The Rapid Fast Fashion Epidemic

By Betilehem Mehari & Urja Khanal

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion can be described as a business model that aims to produce trendy clothing items at both high speeds and low prices. Since 2000, clothing production has nearly doubled globally as a direct consequence of this model.

Fast fashion has risen in popularity due to its affordability and accessibility. The clothes are cheap and mass-produced. Unfortunately, the reasons behind this are cheap labor, mass production, and various ecological consequences. These clothes are meant to be bought and discarded quickly, so that the consumer can move on to the next big trend.

Environmental Impacts

It is estimated that more than 92 million tons of textile waste are generated annually. Unsurprisingly, most of this waste stems from the fast fashion industry. Since the garments are only meant to be worn a few times and thrown out, they often end up in landfills.

1. Creating textiles through an incredibly water-intensive process: Processes such as cotton cultivation and dyeing require a lot of water. In 2015, the fast fashion industry used 79 million liters of water alone. For reference, creating one cotton t-shirt requires 2,700 liters of water.

2. The use of harsh chemicals for the production of textiles: Found in dyes and finishing agents, these chemicals eventually reach nearby waterways, contaminating local aquatic ecosystems. This problem is amplified by the fast fashion industry because it tends to occur in countries with weaker regulations, which just so happen to be the countries where labor is cheap and where manufacturing is outsourced.

   The overproduction of CO2 emissions: It is estimated that the fast fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of all CO2 emissions. That’s more than international flights and maritime shipping combined! Most fast fashion textiles are made from synthetic materials, which require the use of fossil fuels. Undoubtedly, fast fashion significantly contributes to climate change.

   What does fast fashion do to humans?

   As the popularity of micro-trends continues to rise, clothing appears to be increasingly cheaper and releases new selections on an almost weekly basis. As fashion trends are rapidly changing, clothing prices are also plummeting. With that, many of us tend to accidentally absorb 60% of toxic chemicals from fabrics like nylon and polyester through our skin barrier. Without us noticing, factories can fit 8,000 unwanted chemicals into a single clothing item. This natural process allows these chemicals to be easily absorbed into the bloodstream within 26 seconds. For instance, triclosan is a common toxic chemical that helps with sweat absorption or ‘stench-reducing’ athletic wear, which can be quickly absorbed when heat is exposed on the skin, the sweat that is worked up from exercise. Acting as estrogen, this chemical can increase the risk for breast cancer, cause hormone imbalances, and be resistant to certain bacteria.

   If that doesn’t convince you of how harmful fast fashion is, its production enables child labor and lower-developed countries to exhaust their workers with unethical wages. In addition, many employees of these immoral factories experience multiple accidental injuries or deaths, chronic life-threatening illnesses such as cancers and lung disease, and reproductive risks.

3. What can you do?

1. Consume Less, Choose wisely

Prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to clothes. Choose timeless and durable pieces that you know will last. Avoid impulse buying and following trends.

2. Buy Second-hand

Buy clothing from secondhand sources, such as thrift stores, online resale platforms, etc.

Use nontoxic detergent:

Washing your clothes less or with natural detergent is also helpful. Through these choices may seem tedious, you’re not putting your body in jeopardy with endocrine disrupting chemicals. Nontoxic detergent brands including Dropps, Puracy, and Dedcool are great starters into making a change for your health.

References

1. Elaina Simonsen. “The Fast Fashion Epidemic | UCLA Sustainability.” UCLA Sustainability, 16 Feb. 2024, sustain.ucla.edu/2024/02/16/the-fast-fashion-epidemic/.

2. Niinimäki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H., Perry, P., Rissanen, T., & Gwilt, A. (2020). The Environmental Price of Fast Fashion. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1(1), 189–200. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-0054-x

3. Pharmacy Journal | Pharmaceutical Journal | The Pharma Innovation Journal. (2025). Doi.org. https://www.doi.org/10.22271/tpi

4. Wu, Tiffany. “Fast Fashion - a Danger to Health | New Roots Institute.” Www.newrootsinstitute.org, 8 Dec. 2020, www.newrootsinstitute.org/articles/fast-fashion-environment-health.
   

The Rapid Accumulation of Microplastics

By Betilehem Mehari & Urja Khanal

What are Microplastics?

Microplastics are persistent pollutants that have become omnipresent across marine and freshwater systems worldwide. Microplastics are defined as plastic particles smaller than 5mm. These tiny particles accumulate and pollute oceans, lakes, and even our tap water.

There are two main ways that microplastics originate

1. Primary Microplastics: Intentionally manufactured to be miniscule for their purpose.

2. Secondary Microplastics: Fragments that break off larger plastic items such as synthetic textiles, water bottles, etc.

How do they accumulate?

The main reason that microplastics can accumulate so easily is because the wastewater treatment systems used today are not able to filter out miniscule particles. The lack of proper filtration allows microplastics to enter major waterways virtually undetected. The immediate issue is that microplastics do not biodegrade. They can never be fully decomposed, only broken down into smaller particles. They can persist in polluting our environment for hundreds of years.

Ecological Concerns

Many marine organisms mistake microplastics for food or accidentally ingest them. This causes a plethora of health problems. They act as carriers for toxic chemicals, both from the production process and from absorbing other pollutants in the water. This causes injury to digestive tracts, reduced feeding efficiency, growth delays, and oxidative stress. Microplastics accumulate in the digestive tracts of the organisms that mistake them for food, and eventually, they ascend the trophic levels via the food chain. This causes further accumulation, and eventually, the marine animals are ingested by humans.

What do microplastics do to humans?

The passive consumption of microplastics, orally, respiratorily, and consumingly, the human body experiences its toxic effects through various systems such as, digestive, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems. These effects consist of oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, neurotoxicity, immune response, metabolic disorder, as well as reproductive and developmental toxicity. Physical symptoms may manifest as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, coughing, infertility, miscarriage, and congenital malformations. Recognizing these dangers is crucial for your life.

What can you do?

1. Buy organic clothes (or those made from organic materials): Materials like Polyester contribute to microplastic consumption by releasing microfibers that can enter the environment and our bodies. Choosing eco-friendly materials such as cotton, silk, wool, and hemp reduces the amount of microfibers released.

2. Change your laundry regimen:  Dryers generate about 40 times more microfibers than washing machines, and further cause the release of up to 120 million microfibers into the air every year. To make a change, you can help reduce the amount of microplastics by air-drying your clothing, purchasing quality filters that catch microplastics, and buying fewer new clothes.

3. Avoid single-use plastics: Reducing the use of disposable plastic like water bottles, using a refillable water bottle instead, or bringing fabric bags or backpacks while shopping.

4. Reduce shellfish consumption: Reducing or avoiding your consumption of shellfish  (such as Shrimp, Lobster, and Crab) can help cut down on the amount of microplastics that get into your system.

5. Use public or alternative transportation: The tires break down when driving, causing the tiny particles released into our environment. Increasing the use of public transportation can reduce this erosion with less tires being out on the road. The fewer cars on the road, the fewer tires out there releasing microplastics.

6. Don’t microwave your food in plastic: Plastic will always leach into your food when heat is applied, so when containers are even labeled ”microwave safe,” you're still ingesting the microplastics.

References

1. Lee, Y., Cho, J., Sohn, J., & Kim, C. (2023). Health Effects of Microplastic exposures: Current Issues and Perspectives in South Korea. Yonsei Medical Journal, 64(5), 301–308. National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2023.0048

2. Li, Y., Tao, L., Wang, Q., Wang, F., Li, G., & Song, M. (2023). Potential Health Impact of Microplastics: A Review of Environmental Distribution, Human Exposure, and Toxic Effects. Environment & Health, 1(4), 249–257. https://doi.org/10.1021/envhealth.3c00052

3. Murphy, M. (2025, January 2). Redirect Notice. Google.com. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fhsph.harvard.edu%2Fnews%2Fmicroplastics-a-growing-challenge-to-health-and-the-environment%2F&psig=AOvVaw0Uho6LJiNqGzC1CCGDlaj2&ust=1751660646327000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCKC9rcrCoY4DFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

4. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2024, June 16). What are microplastics? Noaa.gov; National Ocean Service. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html

5. Perch Energy. (2022, September 26). 9 Ways To Reduce Your Microplastic Pollution & Consumption | Perch Energy. Www.perchenergy.com; Perch Energy. https://www.perchenergy.com/blog/lifestyle/reduce-microplastic-pollution-consumption

6. Sharma, S., & Chatterjee, S. (2017). Microplastic pollution, a threat to marine ecosystem and human health: a short review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(27), 21530–21547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9910-8

Poor Air Quality Correlation to Respiratory Diseases

By Betilehem Mehari & Urja Khanal

What Is Happening?

Air pollution has become an increasingly prevalent issue in recent years, and along with it, respiratory disease. Air quality depends on the particle pollution/matter that is present. A large majority of the air pollution in the United States stems from power plants, industries and automobiles. Activities such as cooking, smoking, dusting, and vacuuming can also cause particle pollution in indoor settings.

Luwum Street East, Central Kamplala, Uganda – PM 2.5 60 - 70 micrograms per cubic metre

How Is This Happening?

Particle matter (PM): A mixture of liquid and solid particles that pollute the air we breathe.

- These particles can be anything ranging from soot and pollen to acids and inorganic compounds.

- Particle pollution is at its highest on busy roads, near industrial areas, when there is no precipitation, and when there is smoke in the air from wood stoves, fireplaces, campfires, or wildfires.

- Rising temperatures due to climate change cause extreme weather conditions such as wildfires and heatwaves to increase pollutant concentration—> further leading to more particulate matter to appear in the air

Types Of Particulate Matter:

1. Coarse particles

- Coarse particles have a diameter of 2.5 μm- 10 μm.

- Coarse particles are big enough for our bodies' airways to filter them out

2. Fine Particles

-Fine particles have diameters smaller than 2.5 μm

- Finer particles pose a threat as they are small enough to go deeper into the lungs

Significance: PM2.5 particles (fine particles) are known to accumulate in the small airways of the lungs, causing inflammation and epigenetic changes that can lead to cancer. The inflammation of the lungs and airways can cause a plethora of other respiratory illnesses, such as Asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Other side effects include coughing, wheezing, lung infections, tissue damage, and increased asthma attacks to those who suffer from it. Long term exposure to particle pollution has also been shown to stunt lung development in children.

So, what can we do?

1. We must push for stricter regulations on pollution control. More specifically, regulating traffic and industrial emissions; along with pushing for greater investments in cleaner energy, public transport, and recycling.

2. We must focus on targeted care for high-risk communities, as they are affected the most. Emphasis must be placed in urban, low-income areas.

3. For the mitigation of the climate change induced impacts, better ventilation systems and air filtration, moisture control, and balanced insulation must be developed.

References

1. Behinaein, P., Hutchings, H., Knapp, T., & Okereke, I. C. (2023). The growing impact of air quality on lung-related illness: a narrative review. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 15(9). https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd-23-544

2. Gherasim, A., Lee, A. G., & Bernstein, J. A. (2024). Impact of Climate Change on Indoor Air Quality. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, 44(1), 55–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iac.2023.09.001

3. US EPA. (2014, September 12). What is Particle Pollution? | US EPA. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/pmcourse/what-particle-pollution

4. Written in the wind: visualising air pollution levels – in pictures. (2025). Guim.co.uk. https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/bd24d1c7184ae245b1f263e1c0a1e4fc27479618/0_0_6000_4000/master/6000.jpg?width=1010&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e163e1118cd39fb99ef35ec635b94ea1