Toxic effect of nanotextiles as waste of respirators and face masks

Abstract

The article deals with the toxic effect of nanotextiles as waste from respirators and face masks. The article is focused on ecotoxicology and basic ecotoxicological tests according to available European standards and Czech legislation. Article describes the production and other characteristics of the nonwovens that were tested. Part of article concludes with a review of foreign studies that have also dealt with the testing of microplastics and nanoplastics on various organisms. The experimental results presents specific experimental characteristics of the textiles and then presents individual tests. Tests on seeds of Sinapis alba L. plants growing and Lemna minor L. were performed. In all cases, the tested non-woven fabrics had a non-toxic effect on the organisms, but it cannot be confirmed that there is no reaction. Further tests will be carried out to clarify the effects of the nonwovens on the test organisms.