Disposable masks: beneficial or harmful for the environment?
Yevene Hwang
April 20th, 2021
April 20th, 2021
The KF94, N95, KN95, R95, and P100 are a few of the many types of masks used for COVID-19 prevention. As the viral pandemic drags on, more and more masks are being used. As a matter of fact, according to a recent video by BBC, 129 billion masks are used every month globally, and 3 million are thrown away every minute.
The majority of disposable masks contain polypropylene as their primary material. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer that is environmentally-friendly when discarded properly. Another material used widely in disposable masks, called polyester, is also far from being environmentally friendly. Both materials take more than 450 years to fully degrade. The amount of time it will take for billions of masks to completely degrade is concerning. When billions of masks build up, the aftereffect will be too hard to manage.
On top of being not eco friendly, masks cause problems for animals in wildlife. Last year, several social media users stood together to publicize an issue that arose due to mask straps. Posts of sea birds tangled in mask straps went viral on the internet, and this further highlighted the negative effects of masks in our environment. . Furthermore, plastic particles from the masks are often ingested by animals. This would mean that we also, being at the top of the food chain, are ingesting plastic by consuming other animals.
Thus, disposable masks are harmful to the environment. However, there aren’t really alternatives to masks. Although disposable masks are environmentally unfriendly, the masks are inexpensive and accessible to the common people but, at the same time, are definitely necessary for the prevention of the further widespread of COVID-19. Correspondingly, disposable masks like the KF94 are more protective and efficient, with more filtration, than fabric masks or bandanas.
It is important to consider the circumstances before deciding whether or not something is beneficial. In this case, disposable masks are indeed harmful to the environment but cannot be replaced. The main solution here would be to reuse disposable masks. There is a misconception that disposable masks are single-use and need to be discarded after one use, however, while these masks are “disposable,” they can be used for more than simply one trip to the store. Epidemiologist Dr. Lucian Davis from Yale School of Public Health stated last year that disposable masks are able to be reused when handled properly. On the occasion of discarding masks, cut the straps so animals don’t get tangled in them.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-mask-ch-idUSKBN28K0AC
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210310122431.html
https://news.yahoo.com/reuse-disposable-mask-yes-steps-192223361.html
The majority of disposable masks contain polypropylene as their primary material. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer that is environmentally-friendly when discarded properly. Another material used widely in disposable masks, called polyester, is also far from being environmentally friendly. Both materials take more than 450 years to fully degrade. The amount of time it will take for billions of masks to completely degrade is concerning. When billions of masks build up, the aftereffect will be too hard to manage.
On top of being not eco friendly, masks cause problems for animals in wildlife. Last year, several social media users stood together to publicize an issue that arose due to mask straps. Posts of sea birds tangled in mask straps went viral on the internet, and this further highlighted the negative effects of masks in our environment. . Furthermore, plastic particles from the masks are often ingested by animals. This would mean that we also, being at the top of the food chain, are ingesting plastic by consuming other animals.
Thus, disposable masks are harmful to the environment. However, there aren’t really alternatives to masks. Although disposable masks are environmentally unfriendly, the masks are inexpensive and accessible to the common people but, at the same time, are definitely necessary for the prevention of the further widespread of COVID-19. Correspondingly, disposable masks like the KF94 are more protective and efficient, with more filtration, than fabric masks or bandanas.
It is important to consider the circumstances before deciding whether or not something is beneficial. In this case, disposable masks are indeed harmful to the environment but cannot be replaced. The main solution here would be to reuse disposable masks. There is a misconception that disposable masks are single-use and need to be discarded after one use, however, while these masks are “disposable,” they can be used for more than simply one trip to the store. Epidemiologist Dr. Lucian Davis from Yale School of Public Health stated last year that disposable masks are able to be reused when handled properly. On the occasion of discarding masks, cut the straps so animals don’t get tangled in them.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-mask-ch-idUSKBN28K0AC
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210310122431.html
https://news.yahoo.com/reuse-disposable-mask-yes-steps-192223361.html
