Disposed facemasks gathered in Odense City, Denmark. Credit: Elvis Genbo Xu/SDU
Every minute of the day we get rid of 3 million face masks. Many wind up as possibly poisonous micro- and nanoplastic or providers for other toxicants in the environment, scientists alert.
Recent research studies approximate that we utilize an impressive 129 billion face masks internationally each month – that is 3 million a minute. Most of them are non reusable face masks made from plastic microfibers.
“With increasing reports on inappropriate disposal of masks, it is urgent to recognize this potential environmental threat and prevent it from becoming the next plastic problem,” scientists alert in a remark in the clinical journal Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering.
The scientists are Environmental Toxicologist Elvis Genbo Xu from University of Southern Denmark and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Zhiyong Jason Ren from Princeton University.
No standards for mask recycling
Disposable masks are plastic items, that cannot be easily biodegraded however might piece into smaller sized plastic particles, specifically micro- and nanoplastics that prevalent in communities.
The massive production of non reusable masks is on a comparable scale as plastic bottles, which is approximated to be 43 billion each month.
Collection of pictures of disposed facemasks in the environment in the city of Odense, Denmark. Credit: Elvis Genbo Xu/SDU
However, various from plastic bottles, (of which app. 25 pct. is recycled), there is no main assistance on mask recycle, making it most likely to be gotten rid of as strong waste, the scientists compose.
Greater issue than plastic bags
If not gotten rid of for recycling, like other plastic wastes, non reusable masks can wind up in the environment, freshwater systems, and oceans, where weathering can produce a a great deal of micro-sized particles (smaller sized than 5 mm) throughout a fairly brief duration (weeks) and additional piece into nanoplastics (smaller sized than 1 micrometer).
Collected deal with masks in city of Odense, Denmark. Credit: Elvis Genbo Xu/SDU
“A newer and bigger concern is that the masks are directly made from microsized plastic fibers (thickness of ~1 to 10 micrometers). When breaking down in the environment, the mask may release more micro-sized plastics, easier and faster than bulk plastics like plastic bags,” the scientists compose, continuing:
“Such impacts can be worsened by a new-generation mask, nanomasks, which directly use nano-sized plastic fibers (with a diameter smaller than 1 micrometer) and add a new source of nanoplastic pollution.”
“We know that, like other plastic debris, disposable masks may also accumulate and release harmful chemical and biological substances, such as bisphenol A, heavy metals, as well as pathogenic micro-organisms.”
— Elvis Genbo Xu, Environmental Toxicologist
The scientists tension that they do not understand how masks add to the a great deal of plastic particles discovered in the environment – just due to the fact that no information on mask deterioration in nature exists.
“But we know that, like other plastic debris, disposable masks may also accumulate and release harmful chemical and biological substances, such as bisphenol A, heavy metals, as well as pathogenic micro-organisms. These may pose indirect adverse impacts on plants, animals, and humans,” states Elvis Genbo Xu.
What can we do?
Elvis Genbo Xu and Zhiyong Jason Ren have the following recommendations for handling the issue:
- Set up mask-only wastebasket for collection and disposal
- think about standardization, standards, and stringent execution of waste management for mask wastes
- change non reusable masks with multiple-use face masks like cotton masks
- think about advancement of naturally degradable disposal masks.
Reference: “Preventing masks from becoming the next plastic problem” by Elvis Genbo Xu and Zhiyong Jason Ren, 28 February 2021, Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering.
DOI: 10.1007/s11783-021-1413-7
