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Masks and the scourge of microplastic pollution
Summary
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.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) has been the cornerstone of prevention of virus transmission during outbreaks like COVID-19.1 The recent pandemic necessitated the widespread use of masks among the public. While safe disposal of masks is satisfactorily achieved in hospital settings, the unsafe disposal of masks used in the households is a growing environmental concern. Also called as the ‘plastic impact of the pandemic’, the burden of face mask litter has grown into a significant pollution problem.