The Release Potential of Microplastics from Face Masks into the Aquatic Environment

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dc.authoridCelik, Suna Ozden/0000-0001-9783-9512
dc.contributor.authorCelik, Suna Ozden
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-29T17:59:27Z
dc.date.available2024-10-29T17:59:27Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.departmentTekirdağ Namık Kemal Üniversitesi
dc.description.abstractSince the COVID-19 pandemic, a huge number of face masks have been used to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on a global scale. Unfortunately, several studies have reported the presence of used face masks in marine litter in different countries around the world. Face masks produced from synthetic polymers can increase the environmental burden and contradict sustainability. This study aimed to investigate the environmental behavior of face masks when exposed to natural environmental conditions following improper disposal. New and naturally aged surgical and FFP2 masks were exposed to deionized water (DI) and sea water conditions to understand the environmental behavior of face masks when exposed to different environmental conditions. Following natural aging and DI and sea water exposure, face masks were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and compared with new masks. According to the results, the middle layers of both mask types were exposed to more severe degradation. Aging resulted in higher microplastic (MP) release than new masks in DI and seawater for both types of face masks. Compared to new ones, aging and seawater exposure caused 11 to 13 and 14 to 22 times higher MP release from surgical and FFP2 face masks, respectively. Following seawater exposure, aged FFP2 mask released higher amounts of MP (4.36-6.20 x 10(6)) than aged surgical masks (4.03-5.45 x 10(6)). According to the results, a significant portion of the released MPs were <10 mu m for both types of masks. However, when aged FFP2 masks were exposed to seawater, a remarkable increase was found in the fraction of 10-50 mu m and 50-100 mu m, suggesting that aged FFP2 masks also became fragmented in seawater conditions. FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed the transformation in the structure and chemical composition of the materials. A significant change was observed in chemical and physical structure of the masks after being exposed to weathering conditions in a relatively short period of time (one month).
dc.description.sponsorshipThe author would like to thank Muhammet Aydin and Namik Kemal University Central Research Laboratory (NABILTEM) for the technical support during the analysis.
dc.description.sponsorshipThe author would like to thank Muhammet Aydin and Namik Kemal University Central Research Laboratory (NABILTEM) for the technical support during the analysis.
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/su151914293
dc.identifier.issn2071-1050
dc.identifier.issue19en_US
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-85174217645
dc.identifier.scopusqualityQ1
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.3390/su151914293
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11776/14738
dc.identifier.volume15
dc.identifier.wosWOS:001085131100001
dc.identifier.wosqualityQ2
dc.indekslendigikaynakWeb of Science
dc.indekslendigikaynakScopus
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMdpi
dc.relation.ispartofSustainability
dc.relation.publicationcategoryMakale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanıen_US
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subjectmicroplastic
dc.subjectface mask
dc.subjectnatural weathering
dc.subjectaquatic environment
dc.subjectseawater
dc.titleThe Release Potential of Microplastics from Face Masks into the Aquatic Environment
dc.typeArticle

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