Disposable face masks, such as those health officials encouraged (or in some cases, mandated) the public to wear during the COVID-19 pandemic, are made of synthetic fibers and may contain chemical compounds. Many people have questioned the wisdom of wearing masks made of synthetic fibers for long periods, asking whether inhaling the chemical compounds masks release could lead to health problems.
Masks may release up to 5,390 microplastic particles in a 24-hour period and surgical masks in particular may release approximately 3,152 microfibers in less than one hour, according to a review in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety in April.
