Wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins – A scoping review
Background: From 2020 to 2023 many people around the world were forced to wear masks for large proportions of the day based on mandates and laws. We aimed to study the potential of face masks for the content and release of inanimate toxins. Methods: A scoping review of 1003 studies was performed (da...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323013623 |
| _version_ | 1797217109084733440 |
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| author | Kai Kisielinski Stefan Hockertz Oliver Hirsch Stephan Korupp Bernd Klosterhalfen Andreas Schnepf Gerald Dyker |
| author_facet | Kai Kisielinski Stefan Hockertz Oliver Hirsch Stephan Korupp Bernd Klosterhalfen Andreas Schnepf Gerald Dyker |
| author_sort | Kai Kisielinski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: From 2020 to 2023 many people around the world were forced to wear masks for large proportions of the day based on mandates and laws. We aimed to study the potential of face masks for the content and release of inanimate toxins. Methods: A scoping review of 1003 studies was performed (database search in PubMed/MEDLINE, qualitative and quantitative evaluation). Results: 24 studies were included (experimental time 17 min to 15 days) evaluating content and/or release in 631 masks (273 surgical, 228 textile and 130 N95 masks). Most studies (63%) showed alarming results with high micro- and nanoplastics (MPs and NPs) release and exceedances could also be evidenced for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), xylene, acrolein, per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates (including di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate, DEHP) and for Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Sb and TiO2. Discussion: Of course, masks filter larger dirt and plastic particles and fibers from the air we breathe and have specific indications, but according to our data they also carry risks. Depending on the application, a risk-benefit analysis is necessary. Conclusion: Undoubtedly, mask mandates during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have been generating an additional source of potentially harmful exposition to toxins with health threatening and carcinogenic properties at population level with almost zero distance to the airways. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T11:56:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82b729912ff0489eae5241b846fa7a11 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T11:56:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-82b729912ff0489eae5241b846fa7a112024-04-09T04:12:27ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132024-04-01275115858Wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins – A scoping reviewKai Kisielinski0Stefan Hockertz1Oliver Hirsch2Stephan Korupp3Bernd Klosterhalfen4Andreas Schnepf5Gerald Dyker6Social Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Clinical Medicine (Surgery), Private Practice, 40212 Düsseldorf, Germany; Corresponding author.Toxicology, Pharmacology, Immunology, tpi consult AG, Haldenstr. 1, CH 6340 Baar, SwitzerlandDepartment of Psychology, FOM University of Applied Sciences, 57078 Siegen, GermanySurgeon, Emergency Medicine, Private Practice, 52070 Aachen, GermanyInstitute of Pathology, Dueren Hospital, Roonstrasse 30, 52351 Dueren, GermanyInstitute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyFaculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, GermanyBackground: From 2020 to 2023 many people around the world were forced to wear masks for large proportions of the day based on mandates and laws. We aimed to study the potential of face masks for the content and release of inanimate toxins. Methods: A scoping review of 1003 studies was performed (database search in PubMed/MEDLINE, qualitative and quantitative evaluation). Results: 24 studies were included (experimental time 17 min to 15 days) evaluating content and/or release in 631 masks (273 surgical, 228 textile and 130 N95 masks). Most studies (63%) showed alarming results with high micro- and nanoplastics (MPs and NPs) release and exceedances could also be evidenced for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), xylene, acrolein, per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates (including di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate, DEHP) and for Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Sb and TiO2. Discussion: Of course, masks filter larger dirt and plastic particles and fibers from the air we breathe and have specific indications, but according to our data they also carry risks. Depending on the application, a risk-benefit analysis is necessary. Conclusion: Undoubtedly, mask mandates during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have been generating an additional source of potentially harmful exposition to toxins with health threatening and carcinogenic properties at population level with almost zero distance to the airways.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323013623Surgical maskN95 maskToxicityHealth risk assessmentMicroplasticVolatile organic compound (VOC) |
| spellingShingle | Kai Kisielinski Stefan Hockertz Oliver Hirsch Stephan Korupp Bernd Klosterhalfen Andreas Schnepf Gerald Dyker Wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins – A scoping review Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Surgical mask N95 mask Toxicity Health risk assessment Microplastic Volatile organic compound (VOC) |
| title | Wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins – A scoping review |
| title_full | Wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins – A scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins – A scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins – A scoping review |
| title_short | Wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins – A scoping review |
| title_sort | wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins a scoping review |
| topic | Surgical mask N95 mask Toxicity Health risk assessment Microplastic Volatile organic compound (VOC) |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323013623 |
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