Improperly disposed wet wipes could shed microplastics in rivers

Wet wipes easily clean and disinfect soiled surfaces and skin. Because some labels do not clearly indicate how consumers should dispose of them, these small rags are often flushed down toilets and released from sewage treatment plants into waterways. Now, researchers report in ACS ES&T Water that some of these wipes break down into plastic fibers, or microplastics, which could harm aquatic life.