Environmental Impact of Selecting Disposable Medical Masks and

Cloth Masks during COVID-19

Shimao Ma

Civil and Urban Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering,

6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, U.S.A.

Keywords: Disposable Medical Mask, Cloth Mask, Environmental Impact, Microplastics, Disposal Measures.

Abstract: With the outbreak of COVID-19, masks have become daily protective articles that everyone needs. Because

masks can block the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of infection. The use of many disposable medical

masks has brought great pressure to the environment. Therefore, this study will compare the environmental

impact of disposable medical masks and cloth masks. From the point of view of material and manufacturing

technology, which kind of mask is more friendly to the environment is analyzed. Firstly, the composition and

characteristics of disposable masks and cloth masks with replaceable filter elements are described. Secondly,

it describes the impact of disposable medical masks and cloth masks on the environment, including the impact

on animals, plants, soil, and the ocean. Finally, it is concluded that the use of naturally degradable cloth masks

is more environmentally friendly than disposable medical masks. It is recommended that people minimize the

use of disposable medical masks during the COVID-19. This study fills a gap in how to solve the problem of

mask pollution. We can reduce the harm of masks to the environment from the perspective of finding

alternative products, to achieve the long-term goal of sustainable development.

1 INTRODUCTION

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus that

broke out in Wuhan in December 2019. The common

clinical symptoms of infected people include fever,

dry cough, fatigue, muscle and body pain, headache,

loss of taste and smell, sore throat, stuffy nose, runny

nose, bad heart, vomiting, and diarrhea (CDC 2021).

COVID-19 is transmitted through droplets containing

viruses and very small particles exhaled by infected

people. These droplets and particles may be inhaled

by others from the nasal cavity or fall into their eyes,

mouth, and nose. In some cases, the virus may

contaminate the contact surface. Less than 6 feet

away from the infected person is the most likely to be

infected (CDC 2021). The World Health Organization

(WHO) announced the virus outbreak on January 30,

2020, and issued an alert to all countries (Rahmani,

Mirmahaleh 2021). Disposable medical masks can

usually block virus nanoparticles with a diameter of

about 100 nm (Babaahmadi, Amid, Naeimirad,

Ramakrishna 2021). Therefore, experts say that

masks are an effective tool to prevent the spread of

viruses. People use a lot of masks for self-protection

because they are cheap and efficient enough to be

used once and then thrown away (PARKER 2021).

Since the outbreak of covid-19, 3 million masks have

been used worldwide every minute. In Asia, people

throw away 1.8 billion masks every day. China, the

world's most populous country, discards nearly 702

million masks every day (PARKER 2021). If each

disposable mask weighs 3 grams, about 4.1 million

tons of plastic waste will be generated worldwide

every year. At the same time, we are shocked that

80% of such wastes enters our marine environment.

Unfortunately, these mask wastes have entered our

water flow system (Babaahmadi, Amid, Naeimirad,

Ramakrishna 2021). The wide use of disposable

surgical mask materials poses a serious threat to our

environment.

Some studies have reported that contaminated

masks can be disinfected and reused (Robert Dennis,

2020). However, this theory cannot be accepted by

the public at present. At present, the treatment

methods of disposable medical masks are mainly

disinfection, landfill, and incineration. Disposable

medical masks become harmless after being treated

in an incinerator. By burning at a temperature above

850 ℃, the mask not only becomes harmless but also

generates a lot of energy while burning. The calorific

Ma, S.

Environmental Impact of Selecting Disposable Medical Masks and Cloth Masks during COVID-19.

DOI: 10.5220/0011370800003438

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Health Big Data and Intelligent Healthcare (ICHIH 2022), pages 385-390

ISBN: 978-989-758-596-8

385

value of polypropylene, the main component of the

mask, is 44 MJ/kg. If all masks produced in 2020 are

burned, 2.68% will be generated 2.68×10

energy, equivalent to 5.9 × 10

T diesel, 5.86 × 10

tons of gasoline, 5.01 × 10

tons of natural gas.

Although the incineration of disposable medical

masks produces a lot of energy, the CO2 produced in

the incineration process cannot be ignored. If all

masks produced in 2020 are burned, will be released

1.43 × 10

kg carbon dioxide (Tabatabaei,

Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Yang, Aghbashlo, Lam,

Montgomery, Peng 2021). However, due to the

excessive number of masks, incinerators in various

countries may not be able to handle such a large

number of second-hand masks. Therefore, most

medical masks may be sent to landfills or directly

discarded in the environment. However, there are also

some environmental problems in landfill sites.

Generally, the degradation cycle of disposable

medical masks buried in the land usually takes more

than 300-500 years. Most of the existing literature

contributes to the treatment of disposable medical

masks, rather than thinking from the perspective of

replacing disposable medical masks.

This paper will first describe the main

components of disposable medical masks and cloth

masks. Secondly, the impact of disposable masks and

cloth masks on the environment is discussed. Finally,

some reasonable suggestions and disposal measures

are given.

2 COMPOSITION AND

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE

MASK

2.1 Composition and Characteristics of

Disposable Medical Mask

Most of the disposable medical mask wastes contain

polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane,

polystyrene, polycarbonate, and polyacrylonitrile,

which will cause plastic or microplastic pollution to

the environment (Akber Abbasi, Khalil, Arslan

2020). Generally, disposable medical masks have

three layers (Fig. 1). The inner and outer layers are

spun-bound polypropylene, and the filter layer is

melt-blown polypropylene (Stringking 2021).

Aluminum wire is nose strips to fix the shape (Pandit,

Maity, Singha, Annu, Uzun, Shekh, Ahmed 2021).

Cotton and rubber form an elastic band that is ear

loops.

Figure 1: Layers layout of the disposable medical mask

(Stringking 2021).

The main components of the disposable medical

mask are polypropylene, either 20 or 25 grams per

square meter (gsm) in density (Henneberry 2021).

Polypropylene is a polymer whose monomer is

propylene (an organic hydrocarbon with the chemical

formula C

). The chemical formula of

polypropylene is (C

)n. The main characteristics of

polypropylene are toughness and flexibility, large

thermal expansion, resistance to organic solvents, and

resistance to weak oxidizing agents (Byjus 2021).

These characteristics also become the reason why

polypropylene is selected as the main material for

disposable masks. In addition, disposable masks are

widely used because the price of polypropylene is

low, and the manufacturing process is simple. This is

also the reason why the price of disposable medical

masks is relatively low. Over time, these

polypropylenes will enter the environment in the

form of microplastics (Selvaranjan, Navaratnam,

Rajeev, Ravintherakumaran 2021).

A very important reason why people prefer

disposable medical masks during COVID-19 is

convenience. Because disposable medical masks can

be easily purchased at a lower price.

2.2 Composition and Characteristics of

Cloth Mask

The cloth mask also has three layers. An inner layer

of absorbent material, like cotton, a middle layer to

act like a filter or barrier (replaceable filter element),

made of non-woven material like polypropylene, an

outer layer of a non-absorbent material, like polyester

or a polyester blend (Miller 2020).

ICHIH 2022 - International Conference on Health Big Data and Intelligent Healthcare

386

However, the main component of the cloth mask

with a replaceable filter element is cotton. Both quilt

and cotton 600 TPI material can meet the

requirements of blocking covid-19 transmission in

terms of air permeability and filtration efficiency

(Hartanto, Mayasari 2021). Because cotton is a low-

carbon and reusable substitute material, it is highly

preferred as an alternative raw material for mask

production (Patricio Silva, Prata, Walker, Campos,

Duarte, Soares, Barcelo, Rocha-Santos 2020). In

addition, the incineration of cloth produces biological

carbon dioxide, but the incineration of disposable

medical masks will produce fossil carbon dioxide

from polypropylene (Tabatabaei, Hosseinzadeh-

Bandbafha, Yang, Aghbashlo, Lam, Montgomery,

Peng 2021). Therefore, the reusable cloth mask with

a replaceable filter element shows a very important

advantage in terms of environmental burden (Núria

Boix Rodríguez, Claudio Favi, Marco Marconi

2021).

3 EFFECT OF DISPOSABLE

MEDICAL MASKS ON

ENVIRONMENT

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the extensive use

of disposable medical masks has led to their frequent

appearance in the environment. As people do not

follow the appropriate treatment methods of

disposable medical masks, mask waste is increasing

all over the world (Selvaranjan, Navaratnam, Rajeev,

Ravintherakumaran 2021). Therefore, the abandoned

disposable medical mask has brought great

challenges to the environment. Disposable medical

masks are usually made of a thin polypropylene layer

and are not easy to decompose. However, over time,

they gradually degrade into microplastics, and then

these microparticles enter the environment and the

risk of food chain pollution increases (Tabatabaei,

Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Yang, Aghbashlo, Lam,

Montgomery, Peng 2021). Fig. 2 shows the process

after disposable medical masks are discarded at will.

Figure 2: A general description of the fate of microplastic in the environment originating from the face masks (Akber Abbasi,

Khalil, Arslan 2020).

3.1 Effects of Disposable Medical

Masks on Animals

First, disposable medical masks have a direct impact

on animals. For example, disposable medical masks

randomly discarded in the soil may affect the

activities of animals, resulting in entanglement and

death (Fig. 3) (Selvaranjan, Navaratnam, Rajeev,

Ravintherakumaran 2021). The disposable medical

mask can directly affect animals and the environment

like more than 200 species, including marine

mammals, turtles, and seabirds, are entangled, or

ingested by masks (Patricio Silva, Prata, Mouneyrac,

Barcelo, Duarte, Rocha-Santos 2021). According to

reports in Colombia, a bird was entangled in a

disposable medical mask discarded from a tree. Then

he died after the mask wrapped his body and beak

(Steiner 2020). In addition, disposable medical masks

are easy to be mistaken for food by animals. Because

they are very common and can fill their stomachs, to

reduce food intake and lead to starvation and death of

animals. It may also poison marine animals that eat

plastic (Selvaranjan, Navaratnam, Rajeev,

Ravintherakumaran 2021). For example, it is reported

that the death of an adult Magellanic Penguin

(Sphenicus Magellanicus) found in Juquehy Beach in

São Sebastião, Brazil may be related to the intake of

disposable medical masks. This mask appears in the

stomach of penguins, which may limit the feeding

activities of organisms and lead to hunger (Brandao,

Braga, Luque 2011). The ingestion of microplastics

will interfere with the reproduction, growth, and

development of animal larvae (Klemes, Fan, Tan,

Jiang 2020).

Environmental Impact of Selecting Disposable Medical Masks and Cloth Masks during COVID-19

387

Figure 3: Vets were able to cut the mask off and the bird is

now recovering (Williams 2020).

3.2 Effects of Disposable Medical

Masks on Soil and Plants

Disposable medical masks are degraded by chemical

or biological processes in an open environment, such

as light irradiation, weathering, corrosion, and water

immersion, to form microplastics. Toxic chemicals

that release plastics (Selvaranjan, Navaratnam,

Rajeev, Ravintherakumaran 2021). Mineral

extraction of this toxic chemical will penetrate the

soil. Toxins in soil accumulate in organisms and affect

the growth of vegetation. For example, the

microplastic decomposed from the mask will lead to

the death of trees and soil erosion. Soil erosion will

lead to further environmental deterioration and

degradation and affect climate change. According to

the research, the production of disposable medical

masks will bring problems such as land occupation,

water acidification, nonrenewable energy, and

mineral extraction (Lee, Neo, Khoo, Yeo, Tan, Chng,

Yan, Lok, Low 2021).

3.3 Effect of Disposable Medical Masks

on Ocean

Disposable medical masks are blown into rivers and

streams and taken to the sea. Scientists recorded their

records on beaches in South America, river outlets in

the Gulf of Jakarta, the coast of Bangladesh, the coast

of Kenya, and Hong Kong (PARKER 2021). Over

time, the plastic in the mask will decompose into

smaller fragments, and finally into microplastics and

nano plastics (Shen, Zeng, Song, Yi, Hu, Zhang, Zeng,

Xiao 2021). Because the ocean contains a large

amount of plastic waste, the ocean will absorb toxins

and organic pollutants in these wastes (Selvaranjan,

Navaratnam, Rajeev, Ravintherakumaran 2021). The

total amount of microplastic fibers released from

disposable medical masks discarded in the

environment increased by about 25000 times over

time (Shen, Zeng, Song, Yi, Hu, Zhang, Zeng, Xiao

2021). Therefore, more and more harmful substances

will enter the ocean. This will affect the habits of

microorganisms in the marine ecosystem, resulting in

the chaos of the marine ecosystem. In addition, the

appearance of many disposable masks on the beach

will reduce the aesthetic and beach entertainment

value.

4 EFFECT OF CLOTH MASK ON

ENVIRONMENT

Natural cellulose fibers such as cotton and flax have

good mechanical strength, hydrophilicity, and

biocompatibility, and can resist protein adsorption

and biological pollution. Therefore, they are widely

used in virus filters, such as cloth masks (Junter,

Lebrun 2017). The three-layer cellulose cloth mask is

the best choice to replace the medical mask made of

the synthetic polymer (Pandit, Maity, Singha, Annu,

Uzun, Shekh, Ahmed 2021). Because the cotton mask

is natural, non-toxic, washable, and reusable (Ho,

Lin, Weng, Chuang 2020). Cotton is naturally

produced, so the cloth mask made of cotton can be

biodegradable. Cotton can be biodegraded by

anaerobic and aerobic methods. In addition, the

degradation rate of cotton is also related to

environmental conditions, such as oxygen content,

water content, temperature, pH value, fabric

structure, weight, fiber tightness, etc. (Fibers 2017).

Therefore, the use of cloth masks can protect humans

and our environment (Babaahmadi, Amid,

Naeimirad, Ramakrishna 2021).

4.1 Effects of Cloth Masks on Animals

The composition of cloth masks will not have a great

impact on animals, because cotton, the main

component of cloth masks, is a material that can be

naturally degraded and will not cause harm to animals

(Morgana, Casentini, Amalfitano 2021). Cloth masks

can also cause entanglement of animals in the

environment, but because cloth masks are easy to

decompose, they will not cause permanent and fatal

damage (Wu, Li, Lu, Tang, Cai 2021). However, the

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production and planting of cotton, the main

component of cloth masks, will have some bad effects

on animals. First, a large number of pesticides need to

be used in the process of planting, which will cause

some animals to die eating pesticides by mistake

Secondly, these pesticides will penetrate into the soil

and follow rivers and streams into lakes, resulting in

the accumulation of toxins in aquatic animals.

Biologists estimate that millions of birds in the United

States die each year from the effects of pesticides

sprayed on cotton and other crops. When the runoff

from farmland contains high concentrations of

pesticides, it will kill fish in nearby rivers and

streams. In a well-documented case in Alabama in

1995, at least 240000 fish were killed by water (Cubie

2006). Therefore, the use of cloth masks will have

some indirect effects on animals.

4.2 Effects of Cloth Masks on Plants

and Soil

Because of their biodegradable properties, cloth

masks will not have a negative impact on plants and

soil. However, the main component of cloth masks

will affect plants and soil during the planting of

cotton. Firstly, many pesticides, especially pesticides,

need to be used in cotton planting, which will cause

potential harm to the ecological chain and affect the

normal growth and development of plants. In

addition, a large number of pesticides will also remain

in the soil, resulting in the decline of soil quality.

Secondly, cotton planting will lead to serious

degradation of soil quality. Although the areas

devoted to cotton cultivation in the world have

remained unchanged in the past 70 years, the growth

process of cotton has led to land fertility depletion and

serious soil degradation in many areas (W.W. Fund,

Cotton Industries, WWF. (2021).

4.3 Effect of Cloth Mask on Ocean

Cloth masks discarded in the ocean can entangle

animals and cause death. Moreover, many cloth

masks appear on the beach, which will affect the

beauty and the development of tourism. It is

optimistic that the cloth mask will quickly separate

and reduce its impact on the ocean under the

corrosion of seawater and the illumination

environment. In addition, so many pesticides need to

be used in the cotton planting process, which is the

main component of the cloth mask. These pesticides

will eventually enter the ocean with the surface water.

For a long time, marine biodiversity and marine

ecological chain will be seriously affected.

5 DISPOSAL MEASURES

For many disposable medical masks that already exist

in the environment, people should take them to a

suitable disposal position when they see them, so as

not to cause greater harm to animals and the

environment. Secondly, while enjoying the

convenience brought by disposable medical masks,

we should pay attention to protecting the

environment. According to regulations, discarded

masks shall be collected and disposed of innocuously.

Second, people should stop using disposable medical

masks in daily life and use cloth masks with

replaceable filter elements for daily protection. For

the government, it should be strengthened.

6 CONCLUSIONS

Since covid-19, the use of many disposable medical

masks has caused serious environmental pollution.

These disposable medical masks, which are discarded

at random, affect the health of animals, plants, soil,

and oceans. The investigation shows that disposable

medical masks and cloth masks will have different

degrees of impact on the environment in different

stages. However, the cloth mask is more friendly to

the environment both in terms of material and

structure. The environmental pollution of disposable

medical masks will exist from raw materials to

manufacturing and then use. The use of cloth masks

will reduce a lot of medical waste and will have a

small impact on the environment in addition to the

planting of raw cotton, but traditional cotton planting

can be replaced by organic cotton planting. Therefore,

we should stop using disposable medical masks and

use cloth masks with replaceable filter elements

instead, because cloth masks are more

environmentally friendly than disposable medical

masks. This article from a new perspective gives

people some new methods to solve the problem of

mask pollution.

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