Masks that once protected lives now threaten the environment

September 12, 2025

The extensive use of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, once considered essential for saving lives, has left behind an environmental challenge of enormous scale. A study published in the journal Environment Pollution has found that respiratory masks such as N95 and other Filtering Face Pieces (FFPs) release significantly more microplastics and harmful chemicals compared to surgical or medical masks. Yet, all varieties of disposable face masks (DFMs) are contributing to widespread pollution.

The pandemic saw an unprecedented surge in mask consumption. Between March and October 2020, the use of single-use masks increased by nearly 9,000 per cent. The World Health Organization estimated a daily need of 89 million medical masks, while global use reached around 129 billion each month at the height of the crisis. Another study calculated that 3.4 billion masks were discarded worldwide each day during this period. The waste generated by 11 major countries between September 2019 and October 2020 alone was projected at 4.3 million tonnes of non-recyclable, contaminated plastic.

Most disposable masks are made of polypropylene, but other polymers such as polyethylene, nylon, polyester, polystyrene, and polycarbonate are also used. These synthetic fibres act as barriers, filtering droplets and fine particles. However, they are not recyclable through conventional processes and were widely discarded carelessly during the pandemic. Researchers recorded masks scattered across streets, parks, beaches, rural areas, and even waterways, creating a new layer of plastic pollution.

Laboratory experiments highlighted the scale of the problem. N95 and similar FFP masks released three to four times more microplastic particles into water than surgical or medical masks. The study noted that even without mechanical stress, the masks leached fibres and fragments, suggesting contamination may originate during production itself. Polypropylene dominated the leachates, accounting for over 90 per cent of the microplastics from medical and disposable masks, and over 80 per cent from FFPs.

Beyond microplastics, chemicals such as bisphenol B and sulfosuccinate were detected. Bisphenol B, in particular, is linked to endocrine disruption and can mimic estrogen in humans and animals. Other polymers, including polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and ethylene-propylene copolymers, were also found in smaller amounts. These substances are associated with serious risks ranging from birth defects and cancers to nervous system damage, kidney problems, and threats to marine ecosystems.

The findings underline how a tool crucial to fighting a health emergency has evolved into a long-term environmental hazard. Researchers stressed that integrated policies are urgently needed, involving scientists, mask manufacturers, waste managers, policymakers, and the public. Addressing the legacy of pandemic mask use, they said, requires stronger regulation of plastics and more sustainable approaches to personal protective equipment.
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