Uncovering the Release of Micro/nanoplastics from Disposable Face Masks at Times of COVID-19 (preprint)

This study aims to assess the environmental impact of discarded face masks, that are a source of emerging concern as indicated by most recent literature, although still little investigated Herein we evaluated micro- and nanoplastic particles that can be released from face mask once subject to environmental conditions Exposure to simulated-low shear forces demonstrated to be effective in breaking and fragmenting face mask tissue into smaller debris Even at low shear energy densities, a single mask could release in water thousands of microplastic fibers and up to 10