Organic components in facial masks used in Italy during the CoVID-19 outbreak

To mitigate the CoVID-19 impact, Health Authorities all over the world prescribed the use of facial masks in public places, particularly in hospitals. However, that potentially induced environmental and human health problems, because of chemical composition and fibrous frame of the masks. In this work, various facial mask models marketed in Italy, differing in color and particulate filtering capability, were characterized with regard to organic components accompanying their polymeric structure. Several groups of organic compounds were investigated, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates and terephthalates, organic phosphates, fragrances, UV light shelters, phenols, alkyl and benzyl esters, oxygen and nitrogen containing chemicals. All substances occurred at distinct concentration levels in the mask models. Total phthalates ranged in masks from <0.1 mg/g to ∼1.1 mg/g, and terephthalates from <0.01 to ∼0.43 mg/g; organic phosphates ranged ∼0.06-2.1 μg/g, and alkylphenols from ∼0.7 μg/g up to ∼26 μg/g. According to the loads and chemical fingerprints of organic contaminants associated with deposition dusts collected in the interiors of various kinds of environments, facial masks did not seem to contribute to indoor pollution during the CoVID-19 outbreak, nor even in hospital premises, where the use of masks by all kinds of frequenters remained mandatory until 2023. Highlights : • Several organic toxicants were characterized in facial masks from Italy during the CoVID-19 outbreak. • Phthalates and terephthalates were the principal mask contaminants in weight, accounting for up to ∼1.1‰ of the total. • The facial masks composition did not include carcinogenic PAHs, but encompassed fragrances, UV filters, and preservatives. • The overall mask composition did not fit with that of depositions from indoor environments including hospitals. • Bromo/chloro-alkanes (up to ∼1.6 μg/g in total) affected masks and could contaminate depositions from hospitals.