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Need to know ~ Topics & Events
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Protective Masks – a new environmental problem
Discarded mask, Zurich, Switzerland
Photo: N. Kim, November 2020
Why current?
2020-11-21
People need to be wearing masks right now. The coronavirus has reached almost every corner of the globe. And wherever the coronavirus is, there are also masks. Lots of them.
On the one hand, this is good thing. We need to protect ourselves and others, and research has clearly shown that wearing masks can help save lives by preventing the spread of the coronavirus. But many of us wear masks that are disposable. These are only worn for a short period of time and then thrown away. Often, they are not disposed of responsibly. Carelessly tossed masks are a common sight, littering not just city streets but also wildlife habitats on land, in our waterways, and in the oceans.
What happens when billions of masks and other PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) like gloves and gowns, are added to the already enormous mountain of waste humans are generating? Where do the masks end up? And what is their impact on the environment?
More about masks and the environment
What are masks made of?
There are different kinds of masks. You might have seen people wearing light blue masks that look like they are made of paper or thin fabric. These are disposable surgical masks. They are not intended to be worn for more than a few hours, after which they should be thrown away (or set aside for a few days to be decontaminated). They have a flexible metal strip along the top that allows them to be molded over the nose for a tight fit. They also have two elastic strips that go around the wearer’s ears. The material that covers the face is made of polypropylene, a type of plastic.
Besides these very commonly used masks, there are N95 masks, also made of polypropylene, as well as masks made of cloth.
A recycling nightmare
The vast majority of masks are made of plastic. But they contain other elements too, namely the metal strip along the top and the elastic bands on the sides. Masks are challenging to recycle because these different materials cannot be recycled together. In addition, recycling companies have asked people not to add their masks to the rest of their recycling because they could contaminate other recyclables and be a hazard to waste collectors. For these reasons, most masks end up in landfills or as litter in the environment.
When we throw them away, where is “away?”
Masks in the environment can disrupt ecosystems as they cover the ground. Animals often confuse masks for prey and choke on the litter they try to consume. They may also get tangled up in the elastic bands on masks. Without a way to free themselves, they often remain trapped and eventually die.
Plastic in the oceans was already a huge problem before the coronavirus pandemic hit. But now, with the explosion of mask production and disposal, the crisis has escalated. Sea animals eat masks, which can then get stuck in their digestive systems and kill them. Plastics dirty the waters, making ocean ecosystems unhealthy or deadly for marine life.
The plastics that are used to make masks stay in the environment for a long time. They gradually break down into smaller and smaller particles, until they become tiny “nanoplastics.” These are so small that they cannot be easily detected, but they build up in food chains. Each mask that is disposed of produces millions of these particles that enter waterways, seep into the land, and are ingested by animals. Humans also consume these plastics through contaminated drinking water or by eating fish that has ingested plastics while in the ocean. Studies have shown that nanoplastics can be toxic.
It is estimated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) that 75% of masks and other disposable PPE will end up either in landfills or in our oceans.
Agony for essential workers
The masks we consider to be so vital to our health are creating an environmental catastrophe. But not only does nature pay a price. Essential workers who clean our streets, pick up our litter, and collect trash from our garbage bins are at risk of contracting the virus by handling the many masks that are thrown out. Experts say that the coronavirus can remain on masks for days. (This is why we are told not to touch the outside of a single-use mask after taking it off.)
So how do we keep ourselves healthy without sickening the planet? Here are some tips for reducing the environmental impact of your masks.
1) Try to wear reusable masks, and if you are not in a high-risk environment, check that they don’t have disposable filters. Be sure to wash your masks regularly, but don’t wash them by hand. This actually uses more water and soap than machine washing them. The electricity used by washing machines has less of an environmental impact than does hand-washing.
2) If you are in a bind and have to use a disposable mask, make sure you throw it away responsibly. Put it into a closed bin and not into the recycling. As mentioned, it can be a hazard to the people collecting your recycling. It is critically important that you don’t drop your mask on the ground!
3) Try to always have a back-up mask handy. This way, you won’t be in a position to have to use a disposable mask as a last resort.
Mask manufacturers are developing alternatives to the single-use mask. You can now find masks made of several layers of cotton, that can be washed again and again and used for months. Also, some companies are figuring out how to make biodegradable masks. Biodegradable means that the materials will break down naturally and cause no harm to the environment.
Be aware of the impact your use of masks has on the planet, and act accordingly.
Sources: The Conversation, “Coronavirus face masks: an environmental disaster that might last generations,” https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-face-masks, August 14, 2020; US News, “Five things you should know about disposable masks and plastic pollution,” https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/07/1069151, July 30, 2020; CGTN, “Disposable masks may pose environmental threat,” https://news.cgtn.com/news/Disposable-masks-may-pose-environmental-threat, September 11, 2020; Ridard, Emily, Swissinfo.ch, “What’s being done about mask and glove pollution?” https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/what-s-being-done-about-mask-and-glove-pollution, October 10, 2020.