The Covid mask surge has left a chemical timebomb, research warns. At the pandemic’s peak, 129B disposable masks were used monthly, with no recycling stream. Now breaking down, they release microplastics and harmful additives like endocrine disruptors, posing risks to people, wildlife, and ecosystems for generations. Experts call for urgent change in how masks are produced, used, and disposed to prevent further damage to human and planetary health.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/08/disposable-face-masks-covid-chemical-timebomb