Effects of disposable Masks on the Environment by Nomvuyo Mathe (SOET)

Article by : Nomvuyo Mathe Since May 4 2020 it became mandatory for S Zimbabweans to wear face masks in public spaces to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), greater attention has been more on human survival than anything else. The lockdown remains in place and the wearing of face masks has become part of our daily life as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. However, little thought or attention has been given to huge quantities of disposable plastic masks which have a devastating effect on the environment, piling more woes to the country's growing litter problem. In the wake of the fight against the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, the impact of the disposable masks has taken a back seat, adding to woes related to the disposal of plastic and other non-biodegradable waste such as kaylites, disposable nappies and pads. Plastic masks, personal protective equipment PPEs, are producing an incredible amount of environmental waste. The vast majorities of disposable masks, PPEs products are not recyclable and must be thrown away with general waste. Disposable masks, PPE, and an array of plastic products are discarded on landfills, open spaces, along roadsides and bridges, where this waste often ends up directly in streams and rivers. This new form of pollution from disposable masks combined with the other know pollutants and the impacts from mining, industrial pollution, excessive soil erosion and increased land clearance is pushing Zimbabwe water and river systems to the limits of sustainability. (Tsiko,2020) The majority of masks are manufactured from long-lasting plastic materials, and if discarded can persist in the environment for decades to hundreds of years. This means they can have a number of impacts on the environment and people. Initially, discarded masks may risk spreading coronavirus to waste collectors, litter pickers or members of the public who first come across the litter. We know that in certain conditions, the virus can survive on a plastic surgical mask for seven days. Over the medium to long term, animals and plants are also affected. Through its sheer mass, plastic waste can smother environments and break up ecosystems. Some animals also cannot tell the difference between plastic items and their prey, subsequently choking on pieces of litter. Even if they do not choke, animals can become malnourished as the materials fill up their stomachs but provide no nutrients. Smaller animals may also become entangled in the elastic within the masks or within gloves as they begin to break apart. Plastics break down into smaller pieces over time, and the longer litter is in the environment, the more it will decompose. Plastics first break down into microplastics and eventually into even smaller nanoplastics. These tiny particles and fibres are often long-lived polymers that can accumulate in food chains.