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Impactos ambientales por residuos sólidos generados durante la pandemia de COVID-19 y alternativas de solución
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This review synthesized research on the environmental impacts of solid waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic—particularly disposable PPE—and evaluated proposed solutions including incineration, recycling, and biodegradable alternatives.
In March 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared; one of the recommendations was the use of face masks. As a result, the production and generation of protective equipment waste increased. The objective of this work was to analyze and summarize information regarding the environmental impacts caused by the solid waste generated during the pandemic; and to present research with alternative solutions. Scientific search engines were used with keywords in Spanish and English. It was found that marine ecosystems are the most affected, as the protective equipment is made from non-degradable polymers, which turn into microplastics, affecting flora, fauna, and dragging other contaminants. Alternative solutions include the use of organisms for the biodegradation of these wastes and the use of biodegradable materials for the manufacture of protective equipment. It can be concluded that one of the main problems of improper waste disposal is the lack of environmental education among authorities and the general population. It is also important for the government to establish waste management plans. It can be recognized then that the post-pandemic demands interdisciplinary work from the fields of health, social, environmental, and political areas.
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This review evaluates the environmental fate of disposable face masks, which became a major source of plastic pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic, and summarizes evidence on their toxic effects. Masks shed microplastic and nanoparticle fragments as they degrade in the environment, potentially introducing chemical additives into soil and aquatic ecosystems. The authors recommend improved waste collection strategies and development of biodegradable mask materials to reduce long-term environmental burden.
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Researchers examined face mask waste mismanagement during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico and Latin America, finding that inadequate waste management infrastructure, poor public compliance, and high single-use mask consumption created significant environmental contamination risks in already strained waste systems.
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Researchers reviewed the global impact of COVID-19 on waste management systems, focusing on the surge of disposable personal protective equipment and single-use plastics. The study highlights that pandemic-related waste has created novel pollution pathways for air, soil, and water contamination, and discusses the challenges this poses for existing waste management infrastructure worldwide.
Global face mask pollution: threats to the environment and wildlife, and potential solutions
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Researchers reviewed the global face mask pollution crisis following COVID-19, estimating massive production volumes and finding that most disposal pathways generate secondary microplastic pollution or toxic emissions, and proposing countermeasures including biodegradable mask development and improved waste management policy.
¿Conoces las secuelas ambientales de la COVID-19?: microplásticos y su repercusión en el medio marino y la salud
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This paper examines the environmental consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the increase in single-use plastic waste and microplastic pollution in Spanish-speaking regions. The authors call for greater public awareness and policy action to address these compounding environmental challenges.
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