Mixed Messages and Mask Mandates--Cassidy Hawk, Gabrielle Lopez, Julia Tucker
The Centers for Disease Control, at first fearing a PPE shortage for healthcare workers, changed course and began advising Americans to wear face masks on April 3rd (Welker et al. 2020). In addition to the CDC’s advice, several states have passed their own mandates. On July 2, Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide mask order urging Texans “to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth” while outdoors (Svitek 2020). This order applied to all Texas counties, and residents who violate the order could face a $250 fine (Svitek 2020).
The Limits of PPE
Due to the shortage of PPE, there is now a limit in the amount hospitals can receive. In the wake of this, outside sources like Amazon have donated masks. According to respiratory therapist Megan Lopez, the lack of surgical masks and having to reserve N95s for emergency use have caused a myriad of issues for healthcare workers—from skin irritation because of lower quality masks to restrictions on the time it takes to reach a patient.
Typically, healthcare workers are given a surgical mask at the beginning of their 12 hour shift. Before COVID-19, they were able to use one for each patient; however, with demand increasing and a lack of sufficient amounts of PPE, they are being asked to reuse them for entire shifts.
The Limits of PPE
Due to the shortage of PPE, there is now a limit in the amount hospitals can receive. In the wake of this, outside sources like Amazon have donated masks. According to respiratory therapist Megan Lopez, the lack of surgical masks and having to reserve N95s for emergency use have caused a myriad of issues for healthcare workers—from skin irritation because of lower quality masks to restrictions on the time it takes to reach a patient.
Typically, healthcare workers are given a surgical mask at the beginning of their 12 hour shift. Before COVID-19, they were able to use one for each patient; however, with demand increasing and a lack of sufficient amounts of PPE, they are being asked to reuse them for entire shifts.
Austin, TX
Austin-Travis County is currently in Stage Four, which places limits on social gatherings and business capacities (“COVID-19,” 2020). In addition to Stage Four’s warnings, signs have been posted in Austin’s parks, advising general safety while outdoors.
Austin-Travis County is currently in Stage Four, which places limits on social gatherings and business capacities (“COVID-19,” 2020). In addition to Stage Four’s warnings, signs have been posted in Austin’s parks, advising general safety while outdoors.
Entanglements with Wildlife
In addition to the effects PPE litter has had on local Austin pets, it has also begun to affect wildlife as well. A seagull caught in a disposable face mask was taken to an animal hospital and successfully cut free of its entanglements, but an English animal rights organization told BBC News that this seagull would likely be the first of many animals affected by PPE litter (“Gull caught in PPE,” 2020). Furthermore, a study found that the increase in global usage of PPE and its resulting pollution are negatively affecting marine biodiversity. (Canning-Clode et al. 2020). Because masks are made of plastics like polypropylene and polyamide, PPE waste has the potential to leak microplastics into the environment and harm marine life (Veerasingam et al. 2020).
In addition to the effects PPE litter has had on local Austin pets, it has also begun to affect wildlife as well. A seagull caught in a disposable face mask was taken to an animal hospital and successfully cut free of its entanglements, but an English animal rights organization told BBC News that this seagull would likely be the first of many animals affected by PPE litter (“Gull caught in PPE,” 2020). Furthermore, a study found that the increase in global usage of PPE and its resulting pollution are negatively affecting marine biodiversity. (Canning-Clode et al. 2020). Because masks are made of plastics like polypropylene and polyamide, PPE waste has the potential to leak microplastics into the environment and harm marine life (Veerasingam et al. 2020).
So how should one dispose of PPE?
In a 30-second video, the Environmental Protection Agency urged Americans not to recycle PPE (U.S. EPA 2020). Instead of recycling, the EPA advises that PPE be thrown away in the trash (U.S. EPA 2020).
Some cities have attempted to curb this improper disposal and the metric tons of non recyclable waste it can create (Allison et al. 2020). The Suffolk County legislature in New York state passed a law that punishes individuals who litter PPE (Vecsey 2020).
How You Can Help
Because disposable face masks harm the environment, there’s an effort to create more sustainable options. A company in France has worked to produce biodegradable face masks made from hemp (Reuters Staff 2020).
Reusable masks reduce the PPE that ends up in landfills and the ocean, and studies have shown that only 1-2 reusable face masks are needed to last through the pandemic (“Reusable Face Masks,” 2020).
Another way we can minimize our impact is by making our own facemasks! This video walks you through step-by-step on how to make masks using materials such as a bandana and a few hair ties: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqrRsR0SQu8&ab_channel=SarahMaker
Bibliography
Allison, A. L., Ambrose-Dempster, E., Domenech Aparsi, T., Bawn, M., Casas Arredondo, M., Chau, C., … Ward, J. (2020). The environmental dangers of employing single-use face masks as part of a COVID-19 exit strategy. UCL Press. DOI: 10.14324/111.444/000031.v1
COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines. (n.d.). Retrieved November/December, 2020
Canning-Clode, J., Sepúlveda, P., Almeida, S., & Monteiro, J. (2020). Will COVID-19 Containment and Treatment Measures Drive Shifts in Marine Litter Pollution? Frontiers in Marine Science, 7. DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00691
Coronavirus: Gull caught in PPE face mask in Chelmsford. (2020, July 20).
Reusable Face Masks: Are They Suitable, Sustainable and Sew-able? (2020, June 03).
Reuters Staff. (2020, September 18). This French firm is making biodegradable face masks using hemp. Retrieved from
Svitek, P. (2020, July 02). Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texans in most counties to wear masks in public.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2020, May 12). Don't Recycle PPE.
Vecsey, T. K. (2020, November 11). Litter PPE, Face A Fine in Suffolk.
Veerasingam, S., Al-Khayat, J. A., & Vethamony, P. (2020). COVID-19 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): A Potential Source of Microplastic Pollution in the State of Qatar. University of the Future: Re-Imagining Research and Higher Education. Presented at the Qatar University Annual Research Forum & Exhibition. DOI: 10.29117/quarfe.2020.0284
Welker, K., Bennett, G., & Clark, D. (2020, April 03). CDC recommends people wear cloth masks in public – but Trump says he won't.
