The widespread use of disposable face masks as a preventative strategy to address transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been a key environmental concern since the pandemic began. This has led to an unprecedented new form of contamination from improperly disposed masks, which liberates significant amounts of heavy metals and toxic chemicals in addition to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Therefore, this study monitored the liberation of heavy metals, VOCs, and microfibers from submerged disposable face masks at different pH (4, 7 and 12), to simulate distinct environmental conditions. Lead (3.238% ppb), cadmium (0.672 ppb) and chromium (0.786 ppb) were found in the analyzed leachates. By pyrolysis, 2,4-dimethylhept-1-ene and 4-methylheptane were identified as the VOCs produced by the samples. The chemically degraded morphology in the FESEM images provided further evidence that toxic heavy metals and volatile organic compounds had been leached from the submerged face masks, with greater degradation observed in samples submerged at pH 7 and higher. The results are seen to communicate the comparable danger of passively degrading disposable face masks and the release of micro- or nanofibers into the marine environment. The toxicity of certain heavy metals and chemicals released from discarded face masks warrants better, more robust manufacturing protocols and increased public awareness for responsible disposal to reduce the adverse impact on ecology and human health.

自大流行开始以来，广泛使用一次性口罩作为解决 SARS-CoV-2 病毒传播的预防策略一直是一个关键的环境问题。这导致了处置不当的口罩带来前所未有的新形式污染，除了挥发性有机化合物（VOC）之外，还释放出大量重金属和有毒化学物质。因此，本研究监测了不同 pH 值（4、7 和 12）下浸没式一次性口罩中重金属、挥发性有机化合物和微纤维的释放情况，以模拟不同的环境条件。在分析的渗滤液中发现了铅（3.238% ppb）、镉（0.672 ppb）和铬（0.786 ppb）。通过热解，2,4-二甲基庚-1-烯和4-甲基庚烷被鉴定为样品产生的VOC。 FESEM 图像中的化学降解形态提供了进一步的证据，表明有毒重金属和挥发性有机化合物已从浸没的口罩中浸出，在 pH 7 或更高的浸没样品中观察到更大的降解。研究结果表明，被动降解的一次性口罩和微纤维或纳米纤维释放到海洋环境中具有相当的危险。废弃口罩释放的某些重金属和化学物质具有毒性，需要更好、更稳健的生产方案，并提高公众负责任处置的意识，以减少对生态和人类健康的不利影响。