We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
From Protection to Pollution: The Impact of Mask Use on Micro(nano)plastic Release
Summary
This bibliographic review found that global mask consumption during COVID-19 reached as high as 2.5 trillion single-use masks per month, with Asia as the largest consumer, and documented how improper mask disposal releases microplastics and nanoplastics into terrestrial and aquatic environments.
This study presents a bibliographic review compiling data on global masks consumption during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, disposal practices, the release of microplastic and nanoplastic (MNPs) from masks, and their environmental consequences. Global demand for masks increased dramatically compared to pre-pandemic levels, with estimates ranging from 21 billion to 2,555 billion single-use masks per month, underscoring the essential role of personal protective equipment (PPE) in infection control. Asia was identified as the largest consumer and generator of mask waste, followed by the Americas (North and South). This study also demonstrates that disposable masks release MNPs into different environmental matrices, with ultraviolet radiation (UV) and mechanical stress acting as drivers of this process. However, the reviewed studies employed several measurement units, making comparisons challenging hindering direct comparisons, a challenge that highlights the need for standardized methodologies and units. Polypropylene was the predominant constituent of the released particles, as expected due to its widespread use in mask manufacturing. This review also emphasizes the adverse effects of discarded masks on biota and the documented impacts of MNPs released during simulated weathering on model organisms. Overall, there is an urgent need for research focused on standardizing units, improving exposure realism, and strengthening waste-management strategies during health crises. Such efforts are essential to balance infection control with minimizing the environmental burden of single-use plastics and to inform future pandemic preparedness and policy.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Face masks: a COVID-19 protector or environmental contaminant?
This review examined how the massive global use of disposable face masks during COVID-19 has created a significant source of microplastic pollution, with billions of masks entering the environment and releasing plastic fibers and chemical contaminants.
Masks and the scourge of microplastic pollution
This commentary discusses how the widespread use of disposable face masks during COVID-19 has become a significant source of microplastic pollution, particularly from masks improperly discarded outside of hospital settings. The authors call attention to the environmental burden of mask litter as a growing global concern.
The COVID-19 pandemic face mask waste: A blooming threat to the marine environment.
This review examines how single-use face masks — billions of which were discarded during the COVID-19 pandemic — contribute to microplastic and microfiber pollution in marine environments when improperly disposed of. The pandemic created a massive new source of plastic pollution, with masks breaking down into microplastics and releasing chemical contaminants in the ocean.
Microplastics from face masks: A potential hazard post Covid-19 pandemic
Researchers quantified the annual face mask usage and associated plastic waste across 36 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, estimating total annual mask usage exceeding 1.5 million tonnes and associated plastic waste of approximately 4.2 million tonnes. The study highlights that global COVID-19 responses substantially increased environmental microplastic burdens from single-use face mask disposal.
A review of disposable facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on microplastics release
This review examines the environmental threats posed by disposable face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on microplastic release. Researchers found that discarded masks undergo physical and chemical degradation in the environment, generating microplastics that contaminate both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The study provides an overview of current knowledge on microplastic extraction methods and proposes strategies for controlling mask-related plastic pollution through source reduction and improved waste management.