We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Post COVID-19 pandemic: Disposable face masks as a potential vector of antibiotics in freshwater and seawater
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that disposable face masks discarded during the COVID-19 pandemic readily sorb antibiotic compounds from freshwater and marine environments and can subsequently release them, potentially acting as vectors that concentrate and redistribute antibiotics in aquatic ecosystems.
With the outbreak and widespread of the COVID-19 pandemic, large numbers of disposable face masks (DFMs) were abandoned in the environment. This study first investigated the sorption and desorption behaviors of four antibiotics (tetracycline (TC), ciprofloxacin (CIP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and triclosan (TCS)) on DFMs in the freshwater and seawater. It was found that the antibiotics in the freshwater exhibited relatively higher sorption and desorption capacities on the DFMs than those in the seawater. Here the antibiotics sorption processes were greatly related to their zwitterion species while the effect of salinity on the sorption processes was negligible. However, the desorption processes were jointly dominated by solution pH and salinity, with greater desorption capacities at lower pH values and salinity. Interestingly, we found that the distribution coefficient (K) of TCS (0.3947 L/g) and SMX (0.0399 L/g) on DFMs was higher than those on some microplastics in freshwater systems. The sorption affinity of the antibiotics onto the DFMs followed the order of TCS > SMX > CIP > TC, which was positively correlated with octanol-water partition coefficient (log K) of the antibiotics. Besides, the sorption processes of the antibiotics onto the DFMs were mainly predominated by film diffusion and partitioning mechanism. Overall, hydrophobic interaction regulated the antibiotics sorption processes. These findings would help to evaluate the environmental behavior of DFMs and to provide the analytical framework of their role in the transport of other pollutants.
More Papers Like This
Face mask structure, degradation, and interaction with marine biota: A review
AI summary Read the abstract
Single-use face masks, which surged in use during COVID-19, are a significant source of microplastic pollution because they degrade into tiny plastic fragments and also serve as rafts for harmful bacteria, pathogens including SARS-CoV-2, and antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic environments. This review underscores that the environmental and public health costs of mask disposal extend well beyond simple litter, carrying risks for water quality and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Microplastics from surgical masks: A piggy-back ride for sulfamethoxazole in the sea
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that microplastics derived from surgical masks can act as carriers for the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole in seawater, with the drug adsorbing onto mask-derived plastic particles and potentially increasing its persistence and bioavailability in marine environments.
Bacterial pathogens associated with the plastisphere of surgical face masks and their dispersion potential in the coastal marine environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers deployed face masks in coastal seawater for two months and used advanced DNA sequencing to identify bacterial pathogens colonizing the plastic surfaces. The study found that face masks selectively enriched certain putative pathogens rarely found in surrounding seawater and released considerable microfibers during degradation, suggesting that pandemic-related mask waste in oceans may serve as vectors for transporting harmful bacteria across marine environments.
Antibiotic resistomes in face-mask biofilm along an urban river: Multiple drivers and co-occurrence with human opportunistic pathogens
AI summary Read the abstract
Discarded face masks tossed into rivers aren't just plastic waste, they become breeding grounds for slimy bacterial films that collect antibiotic-resistant genes at higher levels than natural surfaces like rocks. Even more concerning, these mask-biofilms also harbor disease-causing bacteria that can carry this resistance, meaning littered masks could help spread germs that don't respond to antibiotics. This research is a reminder that proper mask disposal isn't just about litter, it's about preventing our waterways from becoming hotspots for drug-resistant infections.
Prevalence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, microplastics and co-infecting microbes in the post-COVID-19 era and its implications on antimicrobial resistance and potential endocrine disruptive effects
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic increased environmental contamination from pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and microplastics, all of which can promote antibiotic resistance and disrupt hormones. The surge in mask use, sanitizer disposal, and medication contributed to higher levels of these pollutants in waterways. The combination of microplastics with pharmaceutical residues creates a compounding threat where plastics can carry drug-resistant bacteria and hormone-disrupting chemicals into water supplies.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.