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COVID-19 Face Masks as a Long-Term Source of Microplastics in Recycled Urban Green Waste

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  • Dirk H. R. Spennemann

    (Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, P.O. Box 789, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia)

Abstract

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, many governments recommended or mandated the wearing of fitted face masks to limit the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus via aerosols. Concomitant with the extensive use of non-sterile, surgical-type single-use face masks (SUM) was an increase of such masks, either lost or discarded, in various environmental settings. With their low tensile strength, the spunbond and melt-blown fabrics of the SUM are prone to shredding into small pieces when impacted by lawn cutting equipment. Observations highlight the absence of smaller pieces, which are either wind-dispersed or collected by the mower’s leaf catcher and disposed together with the green waste and then enter the municipal waste stream. As proof-of-concept, experiments using a domestic lawn-mower with different height settings and different grass heights, show that 75% of all pieces of SUM fabric caught in the catcher belonged to sizes below 10 mm 2 , which under the influence of UV light will decay into microfibers. The implications of SUM generated microplastics are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk H. R. Spennemann, 2021. "COVID-19 Face Masks as a Long-Term Source of Microplastics in Recycled Urban Green Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:207-:d:711403
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cherry, Todd L. & James, Alexander G. & Murphy, James, 2021. "The impact of public health messaging and personal experience on the acceptance of mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 415-430.
    2. Karaivanov, Alexander & Lu, Shih En & Shigeoka, Hitoshi & Chen, Cong & Pamplona, Stephanie, 2021. "Face masks, public policies and slowing the spread of COVID-19: Evidence from Canada," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
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