An Abundance of Discarded Masks Outnumbers Jellyfish: The Environmental Impacts of Discarded Masks  

As face coverings are becoming more prevalent, experts believe that discarded and abandoned masks are causing much concern to the environment. Non-profit environmental organizations like Opération Mer Propre, as well as non-profit syndicates based in Asia such as OceansAsia have addressed their deep concerns on the rapid increase of discarded masks in oceans and the impacts of such discarded matter on marine life early April, 2021.

Joffrey Peltier, member of Opération Mer Propre remarked on the concerning quantities of masks and other paraphernalia associated with preventive purposes, including hand sanitizer bottles and gloves, intertwined with common debris in the Mediterranean Sea. French politician Éric Pauget addressed his concerns regarding the quantity of discarded masks, alluding to the deadly aftermaths of mask constituents like polypropylene on marine life.

Hong Kong-based OceansAsia has also begun to voice concerns earlier this year in response to a survey regarding marine debris found near the coasts of the Soko Islands. Co-founder Gary Stokes described that on a beach coast of only 100 meters long, his crew found 70 discarded masks.

Elsie Z., student coordinator of the service group “Roots & Shoots: Environment” mentioned that she had seen an innumerable quantity of wrongfully disposed of masks littered at school. “I see it everywhere I go, sometimes in the corridors of our school. Bins specialized for masks are everywhere, but people don’t seem to notice them.”

“I see disposed masks on the floor everyday on my way to work,” said Yeong Gwon J., a member of the AISG community. “Masks shouldn’t be on the floor, but rather on people’s faces.”

Organizations and environmental activist associations like the Royal Society for the Prevention of Animals are currently tackling environmental concerns engendered by mask littering by encouraging individuals to remove mask straps before disposal to prevent animals from getting strapped in elastics. The party of the Liberal Democrats of the United Kingdom is currently appealing for ministers to advocate and commend the usage of reusable masks, in addition to the provision of suggestions on how to keep them hygienic and reusable.

Marine biologists have noted that masks can kill marine and bird species in myriad ways, such as through suffocation, intertwinement with elastics, and malnourishment, where mask pollutants accumulate in the animals’ stomachs and serve no nutritional benefits. Plastic from these masks breaks down into smaller portions called micro-plastics over time and into even smaller particles called nano-plastics. The main constituents of surgical masks like polymer fibers are long-lived and can disrupt the food chains of both animals and humans.