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Phthalate acid esters contribute to the cytotoxicity of mask leachate: Cell-based assay for toxicity assessment
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Researchers tested chemical substances that leach from six different types of face masks, including phthalates, metals, and microplastics. They found that mask leachates caused DNA damage and triggered oxidative stress in cells, with phthalate chemicals being key contributors to the toxicity. The findings suggest that certain mask types release harmful chemical compounds during use that deserve further safety evaluation.
After the COVID-19 outbreak, masks have become an essential part of people lives. Although several studies have been conducted to determine the release of hazardous substances from masks, how their co-presence poses a potential exposure risk to human health remains unexplored. In this study, we quantitatively compared the leaching of substances from six different common types of masks, including phthalate acid esters (PAEs), metals, and microplastics (MPs), and comprehensively evaluated the potential cytotoxicity of different leachates. MPs smaller than 3 µm were quantified by Py-GC-MS, and reusable masks showed greater releasing potentials up to 1504 µg/g. We also detected the prevalence of PAEs in masks, with the highest release reaching 42 μg/g, with dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) being the predominant types. Moreover, the antimicrobial cloth masks released 173.0 µg of Cu or 4.5 µg of Ag, representing 2.7% and 0.04% of the original masks, respectively. Our cell-based assay results demonstrated for the first time that mask leachate induced nuclear condensation with DNA damage, and simultaneously triggered high levels of glutathione and reactive oxidative stress production, which exacerbated mitochondrial fragmentation, eventually leading to cell death. Combined with substance identification and correlation analysis, PAEs were found to be the contributors to cytotoxicity. Masks containing Cu or Ag led to acidification of lysosomes and alkalinization of cells. These results strongly suggested that the levels of PAEs in the production of regulatory masks should be strictly controlled.
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Researchers tested five types of face masks to determine whether they protect against or contribute to human inhalation of microplastics and phthalate plasticizers. They found that while masks filter out some airborne microplastics, they also release their own microplastic fibers and contain phthalate chemicals that wearers can inhale. The study suggests face masks have a dual role as both protectors and sources of microplastic and chemical exposure.
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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.
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Face mask derived micro(nano)plastics and organic compounds potentially induce threat to aquatic ecosystem security revealed by toxicogenomics-based assay
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Researchers characterized pollutants released from four common face masks in water and found that microplastic fibers and leachable organic chemicals dominate emissions, with the organics causing DNA damage across multiple repair pathways in a whole-cell toxicogenomics assay — raising concerns about discarded mask waste as an underappreciated aquatic pollution source.
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