Face masks as a source of nanoplastics and microplastics in the environment: Quantification, characterization, and potential for bioaccumulation.

Abstract Billions of disposable face masks are consumed daily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of these masks as a source of nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) in the environment has not been studied in previous studies. We quantified and characterized face mask released particles and evaluated their potential for accumulation in humans and marine organisms. More than one billion of NPs and MPs were released from each surgical or N95 face mask. These irregularly-shaped particles sized from c. 5 nm to c. 600 μm. But most of them were nano scale sized