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Adverse environmental effects of disposable face masks due to the excess usage.
Hui Li, Alice Sim; Sathishkumar, Palanivel; Selahuddeen, Muhammad Luqman; Asyraf Wan Mahmood, Wan M; Zainal Abidin, Mohamad Hamdi; Wahab, Roswanira Abdul; Mohamed Huri, Mohamad Afiq; Abdullah, Faizuan.
  • Hui Li AS; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
  • Sathishkumar P; Department of Biomaterials, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai 600 077, India.
  • Selahuddeen ML; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
  • Asyraf Wan Mahmood WM; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
  • Zainal Abidin MH; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
  • Wahab RA; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia; Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
  • Mohamed Huri MA; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
  • Abdullah F; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Electronic address: faizuan@utm.my.
Environ Pollut ; 308: 119674, 2022 Sep 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1905564
ABSTRACT
The widespread use of disposable face masks as a preventative strategy to address transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been a key environmental concern since the pandemic began. This has led to an unprecedented new form of contamination from improperly disposed masks, which liberates significant amounts of heavy metals and toxic chemicals in addition to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Therefore, this study monitored the liberation of heavy metals, VOCs, and microfibers from submerged disposable face masks at different pH (4, 7 and 12), to simulate distinct environmental conditions. Lead (3.238% ppb), cadmium (0.672 ppb) and chromium (0.786 ppb) were found in the analyzed leachates. By pyrolysis, 2,4-dimethylhept-1-ene and 4-methylheptane were identified as the VOCs produced by the samples. The chemically degraded morphology in the FESEM images provided further evidence that toxic heavy metals and volatile organic compounds had been leached from the submerged face masks, with greater degradation observed in samples submerged at pH 7 and higher. The results are seen to communicate the comparable danger of passively degrading disposable face masks and the release of micro- or nanofibers into the marine environment. The toxicity of certain heavy metals and chemicals released from discarded face masks warrants better, more robust manufacturing protocols and increased public awareness for responsible disposal to reduce the adverse impact on ecology and human health.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Metals, Heavy / Volatile Organic Compounds / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies Topics: Variants Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Environ Pollut Journal subject: Environmental Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.envpol.2022.119674

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Metals, Heavy / Volatile Organic Compounds / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies Topics: Variants Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Environ Pollut Journal subject: Environmental Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.envpol.2022.119674