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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.30.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ ‘Chemical Timebomb’_ COVID Masks Created 4.3 Million Tons of Toxic Waste.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. From:Clerk of the Board To:Mutony, Heather Cc:Lee, Lewis Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: ‘Chemical Timebomb’: COVID Masks Created 4.3 Million Tons of Toxic Waste Date:Tuesday, September 30, 2025 1:51:23 PM Please see Board Correspondence - From: lance dreiss <lancedreiss@att.net> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 8:13 AM To: Shared Mailbox Clerk of the Board <pcbs@countyofplumas.com>; Senator.Dahle@senate.ca.gov; Assemblymember.Gallagher@assembly.ca.gov; davidhollister@countyofplumas.com; sheriff@countyofplumas.com; District Attorney <DA@buttecounty.net>; Kimmelshue, Tod <TKimmelshue@buttecounty.net>; Pickett, Andy <APickett@buttecounty.net>; Connelly, Bill <BConnelly@buttecounty.net>; Durfee, Peter <pdurfee@buttecounty.net>; Ritter, Tami <TRitter@buttecounty.net>; Teri DuBose <Teri.DuBose@mail.house.gov>; Teeter, Doug <DTeeter@buttecounty.net>; Julie Threet <julie4butte5@gmail.com>; Waugh, Melanie <mwaugh@buttecounty.net>; Kitts, Melissa <mkitts@buttecounty.net>; Congressman Doug LaMalfa <CA01DL.Outreach@mail.house.gov>; Stephens, Brad J. <BStephens@buttecounty.net>; Clerk of the Board <ClerkoftheBoard@buttecounty.net>; Soderstrom, Monica <msoderstrom@buttecounty.net> Subject: Fwd: ‘Chemical Timebomb’: COVID Masks Created 4.3 Million Tons of Toxic Waste Public Record Chemical Timebomb’: COVID MasksCreated 4.3 Million Tons of Toxic Waste “Millions of tons of disposable COVID-19 face masks are releasing microplastics, toxic chemicals, dyes and heavy metals into the environment, endangering the well-being of the planet.” diana dreiss Begin forwarded message: From: "Behind the FDA Curtain: War Room/DailyClout Pfizer Reports" <behindthefdacurtain@substack.com> Date: September 30, 2025 at 8:07:36 AM PDT To: lancedreiss@att.net Subject: ‘Chemical Timebomb’: COVID Masks Created 4.3 Million Tons of Toxic Waste Reply-To: "Behind the FDA Curtain: War Room/DailyClout Pfizer Reports" <reply+2w5h22&kcryl&&5d7c10a175e188c5d1367f24b97997118d5f65a2bb4a7c49b1 15d7e371537a89@mg1.substack.com>  Behind the FDA Curtain: WarRoom/DailyClout Pfizer Reports cross-posted a postfrom The Defender Presented by DailyCloutSep 30 · Behind the FDA Curtain: WarRoom/DailyClout Pfizer Reports The COVID era pro-maskers have been and are also the proponents of climate alarmism. Yet, they're silent on this mask-related toxic waste crisis. Also, this study doesn't take into account the massive amount of other disposable PPE used during the COVID "pandemic." ‘Chemical Timebomb’: COVID MasksCreated 4.3 Million Tons of ToxicWaste Millions of tons of disposable COVID-19 face masks are releasing microplastics, toxic chemicals, dyes and heavy metals into the environment, endangering the well-being of the planet. THE DEFENDER SEP 30 READ IN APP LISTEN NOW · 3:44 by Brenda Baletti, Ph.D. Millions of tons of waste from disposable face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic are now breaking down, releasing microplastics and toxic chemicals that threaten human and environmental health, according to a study published in Environmental Pollution. The masks, promoted as a measure to protect human health, left behind a chemical time bomb with risks that may last for generations, according to The Guardian. “This study has underlined the urgent need to rethink how we produce, use and dispose of face masks,” lead author Anna Bogush, Ph.D., of Coventry University’s Research Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience said in a press release. Microplastics have been steadily increasing in water, air, food and soil for decades and are directly tied to the rising global production of plastic. During the pandemic, government health agencies worldwide, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), promoted masks to stop the spread of COVID-19 — even though the CDC’s own research found masks had no substantial effect in stopping the transmission of respiratory viruses. As a result, over 129 billion disposable face masks were used globally each month, according to the study. Most masks were made from polypropylene, though other types of plastic were also used. Some contained small pieces of metal for nose clips. The masks were not recyclable, and often were not thrown in the trash. Today, they still litter streets, sidewalks, footpaths, parking areas, gutters, waterways, parks and beaches. The authors estimated that about 4.3 million tons of “unrecyclable contaminated plastic waste” were generated from the masks in a single year, leaching microplastics into the environment from landfills and litter. Face masks can also contain plastic additives, including organic chemicals, dyes and heavy metals, that leach into the land and water. The additives can release and spread pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. Measuring microplastics and industrial chemicals The researchers designed their study to test the toxins and microplastics released by different types of unused face masks, including respirator-style masks, surgical masks and various “filtering face pieces.” They placed new masks in purified water for 24 hours, then analyzed the liquid to determine what leached out. Even without wear and tear, the masks were found to release microplastics and pollutants used during the manufacturing process. All the masks they analyzed released microplastics, and most particles were very small — many under 100 micrometers in size, which is about the width of a human hair. They found that the FFP2 and FFP3 masks — a European certification that designates the respirator-type masks marketed as providing the highest protection — leached three to four times as many microplastics as surgical masks. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrade to paid Masks also released chemical additives — including bisphenol B, a known endocrine disruptor used to make plastics and other compounds needed for mask manufacturing. Bisphenol B acts like estrogen in the body, interfering with hormonal systems. It has been associated with reduced sperm production and alterations in reproductive organs. Plastics and chemicals leaching from the millions of tons of discarded masks also harm aquatic life, the study said. As microplastics and toxins enter the food chain, pollute water and build up in the environment, they can further endanger people. “As we move forward, it’s vital that we raise awareness of these risks, support the development of more sustainable alternatives and make informed choices to protect our health and the environment,” Bogush said. Related articles in The Defender Discarded Face Masks Contributed to 77% Increase in Microplastics in Thames River Scientists Studied 12 Masks — Every One Contained This Cancer-Causing Compound CDC’s Own Scientists Found Masks Ineffective for COVID — But Agency Recommended Them Anyway 3 Million Masks a Minute: The Next Plastic Problem? LIKE COMMENT RESTACK Originally posted on The DefenderThe Defender Subscribe The Defender is Children’s Health Defense’s online news site. We report on the toxic exposures driving today's epidemic of childhood disease and how agency capture has led government agencies to protect corporate profits at the expense of public health. © 2025 DailyCloutPO Box 24, Millerton, NY 12546 Unsubscribe