Polyester has a heavy impact on the environment and our overall health. When you think polyester, you may associate it with other natural fibers, such as cotton or wool. But surprise – polyester isn’t natural at all! On the contrary, there are many dangers of polyester that we need to be aware of.
Polyester breaks down into tiny fragments called microfibers. These plastic fragments are everywhere and are impacting our ecosystem and jeopardizing our health.
what is polyester exactly?
Polyester is a synthetic material usually derived from petroleum. Unknown to many, polyester is actually a plastic. Polyethylene Terephthalate, or PET, is the chemical name for polyester. You may be familiar with PET if you’re a recycler, because it is a common plastic used in bottles and containers.
what are the dangers of polyester?
Similar to traditional plastics, polyester is non-biodegradable and contains toxic chemicals. See below for the serious dangers of polyester.
1. breathing problems
Polyester releases tiny microfibers that float through the air and enter your body when you inhale. Once inside your body, these microfibers will land anywhere – the brain, lungs, heart, kidney, and liver.
Yes, the lungs are able to repair themselves over time; however, if these microfibers are repeatedly entering the lungs, your lungs will sustain permanent damage. This damage could lead to serious health issues, including lung cancer. Read here for more information on the effects of microplastics in the body.
2. Skin irritant
A common reaction from polyester is what they call “textile dermatitis”. Being an unnatural fiber with added chemicals, it can cause itchy skin, eczema, hives, sores, and rashes.
Over time, textile dermatitis can worsen and cause more serious health concerns if you’re especially allergic to polyester.
3. sheds microfibers (tiny plastics)
The main dangers of polyester is how it sheds microfibers. Microfibers are extremely small plastic particles that detach during washing. Laundry machine filters are not fine enough to catch these fibers, so they pass through our sewage systems and make their way to our oceans, rivers, and other waterways.
Sadly, our laundry accounts for approximately 35% of microplastics that enter our waterways globally.
4. pollutes oceans & Poisons marine life
As mentioned above, microfibers make their way into oceans and rivers, and are consumed by marine life and humans (through seafood and tap water). This is causing genetic damage to marine life. Read more about the influence of microplastics on marine life.
5. Created with toxic chemicals
Polyester may be derived from petroleum, a natural forming oil, but there are other toxic chemicals that make up polyester. Antimony is one of these chemicals. Antimony is a known carcinogen that causes cancer.
Other toxic chemicals found in polyester include Formaldehyde, Perfluorooctanoic acid, and PFCs. These chemical additives have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and liver, kidney, heart, and reproductive problems.
how to avoid the dangers of polyester
Although we can’t change how certain fabrics are being made and sold throughout the world, we can control how it influences our lives. We can choose to buy natural fabrics, upcycle our polyesters rather than discard them, and spread the word.
1. shop sustainable
Shopping sustainable clothes, bedding, shoes, furniture, decor – you name it – is an important step in moving away from synthetic materials in your home. Sustainable materials include wood, bamboo, hemp, cotton, and wool. Sustainable materials last longer and don’t have a negative impact on the environment like synthetics.
2. use a laundry filter
Using a laundry filter keeps plastic out of wastewater and helps keep more plastic from finding its way to the oceans. Guppyfriend Washing Bag by Rumpl collects the small microfibers left behind after washing synthetic clothing.
3. wear plant based shoes
It comes as no surprise that shoes are also made with the dreaded polyester. In addition, nylon and rubber are also plastics, which are common in shoes.
Allbirds creates footwear from nature using natural, plant based materials including wood, wool, and sugar!
understanding the dangers of polyester
Making polyester involves the use of chemicals and an extreme amount of energy. Both contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Additionally, the disposal of polyester materials poses an impact on the environment because they do not biodegrade for hundreds of years.
Every day we are putting ourselves at risk when we are in contact with polyester. Whether we’re wearing polyester or have polyester carpets in our home, we are at risk of developing health issues, including allergies, skin rashes, difficulty breathing, cancer, and more.
Most of the dust we see in our homes are microplastics. To avoid inhaling these, open windows regularly to ventilate your home and sweep/vacuum the floors and furniture daily.
