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Based on what we know from other types of tiny fibres, those dimensions are problematic, she says, based on what we know about mineral fibres such as asbestos or carbon nanotubes. “We know that those fibres – small enough to javelin down into the air sacs at the end of our airways – are problematic.”
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For microplastic fibres, the picture is still unclear, says Wright. “Would they cause the same effect? Or the fact that they’re flexible, whereas mineral fibres are very rigid, does that make [microplastics] less toxic, less harmful?”
Beyond their potential to interfere with tissues, there’s also the concern that microplastics often come with company. They are home to a broad range of bacteria, and may carry other contaminants too. It’s been suggested that microplastics might act to amplify the toxicity of other pollutants in the environment. This field of research, however, is still in its early days, and the full effects of microplastics on the body are still not yet understood.
To solve the microplastic pollution crisis will take a lot more than changes within the home – there are plenty of broader sustainability concerns too. If moving to replace synthetic fibres in your home with natural fibres, for instance, there’s also the greater water and land use from organic cotton use to think about. Or if choosing to ventilate your home more to usher away microplastics, that pollution is only being pushed outdoors. Short of systemic change and a global reduction from the 460 million tonnes of plastic made each year, there’s only so much individuals can do.
“It’s tricky, isn’t it?” Wright concedes. “Because I feel like in these scenarios, it’s pick your battles.”
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