Wearing face masks has become the new normal worldwide due to the global spread of the coronavirus disease 2019. The inhalation of microplastics due to the wearing of masks has rarely been reported. The present study used different types of commonly used masks to conduct breathing simulation experiments and investigate microplastic inhalation risk. Microplastic inhalation caused by reusing masks that underwent various treatment processes was also tested. Results implied that wearing masks considerably reduces the inhalation risk of particles (e.g., granular microplastics and unknown particles) even when they are worn continuously for 720 h. Surgical, cotton, fashion, and activated carbon masks wearing pose higher fiber-like microplastic inhalation risk, while all masks generally reduced exposure when used under their supposed time (<4 h). N95 poses less fiber-like microplastic inhalation risk. Reusing masks after they underwent different disinfection pretreatment processes can increase the risk of particle (e.g., granular microplastics) and fiber-like microplastic inhalation. Ultraviolet disinfection exerts a relatively weak effect on fiber-like microplastic inhalation, and thus, it can be recommended as a treatment process for reusing masks if proven effective from microbiological standpoint. Wearing an N95 mask reduces the inhalation risk of spherical-type microplastics by 25.5 times compared with not wearing a mask.

由于2019冠状病毒病在全球蔓延，戴口罩已成为全球新常态。因戴口罩而吸入微塑料的报道鲜有报道。本研究使用不同类型的常用口罩进行呼吸模拟实验，调查微塑料吸入风险。还测试了重复使用经过各种处理过程的口罩引起的微塑料吸入。结果表明，即使连续佩戴口罩 720 小时，佩戴口罩也能显着降低吸入颗粒物（例如颗粒状微塑料和未知颗粒物）的风险。佩戴外科口罩、棉质口罩、时尚口罩和活性炭口罩会带来更高的纤维状微塑料吸入风险，而所有口罩在规定时间（<4 小时）内使用时通常会减少暴露。N95 吸入纤维状微塑料的风险较小。在经过不同的消毒预处理过程后重复使用口罩会增加吸入颗粒（例如颗粒状微塑料）和纤维状微塑料的风险。紫外线消毒对纤维状微塑料吸入的影响相对较弱，因此，如果从微生物学角度证明有效，则可推荐作为重复使用口罩的处理工艺。与不戴口罩相比，戴N95口罩可使吸入球形微塑料的风险降低25.5倍。紫外线消毒对纤维状微塑料吸入的影响相对较弱，因此，如果从微生物学角度证明有效，则可推荐作为重复使用口罩的处理工艺。与不戴口罩相比，戴N95口罩可使吸入球形微塑料的风险降低25.5倍。紫外线消毒对纤维状微塑料吸入的影响相对较弱，因此，如果从微生物学角度证明有效，则可推荐作为重复使用口罩的处理工艺。与不戴口罩相比，戴N95口罩可使吸入球形微塑料的风险降低25.5倍。