Single-use surgical face masks, as a potential source of microplastics: Do they act as pollutant carriers?

Millions of people are using face coverings (including single-use surgical face masks) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a large number of used masks, particularly single-usemasks enter uncontrolled the environment since most of the users have little information on how to dispose of them safely. This new important waste is a potential source of microplastics, which is found nowadays in many parks, streets, and coastlines. Discarded masks will be finally drained to the ocean polluting the marine environment and threatening marine life. This short communication examines the role of facemasks and subsequentlymask-derivedmicroplastics as pollutant carriers in environmental compartments (e.g. hydrosphere, biosphere, etc.) by investigating their sorption characteristics regarding dye molecules. In this context, batch-type equilibrium experiments were performed and the effect of different sorption parameters has been explored (i.e. contact time and temperature). The results show that single-use surgical face masks can act as dye carriers (Methylene Blue, Crystal Violet and Malachite Green) in the aquatic environment. In addition, preliminary experiments on the thermal treatment of face masks and the use of the resulting carbonaceous material as efficient adsorbent have been performed, pointing out a possibility for used mask disinfection and recycling. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Millions of people are using face coverings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a large number of discarded masks entering the environment, potentially becoming a source of microplastic pollution that threatens marine life. Experimental results show that single-use surgical face masks can act as carriers of dye molecules in water environments. Thermal treatment of masks and using resulting carbonaceous materials as efficient adsorbents may offer a possibility for disinfection and recycling of used masks.