FACE MASK:
2020 IS OVER!!! ARENT WE ALL GLAD? Corona virus pandemic took over the world and shook our way of life. We have slowed down and develop new habits. One of them is wearing face masks. We know that most effective masks are in the family of N95, but since this pandemic has broken world wide there is shortage of it. WE manage by wearing various disposable masks which are not only harmful to us they are not recyclable and posing tremendous harm to wildlife and environment.
There is flood of face masks to choose from. Almost all retailers carry their version of it. I see cotton, polyesters, nylons and plenty of other harmful textiles used for it. Most Harmful to our long-term health as synthetic, polyester, polypropylene. Cotton however natural is not recommended due to its water retention, which creates perfect environment for bacterial, fungal and microbial growth. And that is not the end of trouble; other thing to consider is color. All commercial dies are synthetic, where especially poisonous is blue. Simple suggestion, the lighter color the better. Off white, natural colors are the safest. Use plant dies if you can.
So with all that taken to consideration, Should we pay attention to face mask content? how the content of fabric or its design and color matter?
“ The World Health Organization (WHO) currently lists a handful of different types of recommended face masks. According to WHO, medical masks — those disposable, usually blue masks you’ll often see on health professionals — should be worn by those with underlying health conditions and people over the age of 60. Fabric masks are known as non-medical masks, and WHO says they should be worn by people who have no COVID-19 symptoms in places where COVID-19 is widespread or in instances where it is not possible to socially distance. Masks are especially important if you are in close contact with people, such as on public transport or while shopping, and must be worn over the mouth and nose to be effective.
Silk fabric face masks are new, but the luxe material has already proved to be useful in the beauty industry.
“Silk masks have been shown to be an effective mask while also preventing facial irritation,” says Howard Sobel, MD, attending dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital and founder of Sobel Skin. “It has been discovered that high thread count cotton and natural silk can effectively filter out particles.”
With maskne on the rise, perhaps silk is a better option than cotton or other thicker materials when it comes to skin. “Maskne causes breakouts due to the combination of friction, heat, moisture, and clogged pores,” says Dr. Sobel. “If you haven’t already experienced maskne, you very likely could, as spending more time outdoors mixed with heat, humidity, sunscreen, facial products, and makeup can cause breakouts.”
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Dr. Sobel goes on to list the specific benefits of silk face masks. “They are especially beneficial if your skin is sensitive,” he says. “Certain mask materials can cause issues because some textures can be irritating and leading to spots.” Silk is a material that is less likely to cause problems. “Silk is cooling, naturally hypoallergenic, and tends to absorb less moisture than cotton, so it won’t dry out your skin,” Dr. Sobel continues. “100% silk does not clog pores, so finding a mask like this is an added benefit,” especially if you have oily or acne-prone skin.
While Dr. Sobel says that silk face masks are considered better for preventing skin concerns such as maskne, he points out that it’s important to remember mask hygiene plays an important part in skin care and overall health. “Wash your mask after each use, make sure your mask is completely dry before wearing it, and change your mask right after you sweat in order to fully prevent breakouts,” he says. Those tips aren’t just best practices for the sake of your skin — they’re public-health essentials.
Also since USA standards are lower than European, Australian and Canadian please note the following:
Health Canada noted that non-medical masks should be woven and you should never wear a mask made from plastic, non-breathable materials or tissues.
Face masks and Environmental disaster:
“FLAGLER HUMANE SOCIETY That disposable mask that’s tossed aside could endanger wildlife
Amy Carotenuto, Executive Director
A recent study from the The Journal of Environmental Science and Technology found that worldwide, people are using and throwing away an estimated 129 billion disposable masks and 65 billion disposable gloves every month. That’s billion with a “B” and the figure has environmental groups worried.
As the world battles coronavirus, more and more protective equipment is ending up on the ground in our neighborhoods, in the forest and in the sea.
Improperly disposing of used PPE poses an environmental risk and potentially could be spreading the very virus it is used to protect us from.
Plastic pollution, including medical gloves and masks, already posed enormous threats to animals before the COVID-19 crisis began. According to World Animal Protection, every year an estimated 136,000 seals, sea lions and large whales die from plastic entanglement. Smaller species like birds and sea turtles die in immeasurable numbers. Now that mask-wearing is a part of daily life in many places, conservationists fear that these numbers will dramatically increase.”*1
“Where did 5,500 tons of discarded face masks end up?
Jenny Yeh
14 August 2020 | 1 Comments
#Consumption #OceansCall for a Plastic-Free Future
Read the original version in traditional Chinese.
It’s been over six months since COVID-19 swept across and ravaged the world, and in an effort to contain this unprecedented outbreak, face masks have become a necessity. However, an increase in the use of disposable surgical face masks is also creating unwanted impacts on our environment, evidenced by piles of discarded face masks found near the coasts of Hong Kong, the United States, France, Mainland China, and Taiwan. Undoubtedly, face masks are now an environmental, as well as social, phenomenon.
5,500 metric tonnes of face masks were produced within 3 months
According to estimates by Greenpeace Taiwan, during the apex of the pandemic, from early February to mid May, Taiwan produced and used roughly 1.3 billion surgical masks. Assuming each face mask weighs 4 grams, that’s 5,500 metric tonnes of general waste generated within a span of three months. To put that figure into perspective, each garbage truck is capable of transporting 5 tonnes of trash at a time, so Taiwan produced enough face masks over a three-month period to fill 1,100 garbage trucks. Furthermore, according to existing rules and regulations regarding the disposal of surgical face masks, used face masks are “unrecyclable” due to the fact that they may be contaminated and could potentially lead to indirect infection and viral transmission if they enter the recycle system.(…)
Discarded face masks pose 4 major risks that could cause environmental and social impacts:
1. Discarded face masks pose social and environmental risks, both short-term and long-term.
First, chemicals contained in the masks are a potential threat to our environment. In addition to non-woven fabric and activated carbon, medical face masks also contain large amounts of polypropylene (PP), which is a type of commodity plastic that takes a long time to degrade and releases a lot of toxic substances during the process. As all face masks sold on the market must go through rigorous quality testing, it’s fair to assume that these masks won’t break down easily, and their disposal will only create negative impacts on our environment and ecosystems.
2. Discarded face masks can become floating marine debris and impact the marine ecosystems.(…)
3. Rivers and mountainous areas may become dumping grounds, which not only could hinder our pandemic response efforts to properly dispose of single-use masks, but also wreak havoc on wildlife. (…)
4. From a social risk perspective, a spike in the amount of disposed waste might lead to an increase in the demand for incinerator capacity. (…)
We need your help in our fight to reduce plastic waste
Around the world, people are becoming more aware of the need to reduce our reliance on plastic products. In Taiwan, we have also been advocating plastic reduction and holding the government and businesses accountable by lobbying for relevant policies. We successfully advocated for a ban on plastic microbeads, hosted 47 different fairs and marathons with the theme of “plastic reduction,” set up the “Marine Debris Governance Platform” with the EPA and other local NGOs, and oversaw the passage and implementation of plastic reduction policies and plans.
However, our fight isn’t over yet, and our projects need your support. From businesses to the general public, let’s educate and raise more awareness to help realize the dream of a cleaner, better future that’s free of plastic pollution.
It starts with each of us using one less single-use product, starting today.
Jenny Yeh is a researcher at Greenpeace Taiwan. *2 link to whole article
Good article. I will be experiencing a few of these issues as well.. Michelina Phillip Ib Allina Tobie Frear