ArticleThe Science of the total environment2022
Laundering of face masks represents an additional source of synthetic and natural microfibers to aquatic ecosystems.
Article in The Science of the total environment, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed.
- Polyurethane-Derived Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Sources, Human Exposure, and Toxicological and Health Effects.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Harnessing fluorescence for advanced characterization of textile microfibre emissions.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Face Mask: As a Source or Protector of Human Exposure to Microplastics and Phthalate Plasticizers?Toxics · 2023Article
- Release of microplastics and nanoplastics in water from disposable surgical masks after disinfection.Marine pollution bulletin · 2022Article
- Mitigation of microfibers release from disposable masks - An analysis of structural properties.Environmental research · 2022Article
- Migration of Microplastics and Phthalates from Face Masks to Water.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Evaluation of the Microbiological Effectiveness of Three Accessible Mask Decontamination Methods and Their Impact on Filtration, Air Permeability and Physicochemical Properties.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Disposable FFP2 and Type IIR Medical-Grade Face Masks: An Exhaustive Analysis into the Leaching of Micro- and Nanoparticles and Chemical Pollutants Linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic.ACS ES&T water · 2022Article
- Binational survey of personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by the COVID-19 pandemic in coastal environments: Abundance, distribution, and analytical characterization.Journal of hazardous materials · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
From the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, the use of face masks has been adapted as one of the main measures to slow down the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. The inadequate handling and management of face masks lead to a massive dispersal in the environment, resulting in a new source of microfibers because of their breakdown and/or degradation. In addition, the laundering of reusable face masks of different polymeric composition can represent an additional sources of microfibers to natural ecosystems, but it was largely neglected. The present study explored the release of synthetic or natural microfibers from reusable and disposable face masks of five different fabrics when subjected to a cycle of laundering in a domestic washing machine. After a single wash, face masks released an average (± SE) of 284.94 ± 73.66 microfibers, independently of the fabrics. Focusing on the fabrics composing the face masks, polyurethane (541.33 ± 51.84 microfibers) and cotton-based (823.00 ± 112.53 microfibers) face masks released the highest amount of synthetic and natural microfibers, respectively. Considering the crucial role of face masks to counteract the pandemic and the increasing trend of their use, further studies represent a priority to estimate the contribution of face mask-derived microfibers to freshwater contamination.
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