Scientific research: Some public masks contain toxic chemicals

Reporter : Li Zhaoxi / Editor : Yun Tao / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/04/03/a103088073.html / Direct translation

Image : On 18 February 2020, at a factory in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, a worker is sorting out the masks produced. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Recently, scientists have discovered that some masks used by the public contain toxic chemicals, including known allergens and carcinogens. Experts worry that long-term wearing of masks containing toxic chemicals may cause unexpected health problems.

Michael Braungart, director of the Hamburg Environmental Institute (Hamburg Environmental Institute), a German non-profit scientific research institution, told Ecotextile News that mask wearers who wear fabric and non-woven masks for a long time will face unconsciously Risk of inhaling carcinogens, allergens and tiny synthetic microfibers.

Braungart’s recent discovery was supported by Dr. Dieter Sedlak, another famous German textile chemist. Dr. Cedrak has more than 40 years of experience in the industry and is one of the most respected figures in the textile chemicals field.

Professor Braungart said, "What we breathe through our mouth and nose is actually hazardous waste." Through preliminary tests on used surgical masks, he found that there are known carcinogens aniline, formaldehyde and optical brightening on the masks. Traces of chemical substances such as agents. In Europe and the United States, the concentrations of formaldehyde and optical brighteners in consumer products are strictly limited.

Another study by Dr. Sedrak also showed that there is a "2-butanone oxime" (2-butanone oxime) component on the mask, which is used as a crosslinking agent for perfluorocarbon (PFC) in the mask . The by-products of perfluorocarbons are used as oil and water repellent agents on fabrics in the textile industry. As we all know, perfluorocarbons are bio-persistent, and European and American countries have imposed strict restrictions on their use.

Last year, many American scientists called for all perfluorinated/polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) to be treated as a class of chemicals, and said that due to their harmful toxicological and ecotoxicological characteristics, they should be avoided for non-essential uses.

"To be honest, I did not expect to find perfluorocarbons in surgical masks, but our laboratory has special routine methods that can easily detect these chemicals and identify them immediately. This is a big problem", Dr. Cedrak explained.

"This seems to be used as a water repellent purposely. It will act in the form of aerosol droplets to drive off the virus, but perfluorocarbons are not good for your face, nose, mucous membranes or eyes." Cedlak said that in addition to perfluorocarbons, compounds such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were also detected, and the GCMS chromatogram showed "more than 100 peaks from other pollutants."

Because masks used by the public are not classified as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), they are subject to different levels of scrutiny than masks used by medical professionals.

During the SARS-CoV-2 (CCP virus) pandemic, the strong demand for masks aroused people's attention to the safety of masks. Since 85% of the world's masks come from China, its substandard production lines and opaque supply chain have exacerbated people's concerns.