Sadly, I make that largely as an assertion that I don't know how to disprove. I do remember seeing a study on it at one point, but did not save it. I think this and tires were much higher than people contend with.

At a personal level, it is just kind of eye opening to see how much lint I generate in the dryer on a regular basis. Granted, cat hair also makes up an amusingly sizeable portion of that source.

If you do find a good read that is counter to this, please share. It would not be the first thing I was personally wrong about. Probably wouldn't be the last, either. :D