Sale and distribution of toxic nanographene masks on the European market

A sign-on letter from environmental and health organizations urging the European Union Commission and Parliament to ban the sale and use of face masks containing nanographene and other nanoparticles, citing toxicity warnings from Canadian health authorities.

• On April 2, 2021, Health Canada issued an urgent advisory warning that face masks containing nanographene particles are potentially toxic and may pose risks to human health, specifically lung health due to potential inhalation of particles. This led to the removal of all nanographene masks from Canadian markets and a recommendation for consumers to stop using them.
• The China-based Shengquan Group produces 'healfiber' brand graphene-coated disposable masks, manufacturing between 2 and 5 million daily for worldwide shipment. In Quebec, over 30 million of these masks were distributed to teachers, school children, and daycare workers and mandated for extended use, with some wearers reporting difficulty breathing and the sensation of 'breathing in cat hairs'.
• Research by the signatory organizations indicates that nanographene masks, including the Shengquan 'healfiber' brand, are available and in use across the European market. The document specifically notes that European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been photographed wearing a Shengquan Group mask containing nanographene material.
• The authors call for the European Union to ban the sale and use of personal protective equipment containing nanographene, nanosilver, nanometal oxides, and other chemicals of potential concern, regardless of whether they are in nanoform. They urge the Commission to investigate the safety, legality, and biocidal claims of these products.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2021). Sale and distribution of toxic nanographene masks on the European market. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Final-nanographene-sign-on-letter.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Sale and distribution of toxic nanographene masks on the European market. 2021. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Final-nanographene-sign-on-letter.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Sale and distribution of toxic nanographene masks on the European market |date=6 April 2021 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Final-nanographene-sign-on-letter.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2021sale, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Sale and distribution of toxic nanographene masks on the European market}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Final-nanographene-sign-on-letter.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }