Laundry lint can cause significant tissue damage within marine mussels
University of Plymouth
Scientists
at the University of Plymouth exposed the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus
galloprovincialis), found in various locations across the world, to
differing quantities of tumble dryer lint.
They demonstrated that increasing the amount of lint resulted in significant abnormality within the mussels' gills, specifically leading to damage of tissues including deformity, extensive swelling and loss of cilia.
In the
liver, the presence of lint led to atrophy or deformities leading to loss of
definition in digestive tubules.
The
increasing concentration of fibres also led to a reduction in the mussels'
ability to filter food particles from the seawater and a significant increase
in DNA strand breaks in the blood cells.
Scientists
say the precise causes of the effects are not wholly clear, but are likely to
arise from the fibres themselves and chemicals present within them.
They
say the findings are unlikely to solely apply to lint, as its properties are
consistent with other textiles and fibres found commonly in waste water and
throughout the marine environment.
The study, published in the journal Chemosphere, was conducted by academics in the School of Biological and Marine Sciences and School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Dr
Andrew Turner, Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences, was the study's
senior author and has previously conducted research highlighting the chemicals
-- including bromine, iron and zinc -- found within lint.
He
said: "The laundering of clothes and other textiles is among the most
significant sources of synthetic microfibers within the environment. However,
despite their known presence in a range of species, there have been very few
studies looking in detail at their impact. This study shows for the first time
what harm they can cause, and it is particularly interesting to consider that
it is not just the fibres themselves which create issues but also the cocktail
of more harmful chemicals which they can mobilise."
Co-author Awadhesh Jha, Professor in Genetic Toxicology and Ecotoxicology, added: "Mytilus species are commonly used to monitor water quality in coastal areas, and the damage shown to them in this study is a cause for significant concern.
"Given their genetic similarity to other species and the fact they are
found all over the world, we can also assume these effects will be replicated
in other shellfish and marine species. Damage to DNA and impairment of the
filter feeding abilities would have potential impact on the health of the
organisms and the ecosystem. That is particularly significant as we look in the
future to increase our reliance on aquaculture as a global source of
food."
This
study is the latest research by the University in the field, with it being
awarded a Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2020
for its ground-breaking research and policy impact on microplastics pollution
in the oceans.
That
research has included work showing that washing clothes releases thousands of
microplastic particles into environment, and that devices fitted to washing
machines can reduce the fibres produced in laundry cycle by up to 80%.
Scientists from the University have also showed that wearing clothes could
release more microfibres to the environment than washing them.
