are turning up everywhere, from remote mountain tops to deep ocean trenches. They also are in many animals, including humans.

The most common microplastics in the environment are microfibers – plastic fragments shaped like tiny threads or filaments. Microfibers come from many sources, including cigarette butts, fishing nets and ropes, but the biggest source is synthetic fabrics, which constantly shed them.

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