Facemask: Protection or Threat

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 

DOrSU Associate Professor Edison D. Macusi co-authored the paper “Facemask: Protection or Threat,” published in Elsevier’s Marine Pollution Bulletin. The publication is in partnership with experts from the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) and Bukidnon State University.

This study assessed the discarded facemasks on the most popular beach destinations in Mati City, Davao Oriental, Philippines. A total of N = 284 discarded facemasks were found in a cumulative area of 22,500 m², with an average density of 8.4 × 10−4 items/m². The surgical facemask (82 %; n = 234) was the most abundant type of facemask found in the areas, followed by KF94 (16 %; n = 45) and KN95 (2 %; n = 5).

Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114681