Toxic effects of aging mask microplastics on E. coli and dynamic changes in extracellular polymeric matter

Contamination of disposable medical masks has become a growing problem globally in the wake of Covid-19 due to their widespread use and improper disposal. Three different mask layers, namely the outer layer, the meltblown (MB) filler layer and the inner layers release three different types of microplastics, whose physical and chemical properties change after prolonged environmental weathering. In this study, physical and chemical changes of mask microplastics before and after aging were characterized by different characterization techniques. The toxic effect and mechanism of aged mask microplastics on Escherichia coli (E. coli) were studied by measuring the growth inhibition of mask microplastics, the change in ATPase activity, the change in malondialdehyde content and reactive oxygen species production, and the release of the chemical composition of exopolymeric substances (EPS). The microplastics of the aged MB filter layer had the most significant inhibitory effect on E. coli growth, reaching 19.2 % after 36 h. Also, under the influence of mask microplastics, ATPase activity of E. coli was inhibited and a large amount of EPS was released. The chemical composition of EPS has also changed. This study proposed the possible toxicity mechanism of mask microplastics and the self-protection mechanism of E. coli, and provided a reference for future research on the toxic effects of mask microplastics on environmental organisms.

Automated summary

Contamination of disposable medical masks has become a global problem due to their widespread use and improper disposal. This study investigated the physical and chemical changes in microplastics of masks after aging, and studied the toxic effects and mechanism of aged mask microplastics on Escherichia coli. The results showed that the microplastics in the aged meltblown filler layer had the most significant inhibitory effect on E. coli growth, and also affected the ATPase activity and the release of exopolymeric substances.