The face mask: A tale from protection to pollution and demanding sustainable solution
The usage of face masks in various sectors of healthcare facilities dates back to years ago. However, the utilization of facial coverings experienced a rapid surge as a result of the escalating rate of COVID-19 infections witnessed across the entire globe. This culminated in an unparalleled inundati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Emerging Contaminants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665023000963 |
| _version_ | 1797378640277667840 |
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| author | Madhusmita Mohanty Jyotirmayee Mohanty Sudeshna Dey Kasturi Dutta Maulin P. Shah Alok Prasad Das |
| author_facet | Madhusmita Mohanty Jyotirmayee Mohanty Sudeshna Dey Kasturi Dutta Maulin P. Shah Alok Prasad Das |
| author_sort | Madhusmita Mohanty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The usage of face masks in various sectors of healthcare facilities dates back to years ago. However, the utilization of facial coverings experienced a rapid surge as a result of the escalating rate of COVID-19 infections witnessed across the entire globe. This culminated in an unparalleled inundation of disposed facial coverings within the surrounding ecosystem. This transforms the face mask from a potent protectant into a massive emerging solid plastic waste pollutant with long-term adverse effects on the environment and human health. The utilization of facial coverings on a worldwide scale escalated to an immensely significant 129 billion per month at the onset of the pandemic. Nanomaterial-based technologies have been integrated into mask manufacturing chains to increase performance and provide antiviral characteristics. Nanotechnology encompasses multidisciplinary aspects including artificial intelligence, chemistry, biology, material science, physical science, and medicine. Abridgment of this review aims to make discarded face masks into a sustainable solution to many environmental pollution. In addition, it culminates collaborative and well-conducted trials, done for generating sustainable greener solutions for disposed face masks with the intention that usage of face masks in an environment-friendly manner. Given the preceding, the purpose of this review is to discuss the evolution of discarded face masks from sentinel pathogens to emerging environmental pollutants over time, as well as to comprehend the effect of discarded face masks on the biosphere, human health, and the food chain, by developing scientifically validated strategies to treat discarded face masks for a sustainable future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:10:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef80b1bb129d4c1e8f8bc659a88ff027 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-6650 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:10:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Contaminants |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef80b1bb129d4c1e8f8bc659a88ff0272023-12-23T05:22:17ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Emerging Contaminants2405-66502024-06-01102100298The face mask: A tale from protection to pollution and demanding sustainable solutionMadhusmita Mohanty0Jyotirmayee Mohanty1Sudeshna Dey2Kasturi Dutta3Maulin P. Shah4Alok Prasad Das5Department of Life Sciences, Rama Devi Women's University, Bhubaneswar. Odisha, IndiaDepartment of Life Sciences, Rama Devi Women's University, Bhubaneswar. Odisha, IndiaDepartment of Life Sciences, Rama Devi Women's University, Bhubaneswar. Odisha, IndiaDepartment of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, 769008, IndiaEnvironmental Microbiology Lab, Bharuch, Gujarat, IndiaDepartment of Life Sciences, Rama Devi Women's University, Bhubaneswar. Odisha, India; Corresponding author.The usage of face masks in various sectors of healthcare facilities dates back to years ago. However, the utilization of facial coverings experienced a rapid surge as a result of the escalating rate of COVID-19 infections witnessed across the entire globe. This culminated in an unparalleled inundation of disposed facial coverings within the surrounding ecosystem. This transforms the face mask from a potent protectant into a massive emerging solid plastic waste pollutant with long-term adverse effects on the environment and human health. The utilization of facial coverings on a worldwide scale escalated to an immensely significant 129 billion per month at the onset of the pandemic. Nanomaterial-based technologies have been integrated into mask manufacturing chains to increase performance and provide antiviral characteristics. Nanotechnology encompasses multidisciplinary aspects including artificial intelligence, chemistry, biology, material science, physical science, and medicine. Abridgment of this review aims to make discarded face masks into a sustainable solution to many environmental pollution. In addition, it culminates collaborative and well-conducted trials, done for generating sustainable greener solutions for disposed face masks with the intention that usage of face masks in an environment-friendly manner. Given the preceding, the purpose of this review is to discuss the evolution of discarded face masks from sentinel pathogens to emerging environmental pollutants over time, as well as to comprehend the effect of discarded face masks on the biosphere, human health, and the food chain, by developing scientifically validated strategies to treat discarded face masks for a sustainable future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665023000963Face masksPlastic wasteEnvironmental pollutionSustainable management |
| spellingShingle | Madhusmita Mohanty Jyotirmayee Mohanty Sudeshna Dey Kasturi Dutta Maulin P. Shah Alok Prasad Das The face mask: A tale from protection to pollution and demanding sustainable solution Emerging Contaminants Face masks Plastic waste Environmental pollution Sustainable management |
| title | The face mask: A tale from protection to pollution and demanding sustainable solution |
| title_full | The face mask: A tale from protection to pollution and demanding sustainable solution |
| title_fullStr | The face mask: A tale from protection to pollution and demanding sustainable solution |
| title_full_unstemmed | The face mask: A tale from protection to pollution and demanding sustainable solution |
| title_short | The face mask: A tale from protection to pollution and demanding sustainable solution |
| title_sort | face mask a tale from protection to pollution and demanding sustainable solution |
| topic | Face masks Plastic waste Environmental pollution Sustainable management |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665023000963 |
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