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Social Dynamics of Face Masks as Single-Use Waste from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Summary
A Latin American survey found that 35% of respondents mixed face mask waste with household trash, and 61.5% were unaware of any COVID-19 waste management plan. The study highlights how lack of public knowledge about proper mask disposal led to inadequate waste management with potential environmental and public health consequences.
El impacto generado por los Residuos Sólidos Municipales (RSM) está asociado al riesgo en la población debido a la falta de conocimiento sobre la disposición final adecuada de los desechos de un solo uso, específicamente las mascarillas durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Con el objetivo de llevar a cabo un diagnóstico nacional sobre la gestión y disposición final de los residuos se preparó una encuesta nacional con el apoyo de la herramienta digital Google Form, con el fin de obtener datos y evaluar el impacto ambiental en el uso y la disposición de mascarillas urbanas de uso obligatorio durante la pandemia. Se identificó que el 35 % de los encuestados mezcla las mascarillas con los residuos domésticos, lo que representa un factor potencial de problemas de salud pública y ambientales. De estos, el 61.5 % indicó que desconocía la existencia de un plan de gestión de residuos de COVID-19. Esto demostró la falta de conocimiento al respecto, lo que provoca una gestión inadecuada de estos residuos. Los resultados de esta investigación resaltan la importancia de implementar alternativas de tratamiento para reducir el impacto de las mascarillas, enfatizando que el tratamiento de remediación más adecuado debe ser económicamente viable y con un mínimo impacto ambiental para gestionar adecuadamente los RSM de COVID-19.
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