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Leaching potentials of microplastic fibers and UV stabilizers from coastal-littered face masks
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Researchers measured 10 chemical additives including UV stabilizers in 28 types of plastic products and found that face masks contained a particularly high variety of additives. Field investigation confirmed that face mask fibers on coastal litter sites could leach UV stabilizers into surrounding marine environments.
Synthetic fibrous textiles are ubiquitous plastic commodities in everyday existence. Nevertheless, there exists a dearth of understanding regarding their environmental occurrence and the releasing capacities of associated additives. In this study, ten additives were determined in twenty-eight kinds of daily used plastic products including face masks, synthetic clothing, and food containers. Our results revealed that a typical kind of fibrous plastic, face masks, contained a greater variety of additives with UV stabilizers in particular, when compared to other plastic commodities. The above phenomena triggered our field investigation for the occurrence and release potentials of face mask fibers and the co-existing UV stabilizers into the environment. We further collected 114 disposed masks from coastal areas and analyzed their UV stabilizer concentrations. Results showed that the abundance of littered face masks ranged from 40-1846 items/km along the Yangtze Estuary, China; and UV stabilizers were of 0.3 ± 0.7 ng/g and 0.7 ± 1.7 ng/g in main bodies and ear ropes, respectively. The UV stabilizer concentrations in the field collected masks were only ∼7 % of their new counterparts, implying their potential leaching after disposal. By simulating the weathering scenario, we predict that a substantial amount of microplastics, with 1.1 × 10 polypropylene fibers and 3.7 × 10 polyester fibers, are probably be released daily into the coastal environment after face masks disposal; whereas the accompanied leaching amount of UV stabilizers was relatively modest under the current scenario.
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COVID-19 disposable face masks: source of microplastics and chemical additives in the environment
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Researchers investigated COVID-19 disposable face masks as a new source of microplastics and chemical additives in the environment, analyzing particles released from masks submerged in water under different conditions. The masks released significant quantities of microplastic fibers and chemical additives, with quantities increasing with aging and sunlight exposure. The pandemic-era surge in disposable mask use created a new and largely unquantified pathway for plastic contamination of waterways.
Microplastic and additive release into seawater from face masks and cigarette butts: A laboratory experiment and risk estimation
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Researchers exposed face masks and cigarette butts to seawater conditions and measured microplastic and chemical additive release over time. Both items released significant quantities of microplastics and plastic additives into seawater, with cigarette butts releasing higher concentrations of hazardous compounds per gram, raising concerns about pandemic-era PPE waste in marine environments.
A multi-analytical approach to investigate UV-induced degradation and micro/nanoparticle release from disposable plastic face masks
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Researchers subjected disposable face masks to long-term UV-B aging in water to assess degradation and pollutant release. Aging caused structural fragmentation, surface oxidation, and the release of chemical additives and micro/nano-plastic particles, demonstrating that improperly disposed masks become a persistent source of both MPs and chemical contaminants.
Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment
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This review documented the global distribution of discarded COVID-19 masks in terrestrial and aquatic environments and quantified the microplastics they release through degradation, finding that masks generate predominantly polypropylene fibers and fragments. The co-release of chemical additives from degrading mask materials was identified as an additional pollution concern beyond the MPs themselves.
Disposable masks release microplastics to the aqueous environment with exacerbation by natural weathering
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Researchers studied how disposable face masks degrade and release microplastics when exposed to shoreline environmental conditions including UV radiation and wave action. The study found that natural weathering significantly exacerbated microplastic release from masks by altering their chemical composition and reducing mechanical strength, indicating that improperly discarded masks pose a growing threat to marine environments.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.