Why we only buy our children used pyjamas
Recently I started learning about microplastics and how prevalent they are in our oceans, food, drinking water, air, and bodies.
Previous studies have shown people eat and breathe in at least 50,000 particles of microplastic a year and that microplastic pollution is raining down on city dwellers, with London, UK, having the highest level of four cities analysed last year. The particles can harbour toxic chemicals and harmful microbes and are known to harm some marine creatures.
Other work has shown different kinds of nanoparticles from air pollution are present in human hearts and brains, and have been linked to brain cancer.
- The Guardian, August 2020
How do they get there?
Somehow it never occurred to me that the incredibly comfortable clothing we now have access to (and likely wear everyday, like my new RuLu Lululemon joggers), is made, almost in all cases partially and in many cases 100%, from plastic.
Around 60% of our clothing consists of synthetic materials or a mix of natural and synthetic fabrics. Synthetic materials include polyester, acrylic, nylon, rayon, spandex, polyamide & others.
- OceanCleanWash.org