The Trash Behind the Mask
How disposable masks create irreversible amounts of pollution
The year 2020 certainly went down in history as one of the worst years EVER. Racial & political tensions were at an all-time high, and not to mention, one of the world’s most deadly pandemics had just begun. The introduction of Covid-19 also came along with the daily use of disposable face masks. Not only did it create controversy about if face mask even worked, but where do they go when we get rid of them?
The environmental effects made from masks may already be irreversible. According to Anne Trafton at the MIT News office, it’s estimated that there is about 7,200 tons of medical waste every day, made up mostly of disposable masks. I asked a number of high school aged friends how many disposable face masks they use each day and the numbers ranged from 1–3 masks daily. Everyone also said they properly dispose of their used masks, but the only problem is not all of these masks make it to the local landfill.
According to a report by OceansAsia, about 52 billion masks were made in 2020, and more than 1.5 billion of those will end up polluting the ocean. Marine life is constantly being faced by the threat of plastic pollution and oil spills, and now face mask have become another contributor.
An article from China Global Television Network states, “Once a mask enters the ocean, the melt-blown polypropylene and polyethylene that make up a mask becomes a source of microplastic throughout the 450-year-long decomposition process, while ear loops of a mask pose an entanglement risk for marine wildlife. Masks are also more prone to algal growth compared to other plastics, which increases the chance of it being mistaken as food and swallowed by marine wildlife.”
The impact of mask pollution in the ocean will continue to become a bigger problem if not taken seriously. OceansAsia also added “These masks enter our oceans when they are littered or otherwise improperly discarded, when waste management systems are inadequate or non-existent, or when these systems become overwhelmed due to increased volumes of waste.” Regardless on how the mask end up polluting the ocean, we must help put an end to it.
The introduction of disposable face mask may have created more problems than it solved. Reusable face mask are certainly a better option when it comes to protecting the earth from pollution. In order to reverse the damaging effects of pollution, and help save marine life, it begins with you. Make sure you recycle and keep the earth a clean place for the next generation to come.
