Citizen science: a key component in assessing the geographical distribution of microfibers in the environment.

Although microfibers are invisible to the naked eyes, their presence is ubiquitous and has been reported in many different types of environment from the North Pole to the bottom of the ocean. Microfibers due to their lightweight travel significant distances in the atmosphere but their geographical distribution still remains under studied. Thankfully, numerous organizations across the globe has been collaborating with the Deheyn laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in San Diego, California, to help collecting microfiber samples. The samples originated from a variety of different environments such as seawater in different oceans, freshwater, snow, air and even biological samples from the flesh of different types of fish. The purpose of the study is to draw a global portrait of the distribution of the microfibers globally to understand better the link between their concentration and the demography but also their invasion in different inhabited parts of the world. Indeed, so far, we acknowledge that microfibers are present in all types of environments in different concentrations, which shows that microfibers have no boundaries and can travel at length.

In addition to helping the collection of these samples, the various organizations also helped in bringing awareness to the growing issue of plastic pollution that now also include synthetic microfibers. Fundamental research and citizen science in line with prevention based on outreach education, laws, and best business practices are key elements to ultimately ensure that measures are adequate and efficient and result in changes in policy and consumer behaviors.