Preventing masks from becoming the next plastic problem

Graphical abstract

References

[1] Alimi O S, Farner Budarz J, Hernandez L M, Tufenkji N (2018). Microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic environments: Aggregation, deposition, and enhanced contaminant transport. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(4): 1704–1724

[2] Andrady A L (2011). Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(8): 1596–1605

[3] Brooks J T, Butler J C, Redfield R R (2020). Universal masking to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission—the time is now. Journal of the American Medical Association, 324(7): 635–637

[4] Elachola H, Ebrahim S H, Gozzer E (2020). COVID-19: Facemask use prevalence in international airports in Asia, Europe and the Americas, March 2020. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 35: 101637

[5] Fadare O O, Okoffo E D (2020). Covid-19 face masks: A potential source of microplastic fibers in the environment. Science of the Total Environment, 737: 140279

[6] Geyer R, Jambeck J R, Law K L (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3(7): e1700782

[7] Mattsson K, Jocic S, Doverbratt I, Hansson L A (2018). Nanoplastics in the aquatic environment. In: Zeng E Y, ed. Microplastic Contamination in Aquatic Environments. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 379–399

[8] Nguyen B, Claveau-Mallet D, Hernandez L M, Xu E G, Farner J M, Tufenkji N (2019). Separation and analysis of microplastics and nanoplastics in complex environmental samples. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(4): 858–866

[9] Prata J C, Silva A L, Walker T R, Duarte A C, Rocha-Santos T (2020). COVID-19 pandemic repercussions on the use and management of plastics. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(13): 7760–7765

[10] Sangkham S (2020). Face mask and medical waste disposal during the novel COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 2: 100052

[11] Syed Q, Sopwith W, Regan M, Bellis M A (2003). Behind the mask. Journey through an epidemic: Some observations of contrasting public health responses to SARS. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 57(11): 855–856

[12] Vethaak A D, Leslie H A (2016). Plastic debris is a human health issue. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(13): 6825–6826

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2021 Higher Education Press