@article{smith_zambrano_ankeny_daystar_pires_pawlak_venditti_2024, title={Aquatic Aerobic Biodegradation of Commonly Flushed Materials in Aerobic Wastewater Treatment Plant Solids, Seawater, and Lakewater}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1930-2126"]}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.15376/biores.19.1.1150-1164}, DOI={10.15376/biores.19.1.1150-1164}, abstractNote={Microfibers and microplastics originating from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are significant pollutants in freshwater sources and marine environments. This research investigated the biodegradation of cotton microfibers generated from bleached cotton jersey knit fabric and commercially available flushable wipes, polypropylene-based (PP) nonwoven wipes containing a cellulose component, and tissue paper. Biodegradation was tested in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) solids, seawater, and lakewater according to the ISO 14852 and ASTM D6691 standard methods in an ECHO respirometer. Degradation experiments continued until a plateau in CO2 emissions was reached, and the final biodegradation extent was calculated relative to the theoretical CO2 produced based on elemental analysis. The results showed that the cotton and other cellulosic materials/components biodegrade to a great extent, as expected for all conditions, whereas the PP did not degrade. In general, for the cellulose polypropylene composite wipes, the cellulose biodegraded readily; the presence of the PP did not hinder the cellulose biodegradation.}, number={1}, journal={BIORESOURCES}, author={Smith, Madilynn M. and Zambrano, Marielis and Ankeny, Mary and Daystar, Jesse and Pires, Steven and Pawlak, Joel and Venditti, Richard A.}, year={2024}, month={Feb}, pages={1150–1164} }
 @article{kounina_daystar_chalumeau_devine_geyer_pires_sonar_venditti_boucher_2024, title={The global apparel industry is a significant yet overlooked source of plastic leakage}, volume={15}, ISSN={["2041-1723"]}, DOI={10.1038/s41467-024-49441-4}, abstractNote={Abstract Plastic pollution is a global environmental threat with potentially irreversible impacts on aquatic life, ecosystems, and human health. This study is a comprehensive assessment of the global apparel industry’s contribution to plastic pollution. It includes plastic leakage of packaging and end-of-life apparel waste in addition to fiber emissions during apparel production and use. We estimate that the apparel industry generated 8.3 [4.8–12.3] million tons (Mt) of plastic pollution in 2019, corresponding to 14% [5.5%–30%] of the estimated 60 Mt from all sectors. In this study, we demonstrate that the main source of plastic pollution from the apparel supply chain is synthetic clothing as mismanaged waste either in the country of its original use or in the countries receiving used apparel exports. A fundamental transformation of the apparel economy towards a circular framework and decreased synthetic apparel consumption is needed to tackle apparel-related plastic pollution.}, number={1}, journal={NATURE COMMUNICATIONS}, author={Kounina, Anna and Daystar, Jesse and Chalumeau, Sophie and Devine, Jon and Geyer, Roland and Pires, Steven T. and Sonar, Shreya Uday and Venditti, Richard A. and Boucher, Julien}, year={2024}, month={Jun} }