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Unveiling the toxic release: kinetics and comparative effects of microplastic fibers, organic, and metal leachates from disposable surgical face masks on two aquatic trophic levels: algae and crustaceans
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Researchers tested what leaches out of disposable surgical face masks into water over time, then exposed algae and brine shrimp to those leachates. The masks released polypropylene microplastic fibers, phthalate chemicals, and trace metals; the microplastic fibers caused the most harm — reducing algae viability, increasing oxidative stress, and raising mortality in shrimp — highlighting disposable masks as an underappreciated source of microplastic pollution.
The unprecedented and widespread use of disposable face masks and their improper disposal poses a significant risk of escalating the already alarming problem of plastic pollution. This study presents a comparative analysis of the leachates from surgical masks, focusing on the differential impacts of microplastic fibres, organic compounds, and metal ions on two aquatic organisms: the microalga Chlorella variabilis and the crustacean Artemia salina. The facemasks were kept in water under stirring conditions for various time points (24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h), and the mask leachate (concentrations: 1.48 × 104 ± 0.04, 1.64 × 104 ± 0.04, 1.90 × 104 ± 0.06, 2.42 × 104 ± 0.29, 4.32 × 104 ± 0.19, and 4.87 × 104 ± 0.16 particles mL−1) was obtained. Experimental results indicated that disposable surgical masks leach out polypropylene microplastic fibres, alongside detectable levels of organic compounds (e.g., phthalates) and trace metals (e.g., Cu, Ni, Zn). When these microplastic rich-leachates came into contact with algae, it resulted in reduced cell viability, elevated levels of oxidative stress, and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes. A. salina exhibited increased mortality rates upon exposure to the leachates from the mask. Organic and heavy metal leachates induced minor biochemical stress responses. Moreover, our study also observed the entanglement and accumulation of mask microplastic fibers on the surface and in the digestive tract of A. salina, resulting in an increased mortality rate for the organism. This comparative study highlights the multifaceted toxicity of face mask leachates and underscores the distinctive threat posed by microplastic fibres, which exert both chemical and physical stress. Our investigation validates that the leachates from disposable surgical face masks present a significant risk to marine organisms, with subsequent consequences that would detrimentally impact aquatic ecosystems.
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Unmasking effects of masks: Microplastics released from disposable surgical face masks induce toxic effects in microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus and Chlorella sp.
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Researchers found that microplastics released from disposable surgical face masks induced toxic effects in two microalgae species, with the outer mask layer releasing the most particles and causing measurable harm to algal growth and photosynthesis.
Toxicity of microplastics and released chemicals from single-use surgical face masks to the model aquatic organism, Daphnia magna
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Researchers subjected single-use surgical face masks to simulated environmental weathering and tested the resulting microplastics, leached chemicals, and their mixture against Daphnia magna across acute (48-hour) and chronic (21-day) exposures on three life stages. Chemicals alone and the mixture reduced survival and reproduction in neonates and juveniles, while microplastics alone had no survival effects, indicating that chemical leachates rather than particles are the primary toxic agent from face mask degradation to aquatic invertebrates.
Impact of disposable mask microplastics pollution on the aquatic environment and microalgae growth
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Researchers investigated how discarded disposable face masks release microplastics into freshwater environments over a three-month period. They found that mask materials shed microplastic fibers that degraded water quality and negatively affected the growth of Chlorella microalgae. The study highlights that improperly disposed pandemic-related mask waste is a meaningful source of microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
Release kinetic study of microplastics from N95 face masks and consequent effects on freshwater alga Scenedesmus obliquus
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Researchers studied how N95 face masks release microplastics and heavy metals as they break down in water over time and tested the effects of this leachate on freshwater algae. They found that mask degradation released increasing amounts of microplastics and toxic metals, and the leachate significantly inhibited algal growth. The study highlights that discarded COVID-era masks are an ongoing source of microplastic and chemical pollution in waterways.
UV-A pre-irradiation and shear stress enhanced microplastic fibre release from disposable surgical facemasks and its toxicity towards freshwater microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus
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Disposable surgical face masks break down into tiny plastic fibers faster when exposed to sunlight and water movement, like what happens when they're littered outdoors or tossed in waterways, and these fibers get even smaller and more numerous with more sun exposure and turbulence. When researchers exposed freshwater algae (a key part of aquatic food chains) to these microplastic fibers, the algae showed signs of cell damage, suggesting that improperly discarded masks could pose a real risk to aquatic ecosystems, and potentially to human health through the food chain, water supply, and everyday exposure to these plastic particles.
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