Researchers in the US improve concrete with disposable masks

The billions of masks made to contain the spread of coronavirus present a mammoth challenge. Could this help resolve it?

Researchers at Washington State University (WSU) have used disposable masks to improve the strength of concrete by as much as 47 percent, the WSU university press release explained. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, so does the use of disposable masks that often find themselves littered not only in public places but also in our oceans. Last year, a study estimated that mask pollution rose by a whopping 9,000 percent as countries imposed mask mandates to rein in the spread of the virus. However, the billions of masks produced during this period have become a massive challenge for waste…

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• Matthew Ao

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