Post-Pandemic: Investigation of the Degradation of Various Commercial Masks in the Marine Environment.
Jiayi ShenWeiwei ShiPublished in: Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids (2023)
During COVID-19, personal protective equipment such as face masks was in urgent demand in the daily life. As the pandemic may have withdrawn from public attention, the disposal of face masks is a significant issue, especially plastic pollution. To address the degradation of the polymers in the marine environment, seven commercial masks were investigated via artificial weathering procedures in substitute ocean water. A suite of structural and chemical characterization techniques was employed, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and contact angle goniometry, to probe the treatment impact on commercially available N95, surgical, polyurethane, polyester, nylon, silk, and cotton masks. This work provides insights into the comprehensive analysis of material degradation in nature and raises public awareness of environmental issues post-pandemic.
Keyphrases
- electron microscopy
- sars cov
- coronavirus disease
- high resolution
- raman spectroscopy
- healthcare
- mental health
- human health
- risk assessment
- heavy metals
- working memory
- magnetic resonance imaging
- single molecule
- emergency department
- computed tomography
- dual energy
- health risk assessment
- atomic force microscopy
- tissue engineering
- drinking water
- high speed
- water quality