Surgical masks wash up on Hong Kong beaches

Posted on 9 March 2020

A surge in demand for surgical masks following the outbreak of the coronavirus has led to a shortage of availability of these masks. An NGO working in Hong Kong recently said they have noticed a new issue arising from the increased use of disposable masks, namely pollution.

The Sokos are a small cluster of islands lying off the south west coast of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. OceansAsia is currently carrying out several plastic pollution research projects there due to their remoteness. Twice a month, the team visits the islands to carry out micro-plastic surveys as well as a more generalised beach trash accumulation analysis and investigations into the composition of the debris, looking for clues as to where it may be originating from.

On a recent survey trip, OceansAsia found around 70 surgical masks washed up on a 100-meter stretch of beach. According to their website, ‘In the case of masks they likely ended up being blown into the water, but after entering the ocean would largely be affected by current and tidal action with wind only affecting the surface of the water.’

According to Gary Stokes, founder and director of OceansAsia, ‘The population was really introduced heavily into using surgical masks about six weeks ago. And it has taken six weeks and now we are seeing the effect.’

Once a surgical face mask is discarded and enters the ocean and its circulating currents, more often than not marine life mistake it for food, subsequently blocking their digestive tracks and killing the animals. Along with the immediate damage the face masks are causing for marine life, they also pose a health threat for the general public. Medical experts from Hong Kong have stressed the importance of properly disposing of used surgical face masks. The Centre of Health Protection (CPH) urges everyone using face masks dispose of them in a lidded dust bin.

Image: OceanAsia






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