Discarded COVID Face Masks Now Polluting Environment
A discarded face mask lies in the street in San Francisco, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Millions of face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic are now breaking down and polluting the environment, posing a long-term ecological risk, according to a new study. Researchers from Coventry University found that the plastic-based masks, which were designed to protect against the virus, are releasing microplastics and harmful chemicals as they degrade.
As reported by The Guardian, most of the masks—made from materials like polypropylene—were not recycled. Instead, they ended up in landfills or as litter in cities, waterways, and natural environments. Over time, these masks begin to break apart, shedding tiny plastic particles and chemical pollutants.
In the study published in the journal Environmental Pollution, researchers Anna Bogush and Ivan Kourtchev soaked different types of masks in purified water for 24 hours. All released microplastics, but FFP2 and FFP3 masks—commonly used for high-level protection—emitted the most. Most of these particles were less than 100 micrometers wide, roughly the width of a human hair, making them easily spread through air and water.
The study also found that the masks released bisphenol B, a hormone-disrupting chemical. Based on global mask production during the pandemic, the researchers estimate that hundreds of pounds of bisphenol B could have been released into the environment each day.
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