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- Title
Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment.
- Authors
Zhao, Changrong; Ting, Zhang; You, Zhaoyang; Kim, Hyunook; Shah, Kinjal J.
- Abstract
The global panic caused by COVID-19 has continued to increase people's demand for masks. However, due to inadequate management and disposal practice, these masks have, unfortunately, entered the environment and release a large amount of microplastics (MPs), posing a serious threat to the environment and human health. Understanding the occurrence of mask waste in various environments, release of mask-origin MPs, and related environmental risk is essential to mask-waste management in current and future epidemic prevention and control. This paper focuses on the global distribution of mask waste, the potential release of waste-origin MPs, and the impact on the environment. Specifically, the physical and chemical properties of polypropylene (the most common plastic material in a mask), which show a high adsorption capacity for heavy metals and organic pollutants and play a role as a support for microbial growth, were extensively reported. In addition, several important issues that need to be resolved are raised, which offers a direction for future research. This review focuses on the essentiality of handling masks to avoid potential environmental issues.
- Subjects
MICROPLASTICS; PLASTICS; MEDICAL masks; MICROBIAL growth; ENVIRONMENTAL risk; ORGANIC conductors
- Publication
Water (20734441), 2022, Vol 14, Issue 15, p2403
- ISSN
2073-4441
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/w14152403