What hath the pandemic wrought?
For almost two years now, we’ve been wearing masks. (I’ve been talking about them since the calendar changed two years ago.) Back before the pandemic, we only saw folks in the Far East wearing masks routinely- or on occasion on airplanes- where folks worried about catching the flu and other “conventional” diseases.
I, for one, wear a mask whenever I enter a grocery store, a drug store… ok, any enclosed building where there are strangers. (I also only share my “indoors” with folks who I know are triple vaccinated- yes, that means with a booster. Except for the nurses/doctors who come to treat my leg thrice weekly. They wear masks [and, yes, at least some of them are NOT vaccinated- but are tested routinely].)
Obviously, I am not the only one. After all, mask production has ramped up from 8 billion a year to 129 billion a month!
And, therein lies the problem. Where do you thing those masks end up? (OK. I use a three or four layer mask, which I wash after each day’s use. My son, on the other hand, uses TWO N95 masks.) Of course, they end up in the trash (landfill), with a significant number ending up in our bodies of water.
So, we need to figure out how to make these masks biodegradable. Oh, wait, that’s another problem.
Who defines what is biodegradable? And, how long should the process take? And, when these masks degrade, are they contributing to our microplastic problem?
After all, one vendor claims they sell a biodegradable mask (Canadian Shield, Waterloo, Canada), because they incorporate an additive that allows degradation in a landfill. Hmm… 6.5% degraded in 45 days. Of course, biodegradation doesn’t follow a straight line, as microbial efficiency decays with time. If this were a straight line, it would take at least 2 years to degrade the mask. Doesn’t seem highly biodegradable to me.
Other vendors are attempting to make masks from sugar cane, corn starch, and other sugars. Theoretically, such substrates would be highly degradable.
Polymateria Ltd (UK) adds chemicals to the plastics during the fabrication/manufacture of the masks. The goal is the have these rubbers, oils, and desiccants either self-destruct or convert the materials to wax that is highly convertible by microbes (bacteria and fungi).
A more creative (pun intended) idea is what Marie Bee Bloom is doing. They produce rice paper masks with flower seeds incorporated within the mask layers. When the paper degrades, the flowers can sprout. Of course, there is an issue with the concept of non-native and/or invasive species. Not to mention that these masks are hand-made, so supply is limited.
Not only is degradability an issue, so is cost. After all, a disposable mask may run 5 cents each- but make it biodegradable, and the costs zoom to 30 cents or more. (Not to mention that Canadian Shield gets 55 cents for each mask and Marie Bee Bloom runs a cool $ 3 apiece.)
Not such a simple proposition, is it?
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Very good points! It seems as though each solution to a problem can lead to another problem and then a solution to that problem may cause another problem and so on and so forth. As I always say to my kids, do your best and leave the rest. That’s all we have to do – do our best to solve problems as they come and have faith that we’re doing all that we truly can to make this world a better place.
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You betcha! Thanks for the incisive comments.
Yes, masks are everywhere! Mostly thrown down on the ground to blow around wherever the wind listeth.
Ordinary masks are meant to stay around for a long time, for sure. I know people who wash and dry them, and they are still usable.
You’ve presented some interesting options. Imagine a mask that sprouts flowers! But I do wonder about such a mask being used in the moist environment of the face if it would begin to break down while in use.
For those who are concerned about these types of things, I think there are options. For those who could care less, it won’t really matter if the biodegradable masks are available, because they’re not going to take the time, nor invest money, in obtaining them, or planting the mask/whatever afterwards. Similar to the plastic grocery bags. They’re everywhere because they are cheap and easy to obtain.
Maybe if large corporations were to purchase in mass quantities, it would help. But…anytime we get free stuff we don’t value it, so it comes back to the individual after all.
Something to think about, anyway, as we see streets and beaches strewn with masks.
Blessings,
Laurie
Ridge Haven Homestead
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Great addition to the conversation, Laurie! Thanks so much for that great input!
This is a great point that I hadn’t even considered. We actually reused masks a lot especially when there was a significant shortage. I will keep this in mind! You keep giving me things to think about!
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That’s my job. That’s what I do. (Apologies to Conway Twitty.)
I had worn cloth masks hand sewed by a woman married to a first responder (so they were thick enough and had adjustable ties that spared my ears) which were washed frequently and sundried when possible, but am double masking now with a disposable blue mask underneath the cloth until the N95 masks we have on order come in (ordered last week). So now I’m part of the “putting masks in landfill” brigade. And yes, both husband and I are triple vaxxed, but never abandoned wearing masks in any public indoor situation.
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I use washable masks, with a fan blowing air into my nose. (It’s held in place by the masks.)
Something to think about. I hope that someone with the ability to do something reads this. Thank you, Roy. We have to start being responsible for our waste.
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That is for sure, Victoria!
Not only do we need biodegradable masks because they end up in landfills, but because inconsiderate people don’t even bother to throw their masks in the trash. They just drop them on the floor, on the beach, in the park – because somebody else is going to take care of it.
I love Ms Bloom’s flower seed version. Would I pay 3 bucks though? Probably not. A friend of ours sells washable community masks. They don’t live forever, but the ones that had to go, had been worn for over a year.
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Great addition to the coversation, Tamara. Thanks!
A perplexing issue for sure. Lots to think about.
You betcha, Cindy! Thanks for the visit.
I like the idea of the flower seeds in a mask if they aren’t from an invasive species. We all still wear are masks and Lia has washable Unicorn ones!
Unicorns. That’s one way to get kids to don their masks, Martha.
That’s the problem and there’s more.How effective are these rice paper masks?
Is there a certification ?
Some interesting problems to think about.
Rice paper can work- but you need at least three layers.
That’s the problem and there’s more.How effective are these rice paper masks?
Is there a certification ?
Some interesting problems to think about.Your son wears two N95?That’s something!
There are certifications- but not for COVID-19, for their filtration efficiencies, Dr. A.
So true, Roy.. It is sad indeed to see masks lying around every time we walk around the neighborhood.. We reuse masks as much as we can.. Luckily, considering both my husband and I are home mostly (except for errands), we only need to wear masks occasionally so we can do our part by keeping those errands as close together as possible too.. Now both my kids’ schools are going to provide them with N95 masks as they are both going in-person (and the increase of cases has led to this decision by the school)
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Glad to see you are staying safe! That’s super. Mask on! (and keep them masks out of the waters!)