Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of wearing a mask on the level of microplastic inhalation by the wearer.

Masks which fall under the classification of personal protective equipment (PPE) must meet stringent safety and technical standards, which are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-specifications-for-personal-protective-equipment-ppe/essential-technical-requirements-for-ppe-medical-devices-further-information-for-manufacturers-and-suppliers

Any mask manufactured to a standard will have passed essential health and safety requirements. A product regulator such as the Health and Safety Executive or the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will have confirmed they are safe for use. For fabric face coverings, microplastic inhalation should not arise as the Government’s guidance states that a face covering should cover nose and mouth while allowing you to breathe comfortably and therefore be made of a material the wearer finds breathable, such as cotton.