To follow up on the previous article, which lays out the problem of microplastics, SCOCO Board Member Dr. Laurine G. Osborne shares ideas for effective local action here in Contra Costa.
It begins with something familiar: a well-loved fleece, zipped up on a chilly morning for the daily commute. Unbeknownst to most, this cozy garment is typically made from synthetic materials like polyester, which begin shedding tiny plastic fibers from the first wash.
Each laundry cycle releases hundreds of thousands of microfibers, microscopic threads too small to see but large enough to pollute. These synthetic fragments flow down our drains, moving through household plumbing and into the municipal wastewater system, where their long and troubling journey truly begins.
Down the Drain and Into Our Environment
Contra Costa’s wastewater travels to treatment facilities that work hard to remove conventional pollutants. However, many of these plants across California are not equipped to capture plastic microfibers. As a result, a sizable amount escapes into the environment either through treated water discharged into the Bay or via biosolids, the nutrient-rich sludge byproduct that is often applied to agricultural lands as fertilizer. In both pathways, microplastics enter natural systems.
When biosolids containing synthetic fibers are applied to farmland, including California’s Central Valley and potentially here in Contra Costa, they can introduce microplastics into agricultural soils. Early studies suggest that earthworms, insects, and other soil organisms may ingest these fibers, mistaking them for organic material. In laboratory settings, this has been associated with reduced growth, impaired digestion, and altered behavior in soil-dwelling species.
Some controlled studies have also found evidence that microplastics can move up the food chain, as birds, small mammals, and livestock consume contaminated prey or forage in affected areas. Researchers have begun detecting microplastics in meat, milk, and fish samples, though the pathways and health implications are still being studied. While science is still evolving, these findings highlight a need for deeper investigation into how microplastics interact with soil biology and food systems and what it means for agricultural and public health in the long term.
The widespread impact of textile-derived microplastics underscores the need for a systems-based approach to textile waste. Here in California, SB 707, the Responsible Textile Recovery Act, aims to address textile waste through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). If implemented effectively, it would require clothing manufacturers to fund and manage the collection and safe disposal of the products they sell including synthetic garments like fleece.
But to truly address the crisis, we also need:
- Microfiber filtration on washing machines
- Community education about the connection between textiles and water pollution and the benefits of wearing natural fiber (e.g. cotton) clothing
- Support for reuse and repair initiatives that extend the life of clothing
- Corporate accountability for design choices that shed plastic into ecosystems
Local Action, Global Impact
As a resident of Contra Costa County and a Board Director with Sustainable Contra Costa, I believe this issue offers us a chance to lead. By connecting microplastics to what we wear, what we wash, and what we grow, we can change the story, not just in our homes, but in our soil, our rivers, and our future.
If you’re a teacher, policy advocate, or business owner, I encourage you to bring this conversation into your community. Let’s not wait for the next environmental crisis we can start weaving solutions now, one thread at a time. 0
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