Clothes Laundries and Airborne Plastic Particles: A Community Health Program
Official title: Clothing Laundry Exposure to Airborne Nanoplastics and Microplastics Awareness Program (CLEANMAP)
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-11431907 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand and reduce workers’ exposure to airborne nano- and microplastics in laundry and dry-cleaning settings to protect respiratory health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $556,573 |
| NIH project number | 1R01OH013075-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11431907 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are workers in textile, laundry, and dry-cleaning shops who have long-term exposure to workplace dust, fibers, and airborne plastics.
✕Less likely to help
Workers with no occupational exposure or those not involved in the textile and laundry industries may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Workers in textile and laundry settings may breathe in tiny plastic particles released from clothing and linen. This program will measure the levels of nano- and microplastics in workplaces and study how these exposures relate to respiratory symptoms and lung function. The team plans to develop awareness, protective guidelines, and practical strategies to minimize exposure for workers, especially those with long job histories. The research will involve field measurements, worker surveys, and collaboration with local laundries in the northeastern United States. Results could inform workplace safety practices and policy in the textile and laundry industry.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to safer work environments with lower risk of respiratory problems for laundry and dry-cleaning workers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have detected airborne plastics in similar work environments, and this project builds on that work with health-focused outcomes and practical interventions.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Inkyu — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Han, Inkyu
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.