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Impact of COVID-19 protective equipment on the aquatic environment
Summary
Researchers examined the environmental impact of COVID-19 protective equipment — including disposable masks, gloves, and face shields — on aquatic ecosystems, documenting how the mass global deployment of single-use plastic protective gear contributed a significant new source of microplastic contamination to waterways. The study assessed the scale of this pollution surge and its implications for aquatic organisms and water quality management.
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