A Vote for Wool

[Chas]

The BBC reports yet another form of pollution: tiny particles of synthetic fibers released by washing synthetic fabrics. Worst effect: they are in the food chain.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16709045

So what are they saying? The micro fibres are in the food chain. But to be in the food chain, the fibres must be very 'micro'. So micro they can pass between the cells and into the animals blood stream. And there fibres must be inert. Otherwise the animals would be dying of some sort of 'synthetic fibre poisoning', but they are not. So all the phosphates, and sulphates and nitrates and all the other 'ates' are not as important as this 'microplastic'?

I think it was a slow news day.

Regards

Chas

[piperdbh]

I think it was a slow news day.

You mean the Beeb does that, too? I thought we had the monopoly on it of the west bank of the Pond.

[Tobus]

So what are they saying? The micro fibres are in the food chain. But to be in the food chain, the fibres must be very 'micro'. So micro they can pass between the cells and into the animals blood stream. And there fibres must be inert. Otherwise the animals would be dying of some sort of 'synthetic fibre poisoning', but they are not. So all the phosphates, and sulphates and nitrates and all the other 'ates' are not as important as this 'microplastic'?

I think it was a slow news day.

Regards

Chas

I was kind of wondering the same thing. It's very interesting to know that all these microfibers have ended up in the food chain, but what does it really mean? Can these things end up being like trans-fats one day, where they just keep accumulating in our bodies until they start clogging things up, or what?

Would get my vote except for the outrageous cost of wool garments and also the apalling quality of some of these over priced items.
Wife paid £70 for a gorgeous burgundy merino jumper n the sales for me for Xmas 2010. After a few wears and one wash it was already falling apart and the 'very reliable store' didn't want to know..

Wow, sorry to hear that. That does seem to be the downside of wool, especially in today's world. It just requires a different level of care, and isn't as sturdy or as inexpensive as the plastic alternatives. Wool has its advantages, of course, but most people seem to feel as you do: price and convenience are more important.

Honestly, though, I don't really see the plastic fibers ever going away. With the rising population of the world, I can't see how we could continue to use arable land on cotton and sheep grazing, when it will be more and more necessary to use it for food.