Papers

61,006 results
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Article Tier 2

Face masks: a COVID-19 protector or environmental contaminant?

This review examined how the massive global use of disposable face masks during COVID-19 has created a significant source of microplastic pollution, with billions of masks entering the environment and releasing plastic fibers and chemical contaminants.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of littered face masks in the southeastern part of Turkey

An assessment of littered single-use face masks in southeastern Turkey found that mask degradation in outdoor environments releases synthetic fibers and microplastics, quantifying this as a significant new source of environmental plastic contamination.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour of college students in disposing used masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in DKI Jakarta Province

Not relevant to microplastics — this study surveys knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Jakarta college students regarding disposal of used face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, without addressing microplastic contamination from masks.

2024 F1000Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

From Protection to Pollution: The Impact of Mask Use on Micro(nano)plastic Release

This bibliographic review found that global mask consumption during COVID-19 reached as high as 2.5 trillion single-use masks per month, with Asia as the largest consumer, and documented how improper mask disposal releases microplastics and nanoplastics into terrestrial and aquatic environments.

2025 Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society
Article Tier 2

Global face mask pollution: threats to the environment and wildlife, and potential solutions

Researchers reviewed the global face mask pollution crisis following COVID-19, estimating massive production volumes and finding that most disposal pathways generate secondary microplastic pollution or toxic emissions, and proposing countermeasures including biodegradable mask development and improved waste management policy.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 86 citations
Article Tier 2

COVID-19 감염병 확산에 따른 일회용 마스크의 적정 관리 방안 연구

This Korean study examined the management problems with single-use face masks discarded during COVID-19, finding that masks contain microplastic components such as polypropylene fibers that can persist in the environment. The study called for better disposal protocols to prevent mask-derived microplastics from entering ecosystems.

2021 한국폐기물자원순환학회지
Article Tier 2

Face masks related to COVID-19 in the beaches of the Moroccan Mediterranean: An emerging source of plastic pollution

Researchers monitored face mask litter on five tourist beaches along the Moroccan Mediterranean over five months, finding 321 masks (96% single-use) with higher densities on urban recreational beaches, identifying COVID-related masks as an emerging source of marine plastic pollution.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 111 citations
Article Tier 2

Behaviors and attitudes concerning disposable masks and the environment: A D.C. high school case study

This case study examined high school students' behaviors and attitudes toward disposable mask disposal during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding widespread environmental contamination with masks that shed microplastics. The study highlights the gap between students' environmental awareness and their actual disposal behaviors.

2024 Journal of Emerging Investigators