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Million Microfiber Releases: Comparing Washable and Disposable Face Masks.
Environmental science & technology2024
Score: 35
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Xin Wang,
Yuyue Huang,
Yuyue Huang,
Yuyue Huang,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Mohamed Helal,
Xin Wang,
Xiaoyu Duan,
Xin Wang,
Xin Wang,
Mohamed Helal,
Xin Wang,
Xin Wang,
Xin Wang,
Ayoub Laghrissi,
Xin Wang,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Xiaoyu Duan,
Jacek Fiutowski,
Horst‐Günter Rubahn,
Jacek Fiutowski,
Jacek Fiutowski,
Jacek Fiutowski,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Ayoub Laghrissi,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Gary Hardiman,
Gary Hardiman,
Yuyue Huang,
Xin Wang,
Mohamed Helal,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Horst‐Günter Rubahn,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Xin Wang,
Xin Wang,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Xin Wang,
Xiaoyu Duan,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Xin Wang,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Jacek Fiutowski,
Jacek Fiutowski,
Jacek Fiutowski,
Gary Hardiman,
Horst‐Günter Rubahn,
Gary Hardiman,
Gary Hardiman,
Xin Wang,
Martin A B Hedegaard,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Horst‐Günter Rubahn,
Xin Wang,
Yuyue Huang,
Yuyue Huang,
Yuyue Huang,
Yuyue Huang,
Yuyue Huang,
Gary Hardiman,
Gary Hardiman,
Gary Hardiman,
Gary Hardiman,
Gary Hardiman,
Gary Hardiman,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Xin Wang,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Xin Wang,
Xiaoyu Duan,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Gary Hardiman,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Henrik Holbech,
Horst‐Günter Rubahn,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Horst‐Günter Rubahn,
Gary Hardiman,
Gary Hardiman,
Xin Wang,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Xin Wang,
Xin Wang,
Xin Wang,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Mohamed Helal,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Xiangrong Xu
Horst‐Günter Rubahn,
Xiangrong Xu
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Henrik Holbech,
Henrik Holbech,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Henrik Holbech,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Gary Hardiman,
Xiangrong Xu
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Elvis Genbo Xu,
Xiangrong Xu
Summary
A study compared microfiber release from disposable and washable face masks, finding that both types release millions of microfibers when washed or agitated in water. The results raise concerns that widespread mask use during and after the pandemic has added a new significant source of synthetic fiber pollution to aquatic environments.
The extensive use of single-use or disposable face masks has raised environmental concerns related to microfiber contamination. In contrast, research on the potential release and ecological impact of microfibers from washable masks (WMs), suggested as an eco-friendly alternative, is currently lacking. Here, we comprehensively investigated the release of microfibers from disposable and WMs of different types in simulated aquatic environments and real-life scenarios, including shaking, disinfection, hand washing, and machine washing. Using a combination of wide-field fluorescence microscopy, He-ion microscopy, and confocal μ-Raman spectroscopy, we revealed that disposable masks (DMs) released microfibers ranging from 18 to 3042 microfiber/piece, whereas WMs released 6.1 × 10-6.7 × 10 microfibers/piece depending on the simulated conditions above. Another noteworthy finding was the observed negative correlation between microfiber release and the proportion of reinforcement (embossing) on the DM surfaces. Microfibers from tested DMs primarily comprised polypropylene (PP), while WMs predominantly released poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and cellulose microfibers. Furthermore, acute toxicological analyses unveiled that PP microfibers (0.01-50 mg/L) from DMs impacted zebrafish larval swimming behavior, while PET microfibers from WMs delayed early-stage zebrafish hatching. This study offers new insights into the source of microfiber contamination and raises concerns about the environmental implications linked to the use of washable face masks.