| Title: | Significant fragmentation of disposable surgical masks—enormous source for problematic micro/nanoplastics pollution in the environment |
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| Authors: | ID Erjavec, Alen (Author)
ID Plohl, Olivija (Author)
ID Fras Zemljič, Lidija (Author)
ID Volmajer Valh, Julija (Author) |
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| Files: |  sustainability-14-12625-v4.pdf (3,75 MB)
MD5: 66DD46CEEBAE29AC0D9FAAA41CF27F7D
 https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/12625
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Article |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
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| Abstract: | The pandemic of COVID-19 disease has brought many challenges in the field of personal
protective equipment. The amount of disposable surgical masks (DSMs) consumed increased dramatically, and much of it was improperly disposed of, i.e., it entered the environment. For this reason,
it is crucial to accurately analyze the waste and identify all the hazards it poses. Therefore, in the
present work, a DSM was disassembled, and gravimetric analysis of representative DSM waste was
performed, along with detailed infrared spectroscopy of the individual parts and in-depth analysis
of the waste. Due to the potential water contamination by micro/nanoplastics and also by other
harmful components of DSMs generated during the leaching and photodegradation process, the
xenon test and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure were used to analyze and evaluate the
leaching of micro/nanoplastics. Micro/nanoplastic particles were leached from all five components
of the mask in an aqueous medium. Exposed to natural conditions, a DSM loses up to 30% of its mass
in just 1 month, while micro/nanoplastic particles are formed by the process of photodegradation.
Improperly treated DSMs pose a potential hazardous risk to the environment due to the release of
micro/nanoparticles and chloride ion content. |
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| Keywords: | DSM, micro/nanoparticles, leaching, artificial weathering, environmental pollution |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 12.07.2022 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 30.09.2022 |
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| Publication date: | 04.10.2022 |
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| Publisher: | MDPI AG |
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| Year of publishing: | 2022 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 1-20 |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 14, iss. 19 (12625) |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-92270  |
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| UDC: | 677.017:502/504 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2071-1050 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 124689155 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/su141912625 |
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| Copyright: | © 2022 by the authors |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 26.03.2025 |
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| Views: | 0 |
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| Downloads: | 6 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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