. 2022 Oct 27;443:130273. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130273

Table 1.

Summary of the ecotoxicity studies on MPs derived from face masks.

Type of mask	Type of organism	Species	Growth stage	Fiber concentration	Fiber length	Exposure time	Effect	Reference
Surgical face mask (poorly degraded)	Aquatic	Danio rerio	Larvae	10 mg L⁻¹	3.10 mm	10 d	Downregulation of genes associated with reproduction (more pronounced in highly degraded masks). No effects on survival were observed.	(Sendra et al., 2022)
Surgical face mask (highly degraded)				10 mg L⁻¹	1.25 mm
Surgical face mask (leachate)				–	–
Surgical face mask	Aquatic	Daphnia magna	Neonates	1 mg L⁻¹ 10 mg L⁻¹ 100 mg L⁻¹	42.0–55.6 µm	24–48 h	The organisms ingested MPs. No effects on survival were observed.	(Jemec Kokalj et al., 2022)
Surgical face mask	Aquatic	Tigriopus japonicus	Nauplii	1 MP L⁻¹ 10 MP L⁻¹ 100 MP L⁻¹	< 10 µm (33%) 10–50 (42%) > 50 µm (25%)	∼10 d	Maturity time and birth spacing were significantly longer at higher concentrations. The length of the droppings was greater at medium and high concentrations.	(Sun et al., 2021)
White face masks (middle layer was used)	Terrestrial	Folsomia candida	Juveniles	1000 mg kg⁻¹	< 300 µm	28 d	Significant reduction in the ratio of reproduction and growth. No effects on survival, esterase activity, oxidative stress, and behavior were observed.	(Kwak and An, 2021)
White face masks (middle layer was used)	Terrestrial	Eisenia andrei	Adults	1000 mg kg⁻¹	< 300 µm	21 d	Intracellular esterase activity and spermatogenesis in the seminal vesicles were significantly reduced. No effects on survival or other pathological effects were observed. Lysosomal stability and oxidative stress in coelomocytes were not affected.	(Kwak and An, 2021)
Surgical face mask (Inner, middle, outer layers used)	Terrestrial	Enchytraeus crypticus	Adults	0.02% (w/w) 0.06% (w/w) 0.17% (w/w) 0.5% (w/w) 1.5% (w/w)	42.0 µm 45.1 µm 55.6 µm	21 d	No effects on reproduction and survival were observed.	(Kokalj et al., 2022)
		Porcellio scaber	Adults	0.06% (w/w) 0.5% (w/w) 1.5% (w/w)			Significant reduction in hemocyte viability at high concentrations depending on layer type. No effects on survival were observed.
		Tenebrio molitor	Larvae	0.06% (w/w) 0.5% (w/w) 1.5% (w/w)			Significant alterations in available energy (equivalents of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins) and activity of the electron transfer system. No effect on survival.
Surgical face mask	Terrestrial	Brassica napus L.	Seedlings	0.5% (w/w) 1% (w/w)	2.5, 2, 1, 0.5, < 0.5 cm	14 d	Inhibition of root length depending on the size of the plastics. Increase in the number of leaves and alterations in the length of the shoot. No significant changes were observed in leaf size and shoot/root ratio. No changes in catalase and dehydrogenase activity were observed. Significant increase in the number of heterotrophic bacteria.	(Mészáros et al., 2022)
Surgical face mask	Terrestrial	Brassica napus L.	Seed	0.5% (w/v) 1% (w/v)	2.5, 2, 1, 0.5, < 0.5 cm	5 d	Inhibition of root elongation.	(Mészáros et al., 2022)