Natural textile fibers may persist for more than a century in lake sediments
Why it matters: Centuries‑long fiber persistence means natural textiles could be an under‑recognized, long‑lasting pollutant.
- Keele University and Loughborough University researchers recovered textile fibers from every layer of a 150‑year lake sediment core, creating a “textile fiber chronology.”
- Deirdre McKay (Keele) says the results directly challenge the idea that natural fibers simply biodegrade and disappear once they enter the environment.
- Environmental researchers point out that natural fibers dominate many pollution samples but have been under‑studied compared with synthetic microplastics, making this persistence a hidden pollutant.
- Historic mill town of Leek provides context: centuries of textile manufacturing have left a lasting sediment imprint in downstream Rudyard Lake.
- Policy makers may need to rethink sustainability strategies that assume natural fibers are a clean alternative to plastics.
A 150‑year sediment record from Rudyard Lake shows cotton and wool fibers can persist for centuries, overturning the belief that natural textiles biodegrade quickly and challenging their sustainability badge.
