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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.
The uncontrolled disposal of N95 face masks, widely used during the recent COVID-19 pandemic can release significant amounts of microplastics and other additives into aquatic bodies. This study aimed to: (i) to quantify and analyze the released microplastics and heavy metals from N95 face masks weathered for various time periods (24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h) and (ii) to assess the cytotoxicity potential of the leachates on a model organism, freshwater alga Scenedesmus obliquus. The mask leachates contained microplastics, polypropylene in different shapes and sizes, and heavy metals like Cu, Cd, and Zn. The leachates significantly reduced cell viability and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, antioxidant enzyme activity, and membrane damage. The effects were also accompanied by a significant drop in the photosynthetic yield. All of the examined parameters indicated a dose-response relationship, with longer leaching periods resulting in higher microplastic concentrations. Mask leachates severely damaged the structural integrity of the algal cells, as seen in scanning electron microscopy images. The findings of our study confirm that the releases from disposable N95 face masks pose a severe threat to freshwater microalgae, and the cascading effects would harm the aquatic ecosystems.
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Combined effects of P25 TiO 2 nanoparticles and disposable face mask leachate on microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus : Analysing the effects of heavy metals
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Disposable surgical face masks — widely discarded during the COVID-19 pandemic — were found to release both microplastics and heavy metals when submerged in water. When combined with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (also common in consumer products), mask leachates caused significant harm to freshwater algae, reducing cell viability and photosynthetic activity through oxidative stress. This study highlights that pandemic-era plastic waste is a meaningful source of combined chemical pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
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.
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.
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.
Kinetic characteristics of microplastic release from commonly used masks in aquatic environment
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Researchers tested four mask types (normal, fashion, N95, and disposable surgical) by exposing them to simulated natural water environments over 12 months at 3-month intervals to characterize the kinetics of microplastic release. They found time-dependent release patterns that varied by mask construction, documenting structural degradation and quantifying microplastic fiber shedding as a function of duration, with implications for environmental risk assessment of pandemic-related mask pollution.
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