Synthetic fibers contaminants

Zeronian, S. H., K. W. Alger, and S. T. Omaye. Reaction of fabrics made from synthetic fibers to air contaminated with nitrogen dioxide, (none, or sulfur dioxide, pp. 468-476. In H. M. Englund and W. T. Beery, Eds. Proceedings of the Second International Clean Air Congress, Washington, D.C., Dec. 6-11, 1970. New York Academic Press, 1971. 

Fiber preparation ordinarily involves scouring to remove foreign materials and ensure even access to dye liquor. Some natural fibers are contaminated with fatty materials and dirt, and synthetic fibers may have been treated with spinning lubricants or sizing that must be removed. Some fibers also may require bleaching before they are ready for use. 

The terrestrial component of the dust particles embedded in the ice consists of volcanic ash, finegrained dust derived from soil on the continents, carbon particles released by forest fires, biogenic particles (e.g., the skeletons of diatoms, seeds, and pollen grains), aerosol particles of atmospheric origin, including sea-spray particles that nucleate snow flakes (Section 17.10). In addition, the uppermost layer of snow and fim that was deposited after the start of the Industrial Revolution (i.e., post ad 1850) contains anthropogenic detritus such as flakes of metal, paint, and plastics, fly-ash particles and other combustion products, fibers (composed of wood, cotton, and synthetics), industrial contaminants (e.g., lead), and radioactive nuchdes released by the testing of nuclear weapons and by the operation of nuclear reactors (Faure et al. 1997). 

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