KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) — Comfortable clothes are emerging as a source of plastic that's increasingly ending up in the oceans and potentially contaminating seafood, according to Gulf Coast researchers launching a two-year study of microscopic plastics in the waters from south Texas to the Florida Keys.
The project , led by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, will rely partly on volunteers participating in coastal cleanup events. It also will expand a year's worth of data collected around the state of Florida that predominantly found microfibers — shreds of plastic even smaller than microbeads flowing down bathroom sinks and shower drains.
Yoga pants, Patagonia's cozy jackets, sweat-wicking athletic wear and other garments made from synthetic materials shed microscopic plastic fibers — called "microfibers" — when they're laundered. Wastewater systems flush the microfibers into natural waterways, eventually reaching the sea.
"Anything that's nylon or polyester, like the fleece-type jackets," University of Florida researcher Maia McGuire said.
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Every foreign port I've been to (Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, the U.S.) has one thing in common, and that's flip-flops floating near the piers and on the beaches.
ReplyDeleteBeing in the Marine Corps I'm sure we've both been to many of the same ports. I agree with you 100% on the flip-flops. I do think this article is crap when he talks about yoga pants and athletic attire though.
ReplyDeleteOMG. The next tax we have to pay even on the behalf of those poor countries that can't afford the tax on whatever pollution the EPA just conjured up.
ReplyDeleteHere's my wallet, and here's my gun.
POW!
I smell BS sponsored by BP
ReplyDeleteYoga pants tax. Coming to a town near you!
ReplyDeleteEver wonder where dryer lint comes from?
ReplyDeletecan we please just stop this silliness ?
ReplyDelete