The pie chart illustrates the sources of microplastics in water, highlighting the significant impact of synthetic textiles. Fast fashion emerges as a major contributor to water pollution, surpassing more commonly assumed sources like car tires and plastic pellets.
• Synthetic textiles account for the largest share (35%) of microplastics in water
• Car tires (28%) and city dust (24%) are the next largest contributors
• Less expected sources like plastic pellets (0.3%) have a minimal impact
• The data challenges common assumptions about microplastic pollution sources
• More context is needed for a deeper interpretation of the statistics