The shadow pandemic of single use personal protective equipment plastic waste: A blue print for suppression and eradication

Towards the Sustainability of the Plastic Industry through Biopolymers: Properties and Potential Applications to the Textiles World

“…[27] The term "bio-based" does not necessarily imply "biodegradable" [28]. According to ASTM D6400-99 [29], a biodegradable plastic is a degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms, such as bacteria, Face masks and gowns are mostly made from polypropylene given the versatile nature of this polymer, which allows thermal processes in different ways and forms, and the quick production on a large scale from monomers via chain-growth polymerization [25].…”

“…Authorities all over the world have encouraged, and in some cases mandated, the use of face masks in public places, and every adult on the planet has worn one. Face masks and gowns are mostly made from polypropylene given the versatile nature of this polymer, which allows thermal processes in different ways and forms, and the quick production on a large scale from monomers via chain-growth polymerization [25].…”

Indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment: How plastic contamination from disposable surgical masks affect early development of plants

“…In the current pandemic, approximately 129 billion single use face masks are discarded monthly worldwide ( Prata et al 2020 ) and if all are made of PP, it represents 645,000 tons of PP waste ( Nghiem et al 2021 ). According to Nghiem et al (2021) , at least 4 million tons of improperly treated PP waste from PPEs might have been released into the environment in the first two years of the pandemic where it poses a significant ecological hazard ( Ardusso et al, 2021 , Haddad et al, 2021 ) as a major source of microplastics (MPs) ( Ma et al 2021 ).…”

“…Disposable or single use face masks are usually made of polymers (primarily PP or occasionally polycarbonate, polyethylene, and polyester) ( Potluri and Needham, 2005 ). As a thermoplastic polymer, PP is manufactured by chain-growth polymerization and can be processed thermally to fit the final product requirements ( Nghiem et al 2021 ). Single use PP masks are usually made of three fabric layers: (a) the outer water-repellent layer (spun bound, non-woven fabric) that provides mechanical strength and protection; (b) middle layer (also a non-woven, melt-blown fabric with high porosity for breathability) that intercepts water droplets; (c) the inner layer (soft fibers by filament spinning and thermal bonding) that is similar to the outer one.…”

“…Since disposable PP masks are made of fibers ( Aragaw 2020 ), they release secondary MPs into the environment at a much higher rate than plastic boxes or bags due to heat or solar radiation ( Ma et al, 2021 , Shen et al, 2021 ). These fragmented PP micro-fibers are resistant to further degradation and persist in the environment for up to 450 years ( Nghiem et al 2021 ). Although PP (like most plastic polymers) is often considered as a chemically inert material, a recent study demonstrated that the photo-oxidation of disposable face masks might occur under direct sunlight exposure, inducing the generation of O-containing groups ( e.g.…”