Surgical masks have been part of essential personal protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the inappropriate disposal of surgical masks can cause serious microplastic pollution, equivalent to seriously polluting more than 54,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools of seawater annually, researchers from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) discovered. This can also affect the growth and reproduction of marine organisms and the food chain. The research team urged the public to dispose of their used masks properly and highlighted the importance of better environmental management, by formulating corresponding policies and law enforcement to ensure the proper disposal of surgical masks.
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Source: Phys.org