Acute toxicity of leachates from plastic polymer based (synthetic) textiles to Daphnia magna

• Synthetic fibres, made from plastic polymers and additives, are replacing natural fibres in many textiles. A lot of chemicals are needed in the fibre and textile production and several are hazardous for human health and the environment. Chemicals are released mainly during the production phase, but also during the use phase (i.e. wearing and washing) and the disposal phase. The aim of this study was to investigate the release to water of toxic chemicals from plastic polymer based (synthetic) textiles. Altogether 22 unwashed synthetic textile products, mainly clothes and clothing fabrics, but also furniture and technical fabrics, were tested. The plastic polymers present were: PET (polyester), polyamide (nylon), polyacrylonitrile (acrylic), polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic polyurethane (elastane), PVC and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®). The textiles were leached in deionised water at 50 degrees C for 3 days, and the water phase was tested for acute toxicity to Daphnia magna. Since the chemicals in textiles are essentially unknown for the buyer, standardized bioassays with aquatic c organisms like D. magna have an important role in identifying toxic textiles, and the use of these bioassays is recommended as part of eco-labelling systems for textiles.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

plastics

synthetic textiles

leachate

toxicity

Daphnia magna

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)