Microplastic pollution, SEM

Coloured scanning electron micrograph of microplastic bobbles from a poly-cotton garment. Bobbles (pilling or linting) are essentially damaged fibres that are pulled or torn from clothing and get caught back up in the fibres of the garments in washing machines or dryers or are shed into the environment. Collectively, every time we wash millions of pieces of these microplastics escape into the environment. Microfibers account for 85 percent of global shoreline pollution, and are responsible for most microplastic pollution in our waterways and oceans. The enormous surface area of microfibers attracts and adsorbs large amounts of toxins that they come into contact with. Animals ingest these hazardous chemicals along with the fibers themselves, and then humans ingest them when they eat those animals. Magnification: x60 when printed 10 centimetres wide., by STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY