Microscopic fibres created during the laundry cycle can cause damage to the gills, liver and DNA of marine species, according to new research.
Microscopic fibres created during the laundry cycle can cause damage to the gills, liver and DNA of marine species, according to new research.
Scientists at the University of Plymouth exposed the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), found in various locations across the world, to differing quantities of tumble dryer lint.
They demonstrated that increasing the amount of lint resulted in significant abnormality within the mussels’ gills, specifically leading to damage of tissues including deformity, extensive swelling and loss of cilia. In the liver, the presence of lint led to atrophy or deformities leading to loss of definition in digestive tubules.
The increasing concentration of fibres also led to a reduction in the mussels’ ability to filter food particles from the seawater and a significant increase in DNA strand breaks in the blood cells.
Read more at University of Plymouth
Image: Marine mussels are commonly used to monitor water quality in coastal areas. (Credit: University of Plymouth)
