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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Personal Protective Equipment Associated with COVID-19 Pandemic and Microplastic
ClearPersonal protective equipment (PPE) disposal during COVID-19: An emerging source of microplastic and microfiber pollution in the environment
This review examines how discarded personal protective equipment from the COVID-19 pandemic has become a new source of microplastic and microfiber pollution. Researchers found that single-use masks, gloves, and other PPE break down into tiny plastic particles that contaminate water, soil, and air. The study highlights the environmental trade-off of pandemic safety measures and calls for better waste management strategies for healthcare materials.
The Impacts of Plastic Waste from Personal Protective Equipment Used during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This review analyzes the environmental impacts of personal protective equipment plastic waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic, examining how the unprecedented surge in PPE demand overwhelmed waste management systems and contributed to microplastic pollution.
Review on personal protective equipment: Emerging concerns in micro(nano)plastic pollution and strategies for addressing environmental challenges
This review examines how the massive increase in disposable masks, gloves, and other protective equipment during COVID-19 has become a major new source of microplastic pollution. An estimated 1.6 million tons of plastic waste per day was generated from discarded protective equipment, and as this gear breaks down, it releases micro- and nanoplastic particles into soil and water. These particles can accumulate in seafood and other organisms, creating another pathway for human microplastic exposure.
Impacts of the Plastics From Waste Personal Protective Equip-Ment in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Researchers analyzed the surge in personal protective equipment use during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019-2022 and its downstream environmental consequences, including microplastic generation. The study highlights that improperly discarded PPE, predominantly plastic-based and non-biodegradable, accumulates in landfills and marine environments, and frames waste management solutions within the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework.
Analysis of increased consumption and disposal of ppe polymers during the COVID-19 pandemic and possible environmental impacts.
This paper examines the environmental impacts of increased disposal of PPE (personal protective equipment) including masks and gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that these items release microplastics as they degrade. The pandemic dramatically increased single-use plastic waste, adding a new major source of microplastic pollution to the environment.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Microplastic Pollution
This review links the COVID-19 pandemic to a surge in microplastic pollution driven by increased production and disposal of personal protective equipment including masks and gloves. The authors document how pandemic-related plastic waste entered terrestrial and aquatic environments and argue for circular economy strategies to prevent future public health crises from amplifying plastic pollution.
Degradation of plastics associated with the COVID-19 pandemic
This review examines how personal protective equipment from the COVID-19 pandemic degrades in the environment and becomes a source of microplastic pollution. Researchers found that face masks, primarily made of polypropylene, break down into microfibers relatively quickly when exposed to weathering. The study highlights that pandemic-related plastic waste represents a new and significant category of environmental microplastic contamination.
Case Studies on Microplastic Contamination with a Focus on the Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic
This book chapter examines how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated microplastic pollution through increased use of disposable PPE, packaging, and hygiene products, and traces pathways by which these plastics degrade and enter aquatic ecosystems. Despite overall negative impacts, the pandemic also spurred increased research attention and some policy responses to microplastic pollution.
Environmental Impacts of Personal Protective Clothing Used to Combat COVID‐ 19
This review examines the environmental impacts of single-use personal protective equipment (PPE) used during COVID-19, which is primarily made from polypropylene and polyester plastics. The surge in PPE use generated enormous quantities of plastic waste, much of which was not properly disposed of and ended up in oceans and other environments. The authors call for development of biodegradable or reusable alternatives for healthcare personal protection.
Impact of COVID-19 protective equipment on the aquatic environment
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.
Increased plastic pollution due to COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and recommendations
This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased plastic pollution through the massive use of disposable personal protective equipment like masks and gloves. Researchers warn that this surge in single-use plastics will accelerate the generation of microplastics and nanoplastics in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. The study emphasizes the need to balance public health measures with environmental safety and calls for a shift toward sustainable alternatives.
Microplastics waste in environment: A perspective on recycling issues from PPE kits and face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
This review examined how the massive increase in disposable face masks and PPE kits during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to microplastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Researchers found that these items break down into microplastic fibers and fragments that are ingested by marine species and can affect both environmental and human health. The study calls for more research on the specific microplastic risks from pandemic-related protective equipment.
Impact of coronavirus pandemic litters on microfiber pollution—effect of personal protective equipment and disposable face masks
Researchers reviewed microfiber pollution arising from disposable and reusable face masks and personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that synthetic fiber shedding through littering, laundry, and disinfection represents a significant and undercharacterized addition to global microplastic pollution loads.
Post-pandemic micro/nanoplastic pollution: Toward a sustainable management
Researchers reviewed how the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to micro- and nanoplastic pollution through the massive use of disposable personal protective equipment like masks and gloves. The study found that weathering of these items releases microplastics into the environment and may even serve as carriers for pathogens. The review calls for more sustainable waste management approaches in preparing for future health crises.
What we need to know about PPE associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the marine environment
This review discusses how the surge in plastic-based personal protective equipment use during the COVID-19 pandemic is contributing to marine plastic pollution. Researchers identified key research gaps regarding the occurrence, degradation, and ecological effects of PPE-derived plastics in ocean environments. The study proposes five priority research areas to better understand and mitigate the environmental impact of pandemic-related plastic waste.
Occurrence of personal protective equipment (PPE) associated with the COVID-19 pandemic along the coast of Lima, Peru
Researchers surveyed COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) along Lima, Peru's coastline over 12 weeks, finding 138 PPE items across 11 beaches and identifying them as a new source of plastic pollution and potential microplastic generation.
A Brief Review on Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Body
This brief review summarizes the extent of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly worsened the problem through increased use and disposal of single-use plastic personal protective equipment including face masks and gloves. The authors call for improved waste management strategies to address this accelerating contamination.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution associated with the COVID-19 pandemic along the coastline of Agadir, Morocco
Researchers surveyed COVID-19-related personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution along the Agadir coastline in Morocco, documenting masks and gloves as new categories of marine litter and estimating their potential to fragment into microplastics over time.
COVID-19 Generated Personal Protective Equipment: Sources of Microplastics and Pathogen Vectors in Marine Environments?
This study raises concern that COVID-19-related personal protective equipment such as face masks, gloves, and gowns improperly disposed of in marine environments are releasing microplastics and potentially acting as pathogen vectors, creating a dual contamination risk from pandemic waste.
Personal protective equipment and micro-nano plastics: A review of an unavoidable interrelation for a global well-being hazard
This review examines how personal protective equipment like masks and gloves, widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, breaks down into micro- and nanoplastics when improperly disposed of. These tiny plastic fragments enter the environment and have been shown to be harmful to living organisms based on their size, shape, and chemical makeup. The study highlights a growing concern that pandemic-era protective gear is contributing to plastic pollution in soil, water, and air.
Protecting the environment from plastic PPE
This commentary examined how the COVID-19 pandemic increased plastic pollution through high use of single-use personal protective equipment, arguing that pandemic response protocols need to incorporate environmental considerations to prevent exacerbating the global plastic pollution crisis.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by COVID-19 pandemic in Marina Beach, the longest urban beach in Asia: Abundance, distribution, and analytical characterization.
This study surveyed COVID-19 personal protective equipment littered on Marina Beach in India, finding over 1,150 items with face masks making up the vast majority. The authors measured the chemical composition of the discarded PPE and raised concerns about masks becoming a significant new source of microplastic pollution as they degrade in coastal environments.
Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment—The Occurrence, Sources, Ecological Impacts, Fate, and Remediation Challenges
This review summarizes the sources, occurrence, ecological impacts, and potential remediation approaches for microplastic contamination in aquatic environments, with attention to increased plastic waste from COVID-19 protective equipment. The study highlights how microplastics can adsorb toxic chemicals and be absorbed by living organisms, interfering with biological processes across the food chain.
Lockdown Litter: A critical analysis of global COVID-19 PPE litter and measures for mitigation
This global analysis examined the scale and distribution of COVID-19 PPE litter, finding evidence of significant plastic pollution from masks, gloves, and wipes discarded during the pandemic. Improperly disposed PPE is expected to fragment into microplastics that will persist in the environment for decades.