biostudies-literatureUnknown29(40)Kwon SNonwoven products are widely used in disposable products, such as wipes, diapers, and masks. Microfibers shed from these products in the aquatic and air environment have not been fully described. In the present study, 15 commercial single-use nonwoven products (wipes) and 16 meltblown nonwoven materials produced in a pilot plant were investigated regarding their microfiber generation in aquatic and air environments and compared to selected textile materials and paper tissue materials. Microfibers shed in water were studied using a Launder Ometer equipment (1-65 mg of microfibers per gram material), and microfibers shed in air were evaluated using a dusting testing machine that shakes a piece of the nonwoven back and forth (~ 4 mg of microfibers per gram material). The raw materials and bonEnvironmental science and pollution research international60584-60599https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9008397biostudies-literatureMicrofiber shedding from nonwoven materials including wipes and meltblown nonwovens in air and water environments.PMC9008397Kwon SZambrano MCVenditti RAZambrano FGonzalez RWFrazier RPawlak JJfalseMicrofiber shedding from nonwoven materials including wipes and meltblown nonwovens in air and water environments.Nonwoven products are widely used in disposable products, such as wipes, diapers, and masks. Microfibers shed from these products in the aquatic and air environment have not been fully described. In the present study, 15 commercial single-use nonwoven products (wipes) and 16 meltblown nonwoven materials produced in a pilot plant were investigated regarding their microfiber generation in aquatic and air environments and compared to selected textile materials and paper tissue materials. Microfibers shed in water were studied using a Launder Ometer equipment (1-65 mg of microfibers per gram material), and microfibers shed in air were evaluated using a dusting testing machine that shakes a piece of the nonwoven back and forth (~ 4 mg of microfibers per gram material). The raw materials and bon2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Aug2025-04-25T23:06:01.401Z2025-02-19T00:56:43.149ZS-EPMC90083973542034010.1007/s11356-022-20053-z