ISO/TC 38/WG 34 - Microplastics from textile sources

This document establishes a qualitative-quantitative analytical evaluation (i.e. determination) of microplastics to be able to define their: — particle number; — morphology (morphological characteristics); — dimensional distribution; — the type, chemical origin or nature of polymers and their colour, if present. This document is applicable to the determination of microplastics (from the textile sector) collected in various matrices (for example textile process wastewater, clothes washing water, textile process air emissions, textile process solid waste). This document specifies expression of results in terms of estimated surface area and mass of microplastics (MPs) per unit sample. It enables the expression of the results of the quantification of microplastics (MPs) from various sources, including samples related to the production, processing, treatment and use of textiles (raw material, manufacturing process, sample like wastewater from washing clothes, air, and industrial process water). This document applies to textile sector samples of matrices of different physical states (solid, liquid or aeriform), for example: — solid samples from textile production processes; — water samples from the textile production process and/or from the washing of clothing (e.g. garments or other textiles, ISO 4484-1 or ISO 4484-3 can be applied in order to prepare a liquid to be tested); — air samples to test the air quality in the workplace of textile companies. This document, being able to provide information such as size, shape, surface and mass (estimated), enables the transfer of useful information for ecotoxicological assessments to specialists.

This document specifies a method for measuring the collected material mass released from the outlet hose of a standard washing machine, described in ISO 6330, through the washing process. NOTE The washing condition of textile end products is indicated by the care labelling according to ISO 3758. This document is applicable to textile end products (including consumer textile products, such as clothing made of fleece, shirts, trousers, blouse, etc.) and home textile end products (such as, blankets, rugs, curtains, etc.) which are composed of all fibres such as natural fibres, and man-made fibres, including mixture of the fibres that can be washed in a domestic washing machine. This document is not applicable to fabrics and cut textile products. It does not cover the test for washing machines and detergents as well.

This document describes a method for systematically collecting material loss from fabrics under laundering test conditions to achieve comparable and accurate results. There is no direct correlation to material loss during domestic and commercial laundering. The method is designed to assess material loss of all types. NOTE In this document, any collected debris is assumed to be fibre fragments. For the identification of the nature/composition of this debris, the method described in ISO 4484-2 can be used.