Can microfibers from laundry lint cause lung inflammation?

What's actually in it

When you wash clothes made from polyester, nylon, or acrylic, the machine breaks tiny fibers loose from the fabric. Some go down the drain. Others become airborne when you open the machine, transfer clothes to the dryer, or fold dry laundry. These microfibers are thin enough to float in the air and small enough to reach deep into your lungs.

Unlike natural fibers like cotton or wool, synthetic microfibers are plastic. Your body cannot break them down. Once they lodge in lung tissue, they stay there and trigger an immune response.

What the research says

A 2026 study exposed lung tissue to washing machine lint microfibers repeatedly over time. The results showed clear lung inflammation and signs that the immune cells responsible for clearing debris from the lungs (called macrophages) were not working properly. The microfibers appeared to interfere with the cells' ability to engulf and remove particles, a process called phagocytosis. The study also found evidence of mitochondrial DNA damage in the affected cells.

A separate 2026 study showed that microplastics can drive allergic airway inflammation by activating specific immune cells and altering how the lungs process fatty acids. This could explain why some people develop worsening respiratory symptoms in homes with high synthetic fiber loads.

The bottom line

You can reduce airborne microfibers by using a microfiber-catching laundry bag for synthetic clothes, running your dryer's lint filter under water after each load, and ventilating your laundry area. Choosing clothing made from natural fibers like cotton, wool, or linen eliminates the problem at the source.