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Explora: Environment

and Resource

REVIEW ARTICLE
A critical review on environmental pollution

caused by the textile industry

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Md Rofiul Islam Rofi * and Md Rafiur Rahman 2
1 Department of Textile Engineering, National Institute of Textile Engineering and Research (NITER),
Dhaka, Bangladesh
2 Department of Civil Engineering, Mymensingh Engineering College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Abstract

Environmental pollution is one of the most critical challenges facing modern society,
and the textile industry is a significant contributor to this problem. As global demand
for textiles rises, so does the environmental toll of textile production. This study
explores the various ways in which the textile industry contributes to pollution and
endangers both ecosystems and human health. A major source of pollution is the
industry’s high energy consumption, often fueled by coal, oil, and natural gas. The
burning of these fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions,
contributing to air pollution, climate change, acid rain, and ozone depletion. Another
major issue is the use of toxic chemicals and dyes in textile processing. Improperly
treated wastewater from dyeing and finishing processes is frequently discharged
into rivers, contaminating water sources, harming aquatic life, and threatening
human health. Synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and acrylic also pose serious
environmental risks. These non-biodegradable materials release microplastics during
*Corresponding author: washing, which enter water systems, harm marine animals, and may even enter the
Md Rofiul Islam Rofi human food chain. In addition, the industry generates significant solid waste, much
(rirofiul10@niter.edu.bd) of which ends up in landfills and releases toxic substances as it degrades. Human
Citation: Rofi MRI, Rahman MR. health is also directly impacted, particularly for those living near or working in
A critical review on environmental textile facilities, who may suffer from respiratory diseases, skin disorders, and even
pollution caused by the textile
industry. Explora Environ Resour. life-threatening illnesses due to prolonged exposure to pollutants. In conclusion,
2025;2(2):025160032. addressing textile pollution requires stricter environmental regulations, sustainable
doi: 10.36922/EER025160032 production practices, better waste management, and increased awareness. Without
Received: April 18, 2025 urgent action, the negative impacts will continue to escalate.
Revised: May 13, 2025
Accepted: May 20, 2025 Keywords: Textile industry; Pollution; Chemical wastes; Environment pollution; Plastics;
Ecosystem; Soil; Ozone depletion; Synthetic fabrics
Published online: June 6, 2025
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution 1. Introduction
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, According to Dadi et al. industries are frequently seen as the “engine” of economic
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provided the original work is growth, helping many nations achieve rapid economic expansion. One of the most
properly cited. significant subsectors of the manufacturing sector, the textile industry contributes
Publisher’s Note: AccScience substantially to the economic transformation of nations such as Nigeria, Bangladesh,
Publishing remains neutral with India, Vietnam, China, and Turkey. For instance, in Bangladesh, the textile and apparel
2,3
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional industry employs 50% of the industrial labor force and generates over 77% of the nation’s
affiliations. foreign exchange profits. Since the 1990s, consumer behavior has shifted toward more
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Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 1 doi: 10.36922/EER025160032