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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to The impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks
ClearThe impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks.
This study compared the filtration effectiveness and environmental impact of single-use versus reusable face masks during COVID-19, finding that reusable masks can be comparable in protection while significantly reducing plastic waste. Billions of disposable masks ended up in the environment during the pandemic, releasing microplastic fibers and fragments as they degraded.
The impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks.
Reusable fabric face masks and single-use surgical masks were compared for filtration efficiency and particle shedding, with single-use masks providing better protection against airborne pathogens but generating more plastic waste, while reusable cotton masks reduced waste but required proper washing protocols to maintain effectiveness.
Facing COVID-19: Quantifying the Use of Reusable vs. Disposable Facemasks
This study compared the environmental cost of single-use surgical masks versus reusable cloth masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reusable masks had a significantly lower environmental impact per use, especially when washed efficiently. The findings support policies favoring reusable masks to reduce pandemic-related plastic waste.
Disposable over Reusable Face Masks: Public Safety or Environmental Disaster?
This review compares the public health benefits and environmental impacts of disposable versus reusable face masks in the context of COVID-19. While disposable masks consistently provide higher protection, they contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, landfill waste, and microplastic pollution. The study discusses the need for approaches that balance pandemic safety with environmental sustainability.
Reconciling human health with the environment while struggling against the COVID-19 pandemic through improved face mask eco-design
The environmental impacts of single-use versus reusable surgical face masks were compared using life cycle assessment, finding that reusable masks had substantially lower overall environmental burdens despite requiring energy and water for washing. The study quantifies the trade-off between infection protection and environmental impact in mask design choices prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Analysis of the Optimal Use of Fabric Masks and Disposable Medical Masks During the COVID-19
This paper is not about microplastics — it compares the environmental, economic, and public health trade-offs of disposable medical masks versus reusable cloth masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Which strategy for using medical and community masks? A prospective analysis of their environmental impact
Comparing disposable medical masks to reusable community masks, this study found that a wait-and-reuse strategy with medical masks offered the best balance of environmental impact and protective effectiveness during the pandemic.
Applicability of Membranes in Protective Face Masks and Comparison of Reusable and Disposable Face Masks with Life Cycle Assessment
A comparison of reusable and disposable face masks using life cycle assessment found that while reusable masks have lower total environmental impact over their lifetime, disposable masks shed microplastic fibers that could enter both environmental and human biological systems.
Public face masks wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comprehensive analysis is needed for potential implications
This review weighed evidence on the effectiveness of face masks for preventing COVID-19 transmission against growing evidence that masks release microplastics and chemical contaminants when worn and degraded. The authors concluded that the public health benefits of mask use during the pandemic outweighed plastic exposure risks, but called for redesigned masks with lower MP release and better end-of-life management.
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.
Reusability of face masks: Influence of washing and comparison of performance between medical face masks and community face masks
Researchers tested the impact of 20 wash cycles at 60 degrees Celsius on the particle filtration efficiency and breathability of both medical face masks and reusable community face masks, measuring performance across particle sizes from 0.1 to 6.5 micrometers. They found that washing affected filtration efficiency differently between mask types, informing guidance on the safe reuse of masks and their relative environmental footprints.
Reusable Personal Protective Equipment Viewed Through the Lens of Sustainability
This paper evaluates the sustainability impacts of single-use vs. reusable personal protective equipment, finding that polypropylene-based disposable masks generate microplastics as they degrade and have higher carbon footprints than reusable alternatives.
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.
Aerosol Filtration Testing of Fabrics for Development of Reusable Face Masks
Researchers tested the aerosol filtration performance of over 300 fabrics and layered fabric combinations for use as reusable face masks, finding that layered materials and hydrophobic coatings significantly improve filtration efficiency while maintaining breathability. The work provides practical guidance for designing effective non-disposable masks — an important consideration given that disposable mask waste, including microplastic-releasing synthetic fibers, became a major pollution concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life cycle assessment and circularity evaluation of the non-medical masks in the Covid-19 pandemic: a Brazilian case
Researchers applied life cycle assessment and material circularity analysis to reusable cotton face masks and single-use nonwoven masks in Brazil, finding that cotton masks have better environmental performance after five uses and higher circularity, with human health impacts representing the most significant environmental burden category.
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.
The Ultra Fit Community Mask - Toward Maximal Respiratory Protection via Personalized Face Fit
Researchers developed modifications to standard disposable face masks to greatly improve their fit against the face, increasing protection against airborne pathogens. Better-fitting masks reduce the need for disposable mask overuse, potentially reducing the plastic waste generated by single-use PPE.
Cotton and Surgical Masks—What Ecological Factors Are Relevant for Their Sustainability?
This study assessed the ecological sustainability of cotton and surgical face masks in the context of high pandemic-driven demand, examining factors including raw material sourcing, manufacturing footprint, use, and end-of-life disposal. It found that mask type, reuse frequency, and disposal pathway strongly influence overall environmental impact.
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.
The Life of a Face Mask: from Production to Use to Disposal
This review covers the full life cycle of face masks—from production through use to disposal—and their protective efficacy and environmental impact. The widespread use of single-use plastic masks during COVID-19 generated millions of tons of plastic waste that risks fragmenting into environmental microplastics.
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.
Impact of medical face mask wear on bacterial filtration efficiency and breathability
Researchers investigated whether medical face masks could be safely worn beyond the manufacturer-recommended 4-hour limit, finding that extended wear under various simulated conditions affected bacterial filtration efficiency and breathability, with implications for reducing mask-related plastic waste.
British and Irish newspapers implicitly support single-use masks over reusable face coverings
This paper is not directly about microplastics in the scientific sense — it analyzes how British and Irish newspapers framed single-use face masks versus reusable coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding an implicit media bias toward single-use masks despite their greater environmental cost.
How efficient are facial masks against COVID-19? Evaluating the mask use of various communities one year into the pandemic
This evaluation of face mask use across multiple communities in Turkey one year into the COVID-19 pandemic found that community masking compliance varied significantly by setting and demographics, with healthcare workers showing the highest adherence. The study confirmed that medical-grade masks provide superior filtration compared to cloth alternatives, though adverse effects from mask use were rare and mainly limited to skin irritation from prolonged wear. The massive global consumption of disposable face masks during the pandemic created a new and significant source of microplastic pollution in both terrestrial and marine environments.