Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

January 15, 2021

COVID-19: Performance Study of Microplastic Inhalation Risk Posed by Wearing Masks

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A comparison of seven commercially available masks with a vacuum pump suggested that N95 respirators allow the fewest microplastics from the ambient air and from the mask to pass through the mask. The other types of masks, including surgical, cotton, non-woven, and activated carbon masks, reduced microplastic simulated inhalation risk through four hours of wear, after which they showed an increase in risk. Further testing indicated that washing masks with water and allowing them to air dry was the gentlest method for cleaning masks for reuse. Alcohol disinfection caused the heaviest damage to the masks’ structures.

Li et al. (June 2021). COVID-19: Performance Study of Microplastic Inhalation Risk Posed by Wearing Masks. Journal of Hazardous Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124955