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Hazardous of plastics during COVID-19 on marine environment: a case study from Egypt
Summary
A study from Egypt documented how the COVID-19 pandemic increased single-use plastic pollution in marine environments, particularly from discarded gloves and masks. The study found these plastics accumulating along coastlines, introducing a new stream of microplastic precursors into already-burdened marine ecosystems.
Plastic pollution and its impact on the marine ecosystems is a major concern globally, and the situation was exacerbated after the outbreak of COVID-19. This briefing delivers a synopsis of the environmental and climate impacts of single-use gloves and masks used for COVID-19 protection from June to August 2020. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first such information from the Middle East. .It pinpoints the need for further knowledge and action, such as a safe, sustainable, transparent and unconventional waste management processes related to COVID-19 in order to reduce the negative impacts now and in any future events. It identifies the need for further knowledge and action to reduce these impacts now and in any future events.
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