From COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to pollutants: A multi-analytical approach towards environmental weathering of gloves and face masks in beach sand and sea

COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented global demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and face masks. While these items have been crucial in curbing the spread of viruses, their disposal poses significant environmental challenges. This study aims to provide insights on the effects resulting from exposure in seawater and beach sand on PPE, when accidentally disposed. For that purpose, three types of gloves (nitrile, latex and vinyl) and face masks (FFP2, surgical and generic) were 18 months exposed. The samples were then collected and analysed by Attenuated Total Reflectance infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy analyses to evaluate the aging/degradation state of the PPEs' surface, while Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) was conducted to elucidate potential degradation of the polymer structures. Finally, Direct Analysis in Real-Time coupled with Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) was employed, to assess their chemical composition and potential leaching behavior. ATR-FTIR and Py-GC-MS analyses revealed that polymer aging (oxidation) occurred in surgical masks exposed to seawater. In contrast, nitrile gloves aged in sand exhibited a loss of the characteristic nitrile absorption band. DART-MS further revealed that both masks and gloves exhibited limited degradation. Nevertheless, some noteworthy patterns emerged. Metal chlorides present in gloves were completely released, while phthalates were prone to oxidation when aged in beach sand. Regarding face masks, similar trends were discovered, again showing more pronounced chemical aging behavior in sand-aged samples. In conclusion, this study highlights that a multidisciplinary analytical approach is required to understand the impact of plastics towards the marine ecosystem.