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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Study of the Long-Term Aging of Polypropylene-Made Disposable Surgical Masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators
ClearSimulation of the Long-Term Ageing of Polypropylene-Made Disposable Surgical Masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators
Researchers artificially aged polypropylene surgical masks under simulated environmental conditions and modeled their long-term oxidative degradation, finding that mask polymers undergo progressive fragmentation that will generate microplastics for years to decades after disposal in the environment.
Detection and Quantification of Micro(nano)plastics Release from Photolysis of Surgical Masks
Researchers simulated 900 days of UV photolysis on surgical mask polypropylene and detected both microplastics larger than 10 µm (10 mg per mask item) and nanoplastics averaging 149 nm, demonstrating that mask degradation releases particles small enough to penetrate deep into the respiratory tract.
Environmental Decay of Single Use Surgical Face Masks as an Agent of Plastic Micro-Fiber Pollution
Researchers observed the environmental decay of single-use polypropylene surgical face masks discarded during the COVID-19 pandemic in real outdoor settings, documenting the rate and progression of photo-oxidative fragmentation and micro-fiber release over time under natural weathering conditions.
Fabric structure and polymer composition as key contributors to micro(nano)plastic contamination in face masks.
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.
Exudation of microplastics from commonly used face masks in COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers simulated real-world mask usage and found that commonly used face masks — including surgical and cloth types — shed measurable quantities of microplastic particles that could be inhaled by the wearer, raising concerns about respiratory exposure during prolonged mask use.
Degradation of plastics associated with the COVID-19 pandemic
This review examines how personal protective equipment from the COVID-19 pandemic degrades in the environment and becomes a source of microplastic pollution. Researchers found that face masks, primarily made of polypropylene, break down into microfibers relatively quickly when exposed to weathering. The study highlights that pandemic-related plastic waste represents a new and significant category of environmental microplastic contamination.
Significant Fragmentation of Disposable Surgical Masks—Enormous Source for Problematic Micro/Nanoplastics Pollution in the Environment
Researchers found that improperly discarded disposable surgical masks lose up to 30% of their mass within one month outdoors, releasing micro- and nanoplastic particles from all five mask components through photodegradation and leaching into aquatic environments.
Uncovering the Release of Micro/nanoplastics from Disposable Face Masks at Times of COVID-19
This study confirmed that disposable face masks release micro- and nanoplastic particles under environmental conditions including water exposure and mechanical stress. The release was enhanced by simulated weathering, raising concern about the environmental persistence and pollution potential of pandemic-era mask waste.
Environmental impact of disposable face masks: degradation, wear, and cement mortar incorporation
Researchers examined how disposable polypropylene face masks break down in the environment, releasing microplastics and nanoplastics after just 117 days of outdoor exposure. The study also tested incorporating shredded mask material into cement mortar and found it did not significantly harm the material's structural properties, suggesting construction applications as one way to divert mask waste from the environment.
The Release Potential of Microplastics from Face Masks into the Aquatic Environment
This study examined the release of microplastics from new and naturally aged surgical and FFP2 face masks exposed to environmental conditions and water, finding that both types released particles, particularly after weathering. Improper disposal of face masks poses a growing source of microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.
Disposable face masks release micro particles to the aqueous environment after simulating sunlight aging: Microplastics or non-microplastics?
This study characterized particles released from surgical, N95, KN95, and children's masks after simulated sunlight aging, finding that most released particles (66-99%) were non-plastic materials such as synthetic or natural fibers. Children's masks released the most microplastics, at 8.92 times the quantity of surgical masks, with polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate as the dominant polymer types.
An investigation into the aging mechanism of disposable face masks and the interaction between different influencing factors
Researchers found that a single disposable face mask can release between 39,000 and 938,000 microplastic particles as it breaks down over three months under environmental conditions like UV light and saltwater. The aging masks also released heavy metals and absorbed other pollutants like antibiotics from their surroundings. This highlights that improperly discarded face masks are a significant and growing source of microplastic and chemical pollution.
Long-term release kinetic characteristics of microplastic from commonly used masks into water under simulated natural environments
Researchers studied the long-term release of microplastics from four types of face masks (cotton, fashion, N95, and disposable surgical) in simulated natural water conditions over 12 months. The study found that all mask types continuously released microplastic fibers and fragments in a time-dependent manner, with particles predominantly smaller than 20 micrometers, accompanied by physical degradation and photo-oxidation. These findings suggest that improperly discarded masks are an ongoing source of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Particles and fragments in unused disposable face masks: A microscopic analysis
Researchers microscopically examined commercially available surgical masks and found particles and fragments in the 2–40 micrometer range on fiber surfaces inside all masks tested, raising questions about whether mask wearers may inhale these microplastic-sized particles.
Physical and chemical degradation of littered personal protective equipment (PPE) under simulated environmental conditions
Researchers studied the physical and chemical degradation of discarded face masks and gloves under simulated environmental conditions over 60 days. The study found that sun exposure caused significant polymer degradation in personal protective equipment, suggesting that littered PPE can break down relatively quickly and potentially release microplastic fragments into the environment.
Microplastics/nanoplastics released from facemasks as contaminants of emerging concern
This review examines how disposable facemasks, made primarily from polypropylene and polyethylene, release microplastics and nanoplastics into the environment. Chemical, physical, and biological processes break down discarded masks into tiny plastic particles that persist in ecosystems. Given the billions of masks used during COVID-19, this represents a significant and growing source of microplastic pollution.
Identification of Microplastics and Non-Microplastics Released from Masks under Environmental Conditions
Researchers found that single-use surgical masks worn during the COVID-19 pandemic release microplastics under environmental stress, with UV exposure generating the most particles (approximately 120 items per mask), followed by mechanical abrasion and high-temperature exposure.
A multi-analytical approach to investigate UV-induced degradation and micro/nanoparticle release from disposable plastic face masks
Researchers subjected disposable face masks to long-term UV-B aging in water to assess degradation and pollutant release. Aging caused structural fragmentation, surface oxidation, and the release of chemical additives and micro/nano-plastic particles, demonstrating that improperly disposed masks become a persistent source of both MPs and chemical contaminants.
Kinetic characteristics of microplastic release from commonly used masks in aquatic environment
Researchers tested four mask types (normal, fashion, N95, and disposable surgical) by exposing them to simulated natural water environments over 12 months at 3-month intervals to characterize the kinetics of microplastic release. They found time-dependent release patterns that varied by mask construction, documenting structural degradation and quantifying microplastic fiber shedding as a function of duration, with implications for environmental risk assessment of pandemic-related mask pollution.
The behavior of microplastics and nanoplastics release from UV-aged masks in the water
UV irradiation of three types of disposable masks in water progressively damaged their structure over 15-30 days, releasing microplastics and nanoplastics at rates that increased exponentially with irradiation time, with an estimated release of up to 3.66 x 10^10 particles per mask over 1-3 years of environmental exposure.
Assessment of inhalation exposure to microplastic particles when disposable masks are repeatedly used
Researchers assessed whether reusing disposable medical masks leads to inhalation exposure to microplastics by testing masks under simulated wearing conditions. They found that hand-rubbed new masks released approximately 1.5 times more microplastic particles than untouched ones, and reused masks released even more through physical abrasion. The predominant particles were polypropylene and polyethylene fragments, raising concerns about repeated mask use as a source of microplastic inhalation.
Aging behavior and leaching characteristics of microfibers in landfill leachate: Important role of surface mesh structure
Researchers investigated how mesh-structured microfibers, such as those from disposable masks, age and leach contaminants in landfill leachate compared to ordinary polypropylene films. The study found that mesh-structured microfibers underwent more significant degradation and released more dissolved organic matter and nanoplastic fragments, suggesting they pose higher environmental risks as long-term pollutant sources in landfills.
Photoaging Characteristics of Disposable Masks under UV Irradiation
Disposable face masks were subjected to UV irradiation to simulate outdoor weathering, with results showing progressive photoaging including surface cracking, fiber fragmentation, and release of plastic particles along with chemical additives. The study quantifies how discarded pandemic-era masks break down into microplastics under solar radiation in the environment.
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.