Recent research highlights airborne microplastic fibers as a significant health hazard, showing they cause more lung damage than other forms of microplastics. When inhaled, these fiber-shaped particles can lodge in the airways and trigger cellular changes that lead to tissue stiffening and scarring.
Health Risks of Microplastic Fibers in the Air
Scientists have found that microplastic fibers, which are shed from synthetic fabrics and other plastic products, are particularly harmful when breathed in. Unlike irregularly shaped microplastic particles, fibers cause cells in the respiratory tract to transform from their normal protective state into one associated with inflammation and fibrosis (scarring). This can impair lung function and increase susceptibility to respiratory diseases.
Reducing Exposure to Microplastic Fibers
To mitigate risks, experts recommend replacing polymer-based clothing and household textiles with natural fibers such as cotton, wool, or linen, which do not shed plastic fibers. Improving indoor air quality through HEPA filters and regular ventilation also helps reduce airborne microplastic accumulation. Additionally, washing synthetic clothes less frequently and using microfiber-catching laundry bags can limit fiber release into the environment.
Efforts to reduce plastic pollution broadly—such as bans on single-use plastics and microplastic additives in cosmetics—also contribute to lowering microplastic prevalence in the environment, indirectly protecting public health.
This emerging evidence underscores the urgent need for public awareness and policy measures targeting microplastic fiber pollution to prevent long-term respiratory health consequences.