Book Review

Global production of fibrous material is significantly growing with expectation of reaching 145 million metric tons in 2030.Production includes mostly synthetic polymers fibers, cotton fibers and man-made cellulosic (viscose) fibers.A smaller contribution comes from animal-made fibers (wool, silk).The main uses of fibrous material are in clothing, household and furnishing, industrial construction, automotive and other.Increasing consumption of fabric material causes the accumulation of single fibers into the natural environment.Significant numbers of fibers are discharged into wastewater from washing clothes, deposition from atmosphere or by other ways of transport.Fibers are now the most prevalent type of anthropogenic particles found by microplastic pollution surveys around the world.Substantial concentration of fibers has been detected in surface water, deep-sea and fresh water ecosystems.As a consequence, fibers are present in food, drinking water, human lungs and digestive tracts of aquatic animals.Currently, there is great concern for the release of plastic nano-and micro fibers and microparticles (microplastics) to the natural environment for which nobody knows, so far, the ultimate consequences for health and ecological homeostasis.The potential risk introduced by the presence of fibers in the environment induces significant interests of researchers in this problem as becomes clear from an increasing number of publications related to microplastics.The aforementioned challenges were the source of inspiration for organization a workshop.During November 4 and 5, 2019, a group of scientists from different parts in the world met at Wetsus, the European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology in Leeuwarden the Netherlands, to discuss all known aspects of synthetic nano-and microfibers.This includes the morphology, physicochemical properties, production and origin of nano/micro fibers entering the atmosphere, water and food chain; the potential consequences of inhalation and ingestion for human health, and exposure and ingress via life cycle for aquatic biota; analytical and measurement methods; techniques to clean air and water, and protection means against inhalation or other ways to enter the human body.The group of top-experts from different disciplines, but all involved with small fibers, gathered to share their view from scientific, technical and health perspective, presented their subject of expertise, contributed to the discussion and made their contribution into a chapter for the book: "Synthetic Nano-and Microfibers".The chapters in this book have been placed in a logic sequence, starting with the statement of the problem, properties of small fibers, fibrous particle identification, via environmental and health issues, and ending with possible cleaning methods.It is very evident that still much is not known and that in each discipline more must be investigated.For almost each sub-research program reliable on-line measuring techniques are indispensable.We assume that this book presents the state of the art and will give directions on how to proceed to answer the many remaining questions.It is indisputable that it is essential to work together with all involved subdisciplines.

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