Investigation study of face mask consumption in Malaysia and its impact on environment
Although face masks might protect us against the COVID-19 virus, inappropriate disposal of used face mask can have a negative impact on the environment. As a result, it is critical to analyse the consumption of face masks and its Life Cycle Assessment to explore the environmental consequences for lo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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EDP Sciences
2025-01-01
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| Series: | E3S Web of Conferences |
| Online Access: | https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/03/e3sconf_isgst2024_01009.pdf |
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| author | Low Chung-Yu Bee Soo-Tueen Law Yung-Siang Lee Tin-Sin Bee Soo-Ling |
| author_facet | Low Chung-Yu Bee Soo-Tueen Law Yung-Siang Lee Tin-Sin Bee Soo-Ling |
| author_sort | Low Chung-Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although face masks might protect us against the COVID-19 virus, inappropriate disposal of used face mask can have a negative impact on the environment. As a result, it is critical to analyse the consumption of face masks and its Life Cycle Assessment to explore the environmental consequences for long-term development. In this study, the observation on the consumption of face masks have been divided into 2 periods of time, which were the period of March 2019 to March 2020 (before COVID-19 epidemic) and the period of April 2020 to April 2021 (during COVID-19 epidemic). Malaysia is estimated to consume 8,398,943 pieces of face masks per month before the COVID-19 epidemic and 62,992,074 pieces of face masks per month during the COVID-19 epidemic. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is carried out in this work to investigate the environmental impacts of both period of time by assessing the input and output of the face masks in a cradle-to-grave manner. OpenLCA software were used by adapting consequential system model based on ReCiPe 2016 (H) method as impact assessment method. In overall, RFL washable face mask is found to provide a lower environmental impact when compared to 3-ply surgical face mask in terms of the ReCiPe midpoint and endpoint indicator, which included Global Warming Potential, Photochemical Oxidant Formation Potential, Toxicity Potential, Ecosystem Quality, Human Health and Resource Depletion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5299e2dd21f846bf8c578e1022f85a9f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2267-1242 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | E3S Web of Conferences |
| spelling | doaj-art-5299e2dd21f846bf8c578e1022f85a9f2025-02-05T10:47:33ZengEDP SciencesE3S Web of Conferences2267-12422025-01-016030100910.1051/e3sconf/202560301009e3sconf_isgst2024_01009Investigation study of face mask consumption in Malaysia and its impact on environmentLow Chung-Yu0Bee Soo-Tueen1Law Yung-Siang2Lee Tin-Sin3Bee Soo-Ling4Department of PetroChemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan UniversitiDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Sungai Long, Bandar Sungai LongDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Sungai Long, Bandar Sungai LongDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Sungai Long, Bandar Sungai LongSchool of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains MalaysiaAlthough face masks might protect us against the COVID-19 virus, inappropriate disposal of used face mask can have a negative impact on the environment. As a result, it is critical to analyse the consumption of face masks and its Life Cycle Assessment to explore the environmental consequences for long-term development. In this study, the observation on the consumption of face masks have been divided into 2 periods of time, which were the period of March 2019 to March 2020 (before COVID-19 epidemic) and the period of April 2020 to April 2021 (during COVID-19 epidemic). Malaysia is estimated to consume 8,398,943 pieces of face masks per month before the COVID-19 epidemic and 62,992,074 pieces of face masks per month during the COVID-19 epidemic. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is carried out in this work to investigate the environmental impacts of both period of time by assessing the input and output of the face masks in a cradle-to-grave manner. OpenLCA software were used by adapting consequential system model based on ReCiPe 2016 (H) method as impact assessment method. In overall, RFL washable face mask is found to provide a lower environmental impact when compared to 3-ply surgical face mask in terms of the ReCiPe midpoint and endpoint indicator, which included Global Warming Potential, Photochemical Oxidant Formation Potential, Toxicity Potential, Ecosystem Quality, Human Health and Resource Depletion.https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/03/e3sconf_isgst2024_01009.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Low Chung-Yu Bee Soo-Tueen Law Yung-Siang Lee Tin-Sin Bee Soo-Ling Investigation study of face mask consumption in Malaysia and its impact on environment E3S Web of Conferences |
| title | Investigation study of face mask consumption in Malaysia and its impact on environment |
| title_full | Investigation study of face mask consumption in Malaysia and its impact on environment |
| title_fullStr | Investigation study of face mask consumption in Malaysia and its impact on environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation study of face mask consumption in Malaysia and its impact on environment |
| title_short | Investigation study of face mask consumption in Malaysia and its impact on environment |
| title_sort | investigation study of face mask consumption in malaysia and its impact on environment |
| url | https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/03/e3sconf_isgst2024_01009.pdf |
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