Microplastic Pollution from Synthetic Clothing September 29, 2016 Email Every time you wash synthetic clothing, tiny fibers from the fabric — microplastics — are swept down the drain and into our water system. A 2015 study found plastic debris from textiles in 67 percent of fish species sampled, including many species consumed by humans. In response, Coraball developed a microfiber catcher that you toss in your washing machine to prevent the fibers from polluting our waterways.