Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/15/2403 |
| _version_ | 1797440268386959360 |
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| author | Changrong Zhao Zhang Ting Zhaoyang You Hyunook Kim Kinjal J. Shah |
| author_facet | Changrong Zhao Zhang Ting Zhaoyang You Hyunook Kim Kinjal J. Shah |
| author_sort | Changrong Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:05:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-688e97aa56144a66a59c46fe10d39eac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:05:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-688e97aa56144a66a59c46fe10d39eac2023-11-30T22:58:53ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-08-011415240310.3390/w14152403Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into EnvironmentChangrong Zhao0Zhang Ting1Zhaoyang You2Hyunook Kim3Kinjal J. Shah4College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, ChinaCollege of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, ChinaCollege of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, KoreaCollege of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, ChinaThe 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/15/2403microplasticsmicrofibersmasksCOVID-19polypropylene |
| spellingShingle | Changrong Zhao Zhang Ting Zhaoyang You Hyunook Kim Kinjal J. Shah Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment Water microplastics microfibers masks COVID-19 polypropylene |
| title | Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment |
| title_full | Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment |
| title_fullStr | Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment |
| title_short | Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment |
| title_sort | uncontrolled disposal of used masks resulting in release of microplastics and co pollutants into environment |
| topic | microplastics microfibers masks COVID-19 polypropylene |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/15/2403 |
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