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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) contamination in coastal areas of Granada, Spain
ClearOccurrence 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.
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.
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.
Face masks related to COVID-19 in the beaches of the Moroccan Mediterranean: An emerging source of plastic pollution
Researchers monitored face mask litter on five tourist beaches along the Moroccan Mediterranean over five months, finding 321 masks (96% single-use) with higher densities on urban recreational beaches, identifying COVID-related masks as an emerging source of marine plastic pollution.
Abandoned Covid-19 personal protective equipment along the Bushehr shores, the Persian Gulf: An emerging source of secondary microplastics in coastlines
Researchers surveyed COVID-19 PPE waste — masks, gloves, and face shields — along the coastline of Bushehr, Iran over 40 days, documenting accumulation rates and identifying the items as an emerging source of secondary microplastics that could persist in the marine environment for decades.
Abundance and characterization of personal protective equipment (PPE) polluting Kish Island, Persian Gulf
Researchers surveyed the abundance and characteristics of personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, documenting how pandemic-driven single-use items such as face masks and gloves exacerbated existing plastic pollution in this marine environment.
COVID-19 pandemic repercussions on plastic and antiviral polymeric textile causing pollution on beaches and coasts of South America
Researchers examined how the COVID-19 pandemic increased single-use plastic and face mask waste — much of it made from synthetic polymers — and how mismanagement of this personal protective equipment is worsening plastic pollution on South American beaches and coasts. The study warns that mask-derived microplastics and metal nanoparticles from antiviral textiles pose a growing long-term threat to marine ecosystems.
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.
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.
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.
COVID-19 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): A Potential Source of Microplastic Pollution in the State of Qatar
Researchers assessed whether COVID-19 personal protective equipment — particularly face masks and respirators — was contributing to plastic pollution along Qatar's coastline. The study found mask and PPE waste added to existing marine litter, raising concerns that pandemic-related plastic use increased microplastic contamination in coastal environments.
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.
The plastic pandemic: COVID-19 has accelerated plastic pollution, but there is a cure
This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the global plastic pollution crisis through massively increased use of single-use protective equipment like masks and gloves. Researchers review the environmental consequences and propose solutions including improved waste management, biodegradable alternatives, and policy changes to curb plastic pollution going forward.
Will COVID-19 Containment and Treatment Measures Drive Shifts in Marine Litter Pollution?
This study examines whether COVID-19 containment and treatment measures, including widespread use of personal protective equipment and single-use plastics, are likely to drive significant shifts in marine litter pollution patterns. The authors assess how pandemic-driven increases in disposable plastic use may translate to elevated inputs of PPE-derived plastic debris in marine environments.
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.
Investigating the Temporal Dynamics of Abandoned COVID-19 Face Masks in a Tidal and Flood-Prone Canadian Town at the Peak of the Pandemic
Researchers surveyed 50 parking lots over six months in Truro, Nova Scotia, recovering 3,036 discarded COVID-19 face masks and documenting consistent abandonment rates, with a notable pulse of mask release during spring snowmelt — highlighting polymer-based PPE as a coastal microplastic source.
Covid-19 and increase in plastic debris in coastal and marine environments
This commentary discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic increased plastic pollution in coastal and marine environments through surging demand for single-use protective equipment and packaging. The authors call for urgent policy action to prevent pandemic-related plastic from becoming a lasting environmental legacy.
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.
Personal Protective Equipment Associated with COVID-19 Pandemic and Microplastic
This chapter reviews how the surge in personal protective equipment (PPE) use during the COVID-19 pandemic introduced a new stream of microplastic contamination into the environment. The authors examine PPE material composition, fragmentation pathways, and the scale of resulting pollution.
Effects of COVID-19 on coastal and marine environments: Aggravated microplastic pollution, improved air quality, and future perspective
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected coastal and marine environments between 2020 and 2023. The study found that pandemic-related waste, particularly personal protective equipment, significantly increased microplastic pollution in marine ecosystems, while lockdowns temporarily improved air quality. Evidence indicates that the environmental legacy of COVID-19 includes lasting microplastic contamination that will require long-term mitigation strategies.
The COVID-19 pandemic as an impeller for the aggravation of marine plastic pollution and economic crisis: the reserve effect of health protection measures on human lives
This paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic worsened marine plastic pollution by dramatically increasing the use of single-use masks, gloves, and other protective equipment. Billions of pieces of pandemic-related plastic waste entered the environment, much of which ended up in oceans. The authors argue that biodegradable alternatives and better waste management are needed to prevent pandemic-era plastics from becoming a lasting marine pollution problem.
Contaminación ambiental por plásticos durante la pandemia y sus efectos en la salud humana
This Spanish-language review traced the history of plastic materials from the 19th century to the COVID-19 pandemic era, examining how increased face mask and single-use plastic disposal during the pandemic amplified environmental plastic contamination. The authors assess health consequences of pandemic-related plastic pollution for both ecosystems and human populations.
Personal 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.
Disposal Behavior of Used Masks during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Moroccan Community: Potential Environmental Impact
Researchers surveyed face mask disposal behavior in two major Moroccan regions during the COVID-19 pandemic and estimated the volume of mask waste generated. They found that over five million masks per day, equivalent to roughly 40,000 kg, were being discarded in the studied regions alone. The study highlights the significant environmental risk posed by pandemic-related plastic waste, which can break down into microplastics in both land and marine environments.