Kitchen sponges are an essential item in most homes, but they can also be a source of microplastic pollution.
In a new one, published in March in Environmental Advancesresearchers analyzed how many plastic particles are released by sponges during daily dishwashing and what impact these particles have on the environment.
According to , the results showed that kitchen sponges release measurable amounts of microplastics over time.
The team proposed measuring the amount of plastic released as sponges wear down during normal use and assessing the environmental consequences through a life cycle assessment (ACV).
The study combined laboratory tests with real cases. Families in Germany and North America volunteer to use one of three types of sponges as part of their regular dishwashing routines, while documenting how the sponges were used.
The researchers weighed each sponge before and after use to determine the amount of material lost over time. They also performed controlled laboratory experiments using an automated testing system known as “SpongeBot“, which reproduces the mechanical stress that sponges are subjected to when washing dishes.
All sponges tested lost material during use, resulting in the release of microplastics. Depending on the type of sponge, annual emissions varied between 0.68 and 4.21 grams of microplastics per person.
Because participants used the sponges in real home conditions, researchers were able to record realistic dishwashing habits and usage patterns, leading to more accurate estimates than those that laboratory tests alone could provide.
However, were not the main cause of damage environmental factors in the study. The environmental assessment concluded that 85 to 97% of the total impact of manual dishwashing comes from water consumption.
Finally, consumers must adopt measures to reduce environmental impact of dishwashing. Some of these are using less water when washing, choosing sponges with a lower plastic content and keeping sponges in use for longer periods, as extending their useful life reduces overall resource consumption.
