Release of Microplastics from Discarded Surgical Masks and Their Adverse Impacts on the Marine Copepod Tigriopus japonicus

Abstract

Surgical masks (SMs) are the most commonly used personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to their vast use and inappropriate disposal worldwide, SMs could potentially cause serious microplastic (MP) pollution in coastal marine environments. This study aimed to investigate the kinetic release of MPs from polypropylene SMs (PP-SMs) in seawater and to evaluate the chronic toxicity of the released MPs to the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus. On the basis of the results of our kinetic study and available relevant data, we estimated that SMs discarded throughout the year 2020 would lead to >1370 trillion MPs entering the coastal marine environment globally, with a release rate of 396 billion MPs per day. Our results also demonstrated that the copepods ingested the MPs released from PP-SMs, causing a significant decline in their fecundity. The results clearly suggest the MPs released from improperly discarded SMs could have a long-term domino effect on coastal marine ecosystems. To minimize the risk of this emerging threat, better environmental management, policy, and law enforcement for ensuring the proper disposal of SMs are deemed to be necessary.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by the COVID-19 pandemic along the shoreline of Lake Tana, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

“…These secondary products derived from PPE pollution could represent considerable ecotoxicological effects. For instance, PP face mask-derived microfibers significantly declines the fecundity of the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus ( Sun et al, 2021 ) and inhibit the reproduction of terrestrial organisms (earthworm and springtail) ( Kwak and An, 2021 ). Phthalate esters, commonly used as plasticizers, alter the soil microbial system and, thus, nitrogen cycling ( Zhu et al, 2021 ) and induce a broad range of sublethal effects in aquatic organisms ( Baloyi et al, 2021 ).…”

Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by the COVID-19 pandemic in coastal environment, Southeast Coast of India

“…Recently, Ma et al (2021) recorded the ingestion and bioaccumulation of microplastic released from disposable masks in diverse model organisms, including the shrimp Penaeus vannamei , the copepod Parvocalanus crassirostris , the rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis , the scallop Chylamys nobilis and the juvenile grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus . Also, Sun et al (2021) demonstrated that microplastics liberated from disposed face masks were ingested by the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus under experimental conditions (10 PM/mL for 24 h). The ingestion of this type of debris induces a significant decrease in the fecundity of this species.…”

Degradation of plastics associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

“…While this study provides an interesting overview of the interaction between face mask-associated MPs and aquatic organisms, ecotoxicological studies are largely lacking. However, recently, Sun et al (2021) studied the chronic toxicity of MPs released from PP-face masks on marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus. These authors reported that copepods ingested the MPs release from the PP-face mask generating an important decline in the fecundity of this marine species ( Sun et al, 2021 ).…”

“…However, recently, Sun et al (2021) studied the chronic toxicity of MPs released from PP-face masks on marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus. These authors reported that copepods ingested the MPs release from the PP-face mask generating an important decline in the fecundity of this marine species ( Sun et al, 2021 ). In terrestrial organisms, this type of study has only been carried out on earthworms and springtails, resulting in the inhibition of organism reproduction and other impacts ( Kwak and An, 2021 ).…”