Degradation of plastics associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented form of plastic pollution: personal protectiveequipment (PPE). Numerous studies have reported the occurrence of PPE in the marine environment. However,their degradation in the environment and consequences are poorly understood. Studies have reported that facemasks, the most abundant type of PPE, are significant sources of microplastics due to their fibrous microstructure.The fibrous material (mostly consisting of polypropylene) exhibits physical changes in the environment,leading to its fracture and detachment of microfibers. Most studies have evaluated PPE degradation undercontrolled laboratory conditions. However, in situ degradation experiments, including the colonization of PPE,are largely lacking. Although ecotoxicological studies are largely lacking, the first attempts to understand theimpact of MPs released from face masks showed various types of impacts, such as fertility and reproductiondeficiencies in both aquatic and terrestrial organisms.