Uncontrolled Disposal of Used Masks Resulting in Release of Microplastics and Co-Pollutants into Environment

The global panic caused by COVID-19 has continued to increase people’s demand for masks. However, due inadequate management and disposal practice, these masks have, unfortunately, entered the environment release a large amount of microplastics (MPs), posing serious threat human health. Understanding occurrence mask waste in various environments, mask-origin MPs, related environmental risk is essential mask-waste current future epidemic prevention control. This paper focuses on distribution waste, potential waste-origin impact environment. Specifically, physical chemical properties polypropylene (the most common plastic material mask), which show high adsorption capacity heavy metals organic pollutants play role as support microbial growth, were extensively reported. In addition, several important issues that need be resolved are raised, offers direction research. review essentiality handling avoid issues.