Microplastics-in-Your-Clothes-Unseen-Pollutants-with-Far-Reaching-Impacts Namarie
on October 21, 2025

Microplastics in Your Clothes: Unseen Pollutants with Far-Reaching Impacts

Every time you wash a synthetic garment, be it polyester, nylon, or acrylic, you're unknowingly releasing microplastics into the environment. These tiny fibers, often invisible to the naked eye, have become a significant source of pollution, infiltrating our oceans, waterways, and even our food chain. At Namarie, we're committed to providing alternative solutions that prioritize human health while powering our mission to rebuild rainforest soils and restore rainforest biomes.

The Ubiquity of Microplastics

From the summit of Mount Everest to the depths of the Mariana Trench, microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics have been detected in nearly every corner of the planet. One of the main ways they reach us is through food: recent studies have identified their presence in every type of meat(1) and produce(2) tested.

What makes microplastics especially concerning is their chemical load. They can carry any of more than 16,000 plastic-related substances, including highly toxic compounds such as PFAS, bisphenols, and phthalates. These chemicals are associated with cancer, neurotoxicity, hormone disruption, and developmental harm.

Disturbingly, microplastics are not confined to the environment alone—they’ve been found throughout the human body and are capable of crossing both the blood–brain barrier(3) and the placental barrier(4).

Synthetic textiles are among the leading contributors to microplastic pollution. Studies indicate that the washing of synthetic fabrics releases between 200,000 and 500,000 tons of microplastics into the global marine environment annually.(5) 

These microfibers are not biodegradable. Once released, they persist in ecosystems, accumulating in sediments and entering the food chain, posing risks to marine life and human health. They can get smaller, making them more insidious, and they release small molecule degradants over time.

Microplastics have been found in people’s tissues, urine, semen, blood streams, the brain, and in developing fetuses.  These particles can carry harmful chemicals, such as PFAS, bisphenol, and phthalates, which are linked to hormone disruption and developmental issues.

The detection of microplastics in any part of the body raises concerns about inflammatory responses and endocrine disruption, but it is particularly disturbing to consider the impact these particles and their embedded chemicals can have on female fertility and early stage human fetal development considering they have been found in human ovary follicular fluid.(6)(7)(8)

Namarie's Commitment

At Namarie, we recognize the urgency of addressing microplastic pollution. Our approach includes:

  • Natural Materials: We utilize natural fibers like hemp, which do not shed microplastics, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic textiles.
  • Ecologically-Friendly Practices: Our production processes are designed to minimize environmental impact, ensuring that our products are both eco-friendly and high-quality.
  • Innovation Textile Engineering: We combine natural materials and our clean-minded processes with new and emerging solutions to solve for desired product features like safe colors, odor control, and elasticity, some of which are properties thought to only be possible through synthetic materials.

The issue of microplastics is complex, but it's not insurmountable. By making informed choices and supporting brands like Namarie that prioritize the health of the consumer and the planet, we can collectively reduce our environmental footprint. Explore Namarie’s range of products (with more to come!) and join us in making a positive impact on the planet.


References

  1. Exposure of U.S. adults to microplastics from commonly-consumed proteins, Environmental Pollution, Volume 343, 2024, 123233, ISSN 0269-7491, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123233. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123022352
  2. Micro- and nano-plastics in edible fruit and vegetables. The first diet risks assessment for the general population, Environmental Research, Volume 187, 2020, 109677, ISSN 0013-9351, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109677. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935120305703
  3. Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains. Nature Medicine. 2025 Apr;31(4):1114-1119. doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-03453-1.  
  4. Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta, Environment International, Volume 146, 2021, 106274, ISSN 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020322297
  5. Microplastics from textiles: towards a circular economy for textiles in Europe | Publications | European Environment Agency (EEA)
  6. First evidence of microplastics in human ovarian follicular fluid: An emerging threat to female fertility, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 291, 2025, 117868, ISSN 0147-6513, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117868. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325002040
  7. Microplastics and human fertility: A comprehensive review of their presence in human samples and reproductive implication, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 303, 2025, 118939, ISSN 0147-6513, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118939. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325012849
  8. Characterization of microplastics in human follicular fluid and assessment of their potential impact on mouse oocyte maturation in vitro, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 291, 2025, 117796, ISSN 0147-6513, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117796. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325001320

 

This article was written by Dr. Mansour AbdulBaki.

Mansour is the Chief Science Officer and a Founding Partner at Namarie. He earned his PhD from the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at the University of Houston where he worked on developing and understanding functional polymer nanocomposites for piezoelectric and photovoltaic applications. At Invista, he led R&D and commercialization of patented nylon and polyester fiber technologies used in performance flooring and consumer applications where his main focus was always improving product performance and compatibility with human and environmental health. His work resulted in the ability of carpet manufacturers to produce stain and soil resistant products without the need for fluorochemical (PFAS) treatments as well as other consumer-focused innovations. At Namarie, he now applies his expertise to rethink performance textiles, innovate in manufacturing processes, and lead the development of our Sylvendel fabric.