Abstract：
The production and consumption of disposable face masks (DFMs) increased intensely during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a high amount of them being found in the terrestrial and aquatic environment. The main goal of this research study is to conduct a comparative evaluation of the water-leachability of microplastics (MPs) and chemical additives from various types of disposable surgical/medical face masks (MM DFMs) and filtering face pieces (FFPs). Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was used for MPs analysis. Liquid Chromatography/High Resolution Mass Spectrometry was used to analyse analytes presented in the water-leachates of DFMs. FFPs released 3-4 times more microplastic particles compared to MM DFMs. The release of MPs into water from all tested DFMs without mechanical stress suggests potential MP contamination originating from the DFM production process. Our study for the first time identified bisphenol B (0.25-0.42 μg/L) and 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (163.9-115.0 μg/L) as leachables from MM DFMs. MPs in the water-leachates vary in size, with predominant particles <100 μm, and the release order from DFMs is MMIIR > MMII > FFP3>FFP2>MMI. The main type of microplastics identified in the water leachates of the investigated face masks was polypropylene, accounting for 93-97% for MM DFMs and 82-83% for FFPs. Other polymers such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyester/polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide/Nylon, polyvinylchloride, and ethylene-propylene copolymer were also identified, but in smaller amounts. FFPs released a wider variety and a higher percentage (17-18%) of other polymers compared to MM DFMs (3-7%). Fragments and fibres were identified in all water-leachate samples, and fragments, particularly debris of polypropylene fibres, were the most common MP morphotype. The findings in this study are important in contributing additional data to develop science-based policy recommendations on the health and environmental impacts of MPs and associated chemical additives originated from DFMs.
摘要：
在COVID-19大流行期间，一次性口罩（DFM）的生产和消费急剧增加，导致在陆地和水生环境中发现大量它们。这项研究的主要目标是对各种类型的一次性外科/医用面罩（MMDFM）和过滤面罩（FFP）的微塑料（MP）和化学添加剂的水浸出性进行比较评估。傅里叶变换红外光谱法用于MPs分析。液相色谱/高分辨率质谱法用于分析DFM的浸出液中存在的分析物。与MMDFM相比，FFP释放的微塑料颗粒多3-4倍。在没有机械应力的情况下，从所有测试的DFM释放到水中的MP表明潜在的MP污染源于DFM生产过程。我们的研究首次确定双酚B（0.25-0.42μg/L）和1,4-双（2-乙基己基）磺基琥珀酸酯（163.9-115.0μg/L）为MMDFM的可浸出物。主要颗粒<100μm，DFM的发布顺序为MMIIR>MMII>FFP3>FFP2>MMI。在所研究的口罩的渗滤液中确定的主要微塑料类型是聚丙烯，MMDFM占93-97%，FFP占82-83%。其他聚合物，如聚乙烯，聚碳酸酯,聚酯/聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯，聚酰胺/尼龙,聚氯乙烯,还鉴定了乙烯-丙烯共聚物，但数量较少。与MMDFM（3-7％）相比，FFP释放的其他聚合物种类更广，百分比更高（17-18％）。在所有渗滤液样品中都鉴定出碎片和纤维，和碎片，特别是聚丙烯纤维碎片，是最常见的MP形态类型。这项研究的发现对于提供更多数据以制定有关源自DFM的MP和相关化学添加剂对健康和环境影响的科学政策建议非常重要。
