Letters: As cases of Covid-19 infections started to reemerge and more new clusters are detected following the easing of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to the recovery phase, Malaysia has announced the mandatory use of face masks in crowded public places starting Aug 1.
This decision was taken following advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which said healthy people wearing face masks can reduce the potential risk of exposure from infected persons who had yet to develop symptoms.
Naturally, considering the environmental impacts of the face masks might not be immediately popular, attention must however be paid to discarded face masks, a new kind of pollution that adds to the already existing plastic problem.
Face masks are mainly made of non-woven fabric, typically containing polypropylene, which acts as a protective layer against bodily fluid droplets.
Polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene or polyester are some of the other commonly-used materials in face masks.
Face masks are plastic-based and have a long lifespan of approximately 450 years after they are discarded, ending up in landfills or oceans.
The materials never fully degrade, but rather shrink or break into smaller pieces called microplastics.
Hong Kong-based non-governmental organisation OceansAsia reported finding large quantities of surgical face masks on the Soko Islands, a small cluster off the coast of the city during its plastic pollution research in February.
The organisation reported finding 70 face masks disposed of in an area that is just 100m long, with an additional 30 washed up on the shore on a beach in Lantau Island.
These findings have raised concern and provide an insight into potential larger littering problems across more popular beaches.
Given that surgical masks are supposed to be worn for no longer then one day and considering that the general population of the world have all taken the precaution of wearing one or two surgical face masks per day, the amount of trash generated is going to be inevitably large.
According to the WHO's guidelines, soiled tissues and used face masks must be thrown only into lidded litter bins.
Therefore, it is important to raise awareness and to educate the public on how to properly dispose of face masks, as well as to inform them on the health risks associated with incorrect disposal.
Disposing single-use face masks correctly is vital. However, wearing reusable face masks is also another option.
There are a few things to consider when using reusable face masks, including getting washable triple-layered reusable cloth masks that cover the nose and mouth.
Apart from that, reusable face masks should be washed every day and must be completely dried before re-use. The best way to wash face masks is to pop it into the washing machine and add some fabric-safe disinfectant to the rinse compartment.
Face masks can also be handwashed by filling up a clean basin with hot water and some detergent and scrubbing them for five minutes before rinsing.
For any kind of face mask, the used one must not be left in the handbag as it could transfer germs to other items.
Keep a small disposable bag to store the face mask in until you get home, and washing or disposing can reduce the risk of germs and viruses spreading.
Nevertheless, face masks are not a complete shield against the coronavirus.
Remember to keep a distance of at least 1m from others and clean hands frequently and thoroughly.
Azyan Zafyrah Mohd Zahid
Faculty of Civil EngineeringUniversiti Teknologi Mara, Pasir Gudang Campus, Johor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times