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Utilization of disposable face masks for cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom as a strategy for reducing environmental plastic pollution

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Abstract

Management of disposable face mask (FM) used as personal protective equipment against transmission of COVID-19 has emerged as one of the key issues of COVID-19 pandemic. Disposable FM is a potential source of microplastic fibers in the environment. In this study, FM as carbon source for the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom was investigated in the attempt to reduce plastic build up in the environment due to its disposal. Growth substrate was prepared using FM as sole and/or partial carbon source varied with mahogany wood shavings (MWS) at 25, 50, 75, and 100% composition (wt/wt). Visual sorting under stereo microscope to detect presence or absence of microplastics in the mushrooms produced was conducted. Shortest spawn run (26 days) was recorded in MWS:FM 100:0 and optimum number of fruiting bodies (28) was achieved at MWS:FM 75:25; while, optimal fruiting body (fresh weight) (71 g), biological efficiency (88.8%), and proximate outputs (except carbohydrate) were achieved at MWS:FM of 25:75. The features of mushroom produced from MWS:FM 0:100 through visual sorting were suggestive of microplastics pollution. This study demonstrated the ability of P. ostreatus to utilize disposable FM as growth substrate for its production.

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Data availability

The data generated and analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable requests.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Management of Renewable Resource Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria and Dominic University, Ibadan, for access to their facilities.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria

    Goodness Bukola Olakanmi & Suraju Adekunle Lateef

  2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria

    Adeniyi Adewale Ogunjobi

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  1. Goodness Bukola Olakanmi
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by GBO. The first draft of the manuscript was written by GBO and LSA. All authors approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Suraju Adekunle Lateef.

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Olakanmi, G.B., Lateef, S.A. & Ogunjobi, A.A. Utilization of disposable face masks for cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom as a strategy for reducing environmental plastic pollution. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 26, 578–590 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01859-6

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