The present study investigated the fate, and the biological effects posed by the presence of Disposable Face Masks (DFMs) into fresh- and saltwater media, using both chemical and biological testing. To this end, slightly fragmented DFMs were maintained in tanks with artificial sea water (ASW) or dH₂O (DFMASW and DFMdH₂O, respectively) for a period of 20 days (under continuous agitation, oxygen supply, and light/dark ration 1:1) to simulate both fresh- and saltwater natural conditions. Thereafter, DFMs leaching substances were determined, before proceeding to biological testing with the use of the marine bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri (Bioluminescence Inhibition assay), the fresh- and saltwater algal species Chlorococcum sp. and Tetraselmis suecica (algal bioassays), as well as the fairy shrimp Thamnocephalus platyurus, the water flea Daphnia magna, and the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus (acute toxicity screening tests, in terms of microbiotest). According to the results, once into aquatic media (DFMASW and DFMdH₂O) DFMs are subjected to degradation, leading to the release of organic, inorganic, and polymeric compounds (PP microfibers). Considering that possible interactions of the leaching substances could differentially affect the aquatic biota, the present study showed that DFMs leaching substances could be harmful to the fairy shrimp T. platyurus, and the water flea D. magna, with slight to non-toxic effects to be observed in case of Chlorococcum sp. and Tetraselmis suecica, the marine bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri, and the rotifer B. calyciflorus. The present findings showed that the DFMs improper disposal into fresh- and/or saltwater media, followed by their degradation and leaching processes, could lead to the release of substances of great environmental concern, thus promoting awareness about their proper handling and management, as well as the long-term monitoring of their environmental risk.

中文翻译：

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将一次性口罩放入水介质中：浸出过程中释放的化合物的化学和生物测试


本研究使用化学和生物测试调查了一次性口罩 （DFM） 进入淡水和咸水介质的命运和生物效应。为此，将略微碎片化的 DFM 保存在装有人工海水 （ASW） 或 dH₂O（分别为 DFMASW 和 DFMdH₂O）的水箱中 20 天（在连续搅拌、氧气供应和光/暗比 1：1 下），以模拟淡水和咸水自然条件。此后，测定了 DFM 的浸出物质，然后继续使用海洋细菌 Aliivibrio fischeri（生物发光抑制测定）、淡水和咸水藻类 Chlorococcum sp. 和 Tetraselmis suecica（藻类生物测定法）以及仙虾 Thamnocephalus platyurus、水蚤 Daphnia magna 和轮虫 Brachionus calyciflorus 进行生物检测（急性毒性筛选测试，就微生物测试而言）。根据结果，一旦进入水生介质（DFMASW 和 DFMdH₂O），DFM 就会发生降解，导致有机、无机和聚合物化合物（PP 超细纤维）的释放。考虑到浸出物质之间可能的相互作用可能会对水生生物群产生不同的影响，本研究表明，DFMs 浸出物质可能对仙虾 T. platyurus 和水蚤 D. magna 有害，在氯球菌 sp 和 Tetraselmis suecica、海洋细菌 Aliivibrio fischeri、 的情况下观察到轻微或无毒的影响， 和轮虫 B. calyciflorus。 目前的研究结果表明，DFM 被不当处置到淡水和/或盐水介质中，然后进行降解和浸出过程，可能导致释放对环境构成重大影响的物质，从而提高对其正确处理和管理的认识，以及对其环境风险的长期监测。