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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Potency of Face Mask-Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Parangtritis Beach, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
ClearIdentifikasi Bakteri Pendegradasi Polipropilen Pada Limbah Masker Dari Tpa Piyungan
This Indonesian study identified bacteria capable of degrading polypropylene in disposable face mask waste collected from a landfill. Bacteria that can break down synthetic polymers offer a potential biological tool for reducing microplastic formation from the large volumes of mask waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Environmental Hazard of Polypropylene from Disposable Face Masks Linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Possible Mitigation Techniques through a Green Approach
Researchers assessed the biodegradation of disposable face masks made from polypropylene using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and found partial degradation was achievable, highlighting both the environmental hazard of pandemic-era PPE waste and potential microbial remediation strategies.
The Bad Side of Face Masks and How Bacteria Can Help
This review examines how single-use face masks contributed to environmental microplastic pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores how bacteria and other microorganisms might be harnessed to biodegrade mask-derived microplastics in wastewater treatment systems.
Comparison between discarded facemask and common plastic waste on microbial colonization and physiochemical properties during aging in seawater
Researchers found that discarded surgical facemasks in seawater hosted more diverse microbial communities than conventional plastic waste, with higher degradation-related enzyme activity and more pronounced physicochemical changes during aging, raising concerns about their environmental impact.
Bacterial Diversity of Discarded Face Masks from Landfills, Mangroves, and Beaches, in Java, Indonesia
Researchers analyzed the bacterial community composition of discarded face masks collected from landfills, mangrove ecosystems, and beaches across Java, Indonesia using 16S rRNA sequencing. They found that Proteobacteria dominated across all environments, with Bacillus predominant in landfill masks and Vibrio most prevalent in masks from mangrove and beach sites, revealing distinct microbial gradients across disposal environments.
Bacterial pathogens associated with the plastisphere of surgical face masks and their dispersion potential in the coastal marine environment
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.
Isolates of Polypropylene-degrading Bacteria from a Landfill
Researchers isolated and characterized polypropylene-degrading bacteria from a landfill site, identifying microbial strains capable of breaking down this widely used plastic, including the polypropylene found in disposable medical face masks that increased in use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The isolates demonstrated measurable degradation activity on polypropylene substrates, contributing to the search for biodegradation-based plastic waste management solutions.
Potential of Freshwater Microalgae in Biodegradation of Disposable Face Masks
Researchers investigated whether freshwater microalgae could biodegrade disposable face masks — a major source of pandemic plastic waste — measuring plastic weight loss and surface degradation under algal cultures. Selected algal species showed measurable degradation of mask fibers, suggesting a biological treatment pathway.
Face mask structure, degradation, and interaction with marine biota: A review
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.
The COVID-19 pandemic face mask waste: A blooming threat to the marine environment.
This review examines how single-use face masks — billions of which were discarded during the COVID-19 pandemic — contribute to microplastic and microfiber pollution in marine environments when improperly disposed of. The pandemic created a massive new source of plastic pollution, with masks breaking down into microplastics and releasing chemical contaminants in the ocean.
Exploration of Plastic-Degrading Bacteria From Marina Beach, Semarang, Central Java
Indonesian researchers isolated bacteria from Marina Beach in Semarang that could degrade plastic, testing their ability to break down polyethylene and polypropylene. The bacteria showed measurable plastic-degrading activity under lab conditions. Identifying locally occurring plastic-degrading microbes supports the development of bioremediation strategies for plastic pollution in Indonesian marine environments.
Microbial strategies for degradation of microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste
Researchers reviewed microbial strategies for degrading microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste such as masks, gloves, and personal protective equipment. The study discusses how improper disposal of pandemic-related plastic waste creates microplastic pollution and explores the potential of microorganisms to break down these polymeric materials as a bioremediation approach.
[Microbial Ecology in the Mask-derived Plastisphere in a Water Environment].
Researchers studied the microbial ecology of plastisphere communities forming on different layers of discarded face masks in aquatic environments over time. Each mask layer harbored a unique microbial community with increasing richness over time; functional analysis revealed pathogenic, phototrophic, and compound-degrading capabilities, as well as roles in carbon and nitrogen cycling, indicating ecological significance of mask-derived plastisphere.
Effects of Discarded Masks on the Offshore Microorganisms during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Discarded COVID-19 masks released microplastics into seawater, and researchers profiled how these particles interact with offshore marine microorganisms. The microplastics altered microbial community composition and affected biofilm formation on the plastic surfaces. These findings highlight pandemic-related plastic waste as a source of microplastic pollution that disrupts marine microbial ecosystems.
Microbial Consortia in the Remediation of Single-Use Waste: The Case of Face Masks
Researchers evaluated hydrocarbonoclastic microbial consortia sourced from the Port of Veracruz and Gulf of Mexico for their ability to biodegrade microplastics derived from triple-layered polypropylene face masks in bubble column bioreactors.
Characterization of microplastic degrading bacteria isolated from the Putri Cempo landfill
Researchers isolated bacteria from a landfill in Indonesia and characterized their ability to degrade microplastics, identifying indigenous strains with potential for use in bioremediation of plastic pollution.
Effects of Biofouling on the Properties and Sinking Behavior of Disposable Face Masks in Seawater: A Systematic Comparison with Microplastic Films and Particles
A 16-week seawater incubation showed that disposable face masks accumulated biofilm at roughly ten times the rate of microplastic films or particles, causing the masks to eventually sink rather than float at the surface. This demonstrates that mask-derived microplastic fibers are rapidly transferred to the seafloor, where their ecological impacts and persistence may be far greater than previously assumed.
Isolation and Identification of Indigenous Plastic-Degrading Bacteria from Dumai’s Ocean Water of Riau Province
Researchers isolated and identified plastic-degrading bacteria from the coastal waters of Dumai, Indonesia, finding indigenous microbial populations capable of breaking down plastic polymers. Local plastic-degrading bacteria represent a potentially sustainable biological tool for addressing microplastic contamination in affected environments.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by COVID-19 pandemic in Marina Beach, the longest urban beach in Asia: Abundance, distribution, and analytical characterization.
This study surveyed COVID-19 personal protective equipment littered on Marina Beach in India, finding over 1,150 items with face masks making up the vast majority. The authors measured the chemical composition of the discarded PPE and raised concerns about masks becoming a significant new source of microplastic pollution as they degrade in coastal environments.
Uncovering the Release of Micro/nanoplastics from Disposable Face Masks at Times of COVID-19
Researchers found that disposable face masks release significant amounts of micro- and nanoplastic particles when subjected to water exposure and mechanical stress similar to environmental conditions. This confirms that the massive use of masks during COVID-19 introduced new sources of microplastic pollution into the environment.