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Personal protective equipment (PPE) litter in terrestrial urban areas of Iligan City, Philippines

Research Square (Research Square) 2023 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Noralyn G. Dimaongon, Noralyn G. Dimaongon, Kent Naiah D. Araña, Noralyn G. Dimaongon, Noralyn G. Dimaongon, Hernando P. Bacosa Noralyn G. Dimaongon, Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Noralyn G. Dimaongon, Kent Naiah D. Araña, Hernando P. Bacosa Kent Naiah D. Araña, Hernando P. Bacosa Noronimah D. Mauyag, Noronimah D. Mauyag, Nisriah M. Hadji Morad, Hernando P. Bacosa Nisriah M. Hadji Morad, Hernando P. Bacosa Shekinah Ruth R. Manupac, Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Shekinah Ruth R. Manupac, Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa Hernando P. Bacosa

Summary

This study documents COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) litter — including face masks, gloves, and face shields — accumulating in urban areas of Iligan City, the Philippines, providing an early baseline for a plastic pollution problem that emerged from the pandemic. Because PPE is largely made of synthetic polymers, its improper disposal represents a direct source of future microplastic contamination in terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Polymers

Abstract In recent years, many countries have relied on the massive use of personal protective equipment (PPE) following the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat coronavirus disease (COVID-19). These PPEs include facemasks, face shields, disinfectant wipes, and disposable gloves. While PPE can serve as protection, it can also be a source of pollution. This study is first to establish a baseline monitoring and assessment on the spatial distribution of COVID-19 related PPE litter approaching into the post-pandemic from the urban areas in a city of the Philippines. A total of 1,632 Covid-19 PPE litter were gathered in all surveyed locations; predominantly were facemasks (90%) and disinfectant wipes (10%). Among the surveyed areas, the location that recorded the highest count and density of PPE litter is in a residential zone (52.14%; n=851; 0.0317 item m-2); the lowest was determined in the recreational parks (2.57%; n = 42; 0.0016 item m-2). The relatively significant difference among the total count of PPE items in each location could be traced to the varying land-use and ecosystem as well as the human behavior and activities. FTIR results revealed that all types of facemasks sampled are principally made of polypropylene, a material that threatens environmental sustainability and low recyclability. As the country is embracing the new normal and somewhat returning to pre-pandemic activities; this study calls for the prioritization of the government agendas on ecological solid waste management in the country.

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