A scientist hypothesizes that microplastic fibers in urban rivers originate primarily from synthetic clothing released during home laundering, rather than from larger plastic debris breaking down.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly support the scientist's hypothesis?
- A
Some types of synthetic clothing are recyclable.
- B
Microplastic fibers have been detected in marine sediments far from human population centers.
- Ccheck_circle
Concentrations of microplastic fibers in a river spike sharply downstream of municipal wastewater discharge points and match the polymer composition of common clothing.
- D
Cities with larger populations have higher rates of plastic waste.
Explanation
A links concentrations geographically to wastewater (laundry effluent) and chemically to clothing fibers, directly supporting the source identification. B, C, and D do not connect to laundry as the source.