托福听力

🎧 听力原文

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in an environmental science class. Professor: Today we’re going to talk about a surprising source of pollution: your laundry. Most people assume that washing clothes is a harmless activity, but research shows that synthetic fabrics, like polyester and nylon, shed thousands of microplastic fibers with each wash. These fibers are too small to be caught by standard water treatment filters, so they end up in rivers and oceans. Once there, they can be ingested by marine life, entering the food chain. Interestingly, the amount of shedding depends on the type of detergent and the water temperature. A study found that using a cold, quick wash with less water reduced fiber release by up to 30%. Also, adding a special filter to your washing machine can capture many of these fibers before they reach the wastewater. So, while the problem is significant, there are practical steps individuals can take to mitigate it.