When garments made from synthetic materials wear, due to use and washing, microplastic fibres are released. Wastewater treatment plants remove 50 to 90 per cent of these microplastic fibres.

Research by RIVM shows that the participants in the so-called tROM project, their supervisors and other people involved may have been exposed to chromium-6.

Today, October 10th is national Sustainability Day in the Netherlands. At RIVM, committed to health and sustainability, we raise awareness for sustainability with this year’s theme microplastics.