The skyrocketing use of disposable face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has generated a monumental amount of waste that threatens to harm the environment.
Face masks worn by countless people worldwide for months could have serious, underappreciated consequences for the planet’s health. As disposable masks are thrown out, the waste can release microplastics and chemicals, polluting the land and water.
This environmental warning comes from a new study led by Coventry University that looked at how many microplastics and chemical additives can be released from different types of temporary facepieces. Dr. Anna Bogush and Dr. Ivan Kourtchev from the university’s Research Centre for Agroecology, Water, and Resilience examined what would happen to unused masks left in glass beakers for 24 hours with ultra-pure water.
After filtering and analyzing the content, it was discovered that masks released microplastic particles and chemical additives. This suggests that even before the masks are used, these pollutants exist in the products from the manufacturing process.
Compared to standard surgical masks, the disposable, filtering facepieces released up to four times more microplastic particles. Notably, most particles were tiny, less than 100 micrometers in size, and made of polypropylene.
Other plastics were also discovered in the investigation, including polyethylene, polyester, nylon, and PVC. Since these materials do not easily break down, they can accumulate in the environment, harming the ecosystem or even wildlife.
Some of the materials were found to possess chemical additives that can disrupt hormones or negatively impact human health once in the body. The researchers also identified chemicals like Bisphenol B, known to harm organisms that live in water and potentially harm humans if they enter the food chain.
“This study has underlined the urgent need to rethink how we produce, use and dispose of face masks. We can’t ignore the environmental cost of single-use masks, especially when we know that the microplastics and chemicals they release can negatively affect both people and ecosystems,” said Bogush in a press release.
“As we move forward, it’s vital that we raise awareness of these risks, support the development of more sustainable alternatives and make informed choices to protect our health and the environment.”