We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Tracking the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic-related debris on wildlife using digital platforms
AI summary Read the abstract
All that extra masks and disposable gloves we used to stay safe from COVID didn't just disappear, researchers found over 100 documented cases of wildlife, mostly birds, getting tangled in this pandemic waste or building it into their nests. While this study focused on animals rather than human health directly, it's a reminder that our safety choices have ripple effects: plastic waste that harms wildlife often breaks down into microplastics that eventually work their way back into our food and water supply too.
Since the start of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19) pandemic in December 2019, there have been global surges of single-use plastic use. Due to the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitation items in protecting against virus transmission and from testing, facemasks, respirators, disposable gloves and disposable wet wipes have become global staples in households and institutions. Widespread use and insufficient infrastructure, combined with improper waste management have resulted in an emerging category of litter. With widespread presence in the environment, such items pose a direct threat to wildlife as animals can interact with them in a series of ways. We examined the scope of COVID-19 pandemic-related debris, including PPE and sanitation items, on wildlife from April 2020 to December 2021. We document the geographic occurrence of incidents, debris types, and consequences of incidents that were obtained from social media searches, unpublished reports from colleagues, and reports available from the citizen science database "Birds and Debris". There were 114 unique sightings of wildlife interactions with pandemic-related debris (38 from 2020 and 76 from 2021). Within the context of this dataset, most incidents involved birds (83.3 %), while fewer affected mammals (10.5 %), invertebrates (3.5 %), fish (1.8 %), and sea turtles (0.9 %). Sightings originated in 23 countries, and consisted mostly of entanglements (42.1 %) and nest incorporations (40.4 %). We verified sightings by contacting the original observers and were able to identify replicated sightings and increase the resolution of the data collected compared with previously published results. Due to the complexities associated with global use and accessibility of digital platforms, we likely underestimate the number of animals harmed by debris. Overall, the global scope of this study demonstrates that online and social media platforms are a valuable way to collect biologically relevant citizen science data and track rapidly emerging environmental challenges.
More Papers Like This
Impact of waste of COVID-19 protective equipment on the environment, animals and human health: a review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how discarded COVID-19 protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and shields contributes to plastic and microplastic pollution in aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Evidence indicates that these materials can harm animals through entanglement and ingestion, and the resulting microplastics may pose additional risks to both animal and human health.
Microplastic pollution and associated health hazards: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic
AI summary Read the abstract
This review explores how the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in single-use plastic waste from masks, gloves, and packaging, increasing microplastic pollution in the environment. Microplastics from this waste can enter land, air, and water, ultimately accumulating in the human body. The study highlights the need for better plastic waste detection, recycling, and management to reduce health risks from pandemic-driven microplastic contamination.
Tracing Human Footprint in Bird Nests: Plastic Occurrence and Drivers in the Long‐Legged Buzzard ( Buteo rufinus )
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that hawk nests near human towns in Romania were often built with plastic trash, and this plastic stuck around for years, getting passed on to other bird species that later reused the same nests. This shows how plastic pollution can quietly build up in nature and spread between species, adding to growing evidence that plastic waste is working its way through ecosystems in ways that could eventually circle back to affect the food chain, and us.
Investigating the current status of COVID-19 related plastics and their potential impact on human health
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic increased human exposure to microplastics through the widespread use of plastic-based personal protective equipment like disposable face masks and gloves. Researchers found that face masks release microplastics that can be directly inhaled during use or transported through the environment, potentially carrying chemical contaminants and pathogens. The study highlights the need for more research on the health effects of PPE-derived microplastic exposure.
The collateral effects of COVID-19 on coastal and marine environments
AI summary Read the abstract
During COVID lockdowns, oceans got a temporary break from tourism and pollution, but that upside was offset by a flood of discarded masks, gloves, and other single-use plastics that ended up in coastal waters. This review of existing research shows how these plastics can break down into microplastics that enter the food chain, and it stresses that protecting ocean health during future crises means planning better waste management from the start, not just relying on reduced human activity as a fix.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.