Short answers, pulled from the story.
British chemists John Rex Whinfield and James Tait Dickson patented polyethylene terephthalate in 1941. Their discovery created a material that would eventually clothe billions of people while remaining hidden behind factory walls in Lancashire for decades.
Polyester consists of monomers joined by ester links, with specific arrangements of aromatic rings providing stability to synthetic versions. Natural polyesters like plant cuticles use omega hydroxy acids linked by ester bonds to form biodegradable protective layers, whereas synthetic versions utilize variable R groups to create rigid, heat-resistant fibers.
Global polyester production reached 30.5 million metric tons by 2019 and the industry grows by 4 to 8 percent annually. Modern facilities like those using the INTEGREX process can produce over 1000 tonnes of polymer per day with some reaching 2500 tonnes.
A single washing load of 6 kilograms of polyester-cotton blend fabric releases an estimated 137,951 fibers while pure polyester can release nearly 500,000. These microfibers are smaller than a human hair and travel through wastewater treatment plants to end up in freshwater and seawater habitats.
Research by Ahmed Shafik suggests polyester could affect the fertility of rats, dogs, and men, raising concerns about long-term exposure. The production process may involve Bisphenol A, an endocrine-disrupting chemical that can leach into the environment and the human body.