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Fabric structure and polymer composition as key contributors to micro(nano)plastic contamination in face masks.

Journal of hazardous materials 2024 Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Qun Zhang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Bing Wu, Yaping Zhao Qun Zhang, Bing Wu, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Qun Zhang, Haowen Xu, Qun Zhang, Yaping Zhao Qun Zhang, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Mengyuan Zhu, Shuai Tang, Shuai Tang, Md Nahid Pervez, Bing Wu, Yaping Zhao Yaping Zhao Qun Zhang, Bing Wu, Yaping Zhao Yaping Zhao Yaping Zhao Qun Zhang, Yaping Zhao Bing Wu, Yaping Zhao Yaping Zhao Yaping Zhao

Summary

Researchers investigated how the structure of face masks — including surgical polypropylene and fashionable polyurethane masks — influences the generation of micro- and nano-plastics during normal wear and UV aging. The findings show that mask material composition and fabric structure are key determinants of how much plastic particles are shed into the wearer's breathing zone.

Polymers

PP PU

Models

Zebrafish

The surge in face mask use due to COVID-19 has raised concerns about micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) from masks. Herein, focusing on fabric structure and polymer composition, we investigated MNP generation characteristics, mechanisms, and potential risks of surgical polypropylene (PP) and fashionable polyurethane (PU) masks during their wearing and photoaging based on stereomicroscope, μ-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. Compared with new PP and PU masks (66 ± 16 MPs/PP-mask, 163 ± 83 MPs/PU-mask), single- and multiple-used masks exhibited remarkably increased MP type and abundance (600-1867 MPs/PP-mask, 607-2167 MPs/PU-mask). Disinfection exacerbated endogenous MP generation in masks, with washing (416 MPs/PP-mask, 30,708 MPs/PU-mask) being the most prominent compared to autoclaving (219 MPs/PP-mask, 553 MPs/PU-mask) and alcohol spray (162 MPs/PP-mask, 18,333 MPs/PU-mask). Photoaging led to massive generation of MPs (8.8 × 10-3.7 × 10 MPs/PP-layer, 1.0 × 10 MPs/PU-layer) and NPs (5.2 × 10-3.6 × 10 NPs/PP-layer, 3.5 × 10 NPs/PU-layer) from masks, presenting highly fabric structure-dependent aging modes as "fragmentation" for fine fiber-structure PP mask and "erosion" for 3D mesh-structure PU mask. The MNPs derived from PP/PU mask caused significant deformities of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. These findings underscore the potential adverse effects of masks on humans and aquatic organisms, advocating to enhance proper use and rational disposal for masks.

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