The increasing microplastic pollution in the Arctic has most likely been caused by household washing of synthetic clothes by people in Europe and North America, says a new study.
The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, discovered that more than 92% of the microplastics were fibres, and 73% of them were made of polyester. They were also the same width and colour as those used in clothes.
Lead researcher of the study told AFP, 'we now have strong evidence that fibres from laundry via wastewater discharge are directly polluting the Arctic."