Single-Use Face Masks as a Potential Source of Synthetic Antioxidants to the Environment

Abstract

Single-use face masks are a powerful tool for reducing the spread of COVID-19. The usage of single-use face masks has increased enormously since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and pollution from the huge volume of discarded single-use face masks may become an environmental issue. This study focuses on synthetic antioxidants (AOs), including synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) and organophosphite antioxidants (OPAs), used in single-use three-layer face masks. Both SPAs and OPAs were detected in single-use face masks, with total concentrations ranging from 20.0 to 575 μg/g (median of 175 μg/g). The dominant congeners detected in the face masks were tris(2,4-di-tertbutylphenyl) phosphite (AO168, median of 83.2 μg/g), tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate (AO168O, median of 72.9 μg/g), and pentaerythritol tetrakis [3-(3,5-di-tertbutyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate] (AO1010, median of 13.7 μg/g). No significant concentration difference was observed between medical and nonmedical face masks. Among the three different layers of the face masks, the middle layers showed the highest AO concentrations. On the basis of the median concentrations detected, we estimate that 1084 tons of AOs is used in face masks annually, suggesting that discarded face masks may be a source of AOs to the environment. This is the first study to report the occurrence of a wide range of AOs in face masks.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by the COVID-19 pandemic in coastal environment, Southeast Coast of India

“…Like plastic, PPE can absorb and concentrate contaminants from the surrounding environment, posing risks of contaminant transfer to animals through different trophic levels ( Dobaradaran et al, 2018 ; Akhbarizadeh et al, 2021 , Akhbarizadeh et al, 2021 ; Takdastan et al, 2021 ; Hajiouni et al, 2022 ). Existing studies have documented that masks and wipes contain a wide range of inorganic and norganic contaminants utilized as UV stabilizers, plasticizers, and flame retardants in plastic production, including antioxidants, organophosphate esters, phthalates (di- and mono) and non-phthalates, bisphenols, and plastic additives ( Liu and Mabury, 2021 ; Sullivan et al, 2021 ; Wang et al, 2021b ; Kutralam-Muniasamy et al, 2022 ). Ardusso et al (2021) and De-la-Torre et al (2022) reported the appearance of metallic nanoparticles, such as Ag and Cu nanoparticles on used face masks.…”

Impacto colateral del COVID-19 en la salud ambiental derivado de la disposición inadecuada de mascarillas

“…De forma adicional, algunos aditivos sintéticos antioxidantes (AO) usados en la fabricación de plásticos pueden retardar aún más las reacciones de degradación de las mascarillas descartadas hacia el ambiente, aumentando su daño potencial. Autores como Liu & Mabury, (2021) & Favela et al, (2021 han encontrado la presencia de antioxidantes fenólicos sintéticos y antioxidantes organofosforados en mascarillas.…”

“…Para hallar la masa mundial de mascarillas residuales se consideró la masa media unitaria obtenida previamente. Los valores de antioxidantes sintéticos aportados al ecosistema usaron además las concentraciones halladas por Liu & Mabury, (2021) en su investigación científica. Para establecer los intervalos de confianza, se consideró un alfa de 0,05.…”

“…Fuente: Liu & Mabury, (2021) Por otro lado, al considerar la presencia de antioxidantes fenólicos sintéticos (SPA) y antioxidantes organofosfitos (OPA), en 36 mascarillas faciales de tres capas de un solo uso (Tabla 3), Liu & Mabury, (2021) obtuvieron concentraciones totales que oscilan entre 20,0 y 575 μg / g (mediana de175 μg / g), dentro de los que se destacaron tris fosfito (AO168, mediana de 83,2 μg / g), tris fosfato (AO168O, mediana de 72,9 μg / g) y pentaeritritol tetrakis (AO1010, mediana de 13,7 µg / g), con presencia en el 100% de muestras analizadas. Basados en estos valores, nuestras estimaciones de AO presentes en los desechos de mascarillas durante el segundo semestre de 2020 ascienden a 216,9 (188,5-245,3; IC=95%) toneladas de AO168,190 (165,9; IC=96%) toneladas de AO168O y 442,7 (384,8-500,6; IC=95%) toneladas de AO1010.…”

Rat Metabolism Study Suggests 3-(3,5-Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic Acid as a Potential Urinary Biomarker of Human Exposure to Representative 3-(3,5-Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate Antioxidants

“…A variety of anthropogenic additives are used in the manufacture of polymers to improve their qualities. − Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs), a group of such additives, are widely used in polymers to retard oxidative degradation and prolong their life spans. − 2,6-Di- tert -butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) is among the frequently used SPAs and its pollution has attracted attention for decades . As BHT is liable to migrate from substrates to the surrounding environment, 3-(3,5-di- tert -butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)­propionate antioxidants such as pentaerythritol tetrakis­(3-(3,5-di- tert -butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)­propionate) (AO1010), which have higher molecular weights than BHT, are preferred to be used in polymers to reduce the migration and subsequent contamination. − In recent years, high molecular weight SPAs have been preferred over low-molecular-weight SPAs for use in polymers as the former SPAs are less prone to migrate from polymers and thus their use reduces environmental contamination by SPAs. − …”