Disposable masks release microplastics to the aqueous environment with exacerbation by natural weathering

JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

卷:417

Article

Wang, Zheng¹  An, Chunjiang¹  Chen, Xiujuan²  Lee, Kenneth³  Zhang, Baiyu⁴  Feng, Qi¹ 

[1] Concordia Univ, Dept Bldg Civil & Environm Engn, Montreal, PQ H3G 1M8, Canada

[2] Univ Regina, Inst Energy Environm & Sustainable Communities, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada

[3] Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Ecosyst Sci, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E6, Canada

[4] Mem Univ, Fac Engn & Appl Sci, Northern Reg Persistent Organ Pollutant Control N, St John, NF A1B 3X5, Canada

关键词: Disposable mask;    Microplastic;    Shoreline;    Natural weathering;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126036

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven explosive growth in the use of masks has resulted in many issues related to the disposal and management of waste masks. As improperly disposed masks enter the ocean, the risk to the marine ecological system is further aggravated, especially in the shoreline environment. The objective of this study is to explore the changing characteristics and environmental behaviors of disposable masks when exposed to the shoreline environment. The transformation of chain structure and chemical composition of masks as well as the decreased mechanical strength of masks after UV weathering were observed. The melt-blown cloth in the middle layer of masks was found to be particularly sensitive to UV irradiation. A single weathered mask can release more than 1.5 million microplastics to the aqueous environment. The physical abrasion caused by sand further exacerbated the release of microplastic particles from masks, with more than 16 million particles released from just one weathered mask in the presence of sand. The study results indicate that shorelines are not only the main receptor of discarded masks from oceans and lands, but also play host to further transformation of masks to plastic particles.

【 授权许可】

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