Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Perencanaan Pengelolaan Limbah Medis (masker) Rumah Tangga Sebagai Upaya Penanganan Dampak COVID-19 Di Kecamatan Bojongloa Kaler, Kota Bandung

This Indonesian study proposed a management system for household mask waste in Bandung during COVID-19, given that masks are made from polymer-based materials that are difficult to decompose. Pandemic-related single-use plastic waste, including masks, has created a new wave of microplastic contamination in urban environments.

2023 Jurnal Informatika Teknologi dan Sains
Article Tier 2

Environmental Rehabilitation in Waste Management Disposable House-hold Medical Mask

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper discusses legal and procedural frameworks for managing disposable medical mask waste in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023 1 citations
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

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

Understanding the environmental impacts of facemasks: a review on the facemask industry and existing life cycle assessment studies

This review examined the environmental life cycle impacts of disposable face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that the surge in mask production and disposal created a significant new source of plastic waste and microplastic pollution globally.

2023 Sustainable Environment Research 21 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role of Women in Management of Mask Waste in Indonesia in the Era of the Covid-19 Pandemic

This study examined the role of women in managing disposable mask waste during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, finding that women played a critical role in household waste sorting and proper disposal that reduce environmental contamination.

2023 Proceeding of International Conference on Business Economics Social Sciences and Humanities
Article Tier 2

Review of the valorization options for the proper disposal of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers reviewed waste management options for the surge in discarded polypropylene face masks during COVID-19, finding that improper disposal contributes directly to microplastic pollution, and proposing valorization strategies — including energy recovery and material upcycling — tailored to country-level infrastructure and emergency conditions.

2021 Environmental Technology & Innovation 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Mascarillas faciales: contaminación ambiental, efectos toxicológicos, posibles soluciones y políticas globales

This review examined the environmental contamination, toxicological effects, and global policy responses related to face mask pollution generated during the COVID-19 pandemic, documenting how the surge in mask use following the WHO declaration created a new source of plastic waste and microplastic pollution.

2022 Encuentro Internacional de Educación en Ingeniería 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The Massive Misuse of Face Mask as a Risk to COVID-19 Pandemic in Latin American: The Case of Mexico

Researchers examined face mask waste mismanagement during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico and Latin America, finding that inadequate waste management infrastructure, poor public compliance, and high single-use mask consumption created significant environmental contamination risks in already strained waste systems.

2021 7 citations
Article Tier 2

A Novel Face Masks and it’s Utility during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comprehensive Review

This review examines the technical specifications, materials, and engineering advances of face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic, including both commercial and homemade options. Researchers discuss the environmental impact of disposable masks, noting that their widespread use has contributed to microplastic pollution as mask materials degrade. The study highlights the need for mask designs that balance effective viral protection with reduced environmental contamination.

2024 Journal of Quality in Health Care & Economics 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-design Actions to Improve Life Cycle Environmental Performance of Face Masks in the Pandemic Era

This study evaluated the environmental impact of single-use face masks throughout their life cycle and proposed eco-design strategies to reduce their footprint. The massive increase in disposable mask use during COVID-19 generated significant plastic waste and potential microplastic pollution.

2021 Proceedings of the Design Society 2 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

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.

2021 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

Environmental risks of polymer materials from disposable face masks linked to the COVID-19 pandemic

This review examines how disposable face masks from the COVID-19 pandemic release microplastics into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, discussing combined pollutant effects and proposing green technologies to reduce mask-related plastic waste at its source.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 115 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of disposable facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on microplastics release

This review examines the environmental threats posed by disposable face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on microplastic release. Researchers found that discarded masks undergo physical and chemical degradation in the environment, generating microplastics that contaminate both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The study provides an overview of current knowledge on microplastic extraction methods and proposes strategies for controlling mask-related plastic pollution through source reduction and improved waste management.

2022 Chemosphere 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative Analysis of Face Mask Usage and Environmental Impact in Asian Cities during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic

This comparative analysis examined face mask usage patterns and their environmental impact across Asian cities, estimating the volume of mask waste generated and the resulting microplastic and fiber pollution from improper disposal.

2024 Sustainability 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Face Masks to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Processing, Roles, Requirements, Efficacy, Risk and Sustainability

This review examines the materials, manufacturing methods, and effectiveness of face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of which are made from non-biodegradable plastics like polypropylene and polyester. Researchers found that while masks are effective at reducing virus transmission, their widespread use and improper disposal have created a significant environmental concern as they break down into microplastics. The study calls for more sustainable mask materials and better waste management strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of pandemic-related plastic waste.

2022 Polymers 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Face masks as environmental risk: An observational study using street - Survey in Hisar District of Haryana State

Researchers conducted an observational field survey of littered face masks in 10 localities across Hisar District, Haryana, India, quantifying the density of discarded personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. They found an overall density of 0.81 masks per 100 square meters, with 52% being single-use surgical masks containing plastic, highlighting improper disposal as a growing source of plastic pollution in developing countries.

2022 Ecology Environment and Conservation 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021
Systematic Review Tier 1

Impact of coronavirus pandemic litters on microfiber pollution—effect of personal protective equipment and disposable face masks

Researchers reviewed microfiber pollution arising from disposable and reusable face masks and personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that synthetic fiber shedding through littering, laundry, and disinfection represents a significant and undercharacterized addition to global microplastic pollution loads.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 24 citations