Fig 1.
Segmentation of European tumble dryer sales and installed appliances.
Numbers of appliances sold (A) and installed (B) in Europe are given in millions, split between condenser heat-pump, condenser heat-element and vented.
Fig 2.
Condenser dryer (A) showing the collection of water from the drain hose and location of the lint filter and condenser housings. The condenser (B) and lint filter (C) are also shown separately.
Fig 3.
Rear of tumble dryer (A) with 20 μm CellMicroSieve installed to collect microfibers from the exhaust. The CellMicroSieve is secured to a 100 mm plastic pipe connector (B) using a cable tie as shown in (C). The pipe connecter was then secured to the dryer exhaust pipe using electrical tape as shown in (D). The lint filter is shown separately in (E).
Fig 4.
Microfiber release from clean loads in condenser tumble dryers.
Microfiber release at three measurement points for each of four cycles is given in ppm (mg release per kg fabric). Error bars are the standard deviation.
Fig 5.
Fiber composition of microfibers release from clean loads in condenser tumble dryers.
Levels of cotton and polyester fibers at three measurement points over four cycles is given in percentages (by number). Error bars are the standard deviation.
Fig 6.
Fiber dimensions of microfibers released from clean loads in condenser tumble dryers.
Fiber lengths (A, in mm) and widths (B, in μm) are given for the cotton and polyester fibers collected at three measurement points over four cycles. Error bars are the standard deviation.
Fig 7.
Microfiber release from soiled consumer loads.
Microfiber release at three (condenser dryer) or two (vented dryer) measurement points is given in ppm (mg release per kg fabric). Error bars are the standard deviation.
Fig 8.
Estimated microfiber release levels to water from washing clothes and drying in a condenser or vented tumble dryer.
Microfiber release to water (from both washing and drying processes) and air (from drying with a vented dryer) is given in ppm (mg release per kg fabric), comparing use of a condenser dryer with a vented dryer and the impact of lint filter fiber disposal method (MSW = Municipal Solid Waste).
Fig 9.
Light microscopy of lint filters from the condenser dryer (A) and vented dryer (B). Regions outlined in red are the six (condenser) and 10 (vented) areas used to calculate pore area. A 1 mm scale bar is given on each image.