Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Plastic and its consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers examined the dual role of plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic — as life-saving material in medical and personal protective equipment and as an environmental pollutant when improperly discarded — highlighting how pandemic-driven plastic use worsened water body contamination and public health risks.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 79 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Plastic pollution induced by the COVID-19: Environmental challenges and outlook

Researchers used bibliometric analysis to map research on plastic pollution generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that wealthier nations led early inquiry while developing countries followed, and revealing that pandemic-related plastics — from masks to medical waste — are creating cascading contamination from land to ocean to atmosphere.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 45 citations
Article Tier 2

COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the environment: A global perspective

This global perspective reviews environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, documenting sharp increases in single-use plastic waste, pharmaceutical pollution, and medical waste that more than offset short-term pollution reductions seen during lockdowns. The authors argue that pandemic-driven plastic surges created a new wave of microplastic contamination entering aquatic and terrestrial systems.

2022 Narra J 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic wastes in the time of COVID-19: Their environmental hazards and implications for sustainable energy resilience and circular bio-economies

This study examines how the surge in plastic waste during the COVID-19 pandemic, including personal protective equipment and packaging materials, has worsened environmental pollution. Researchers found that weathered plastic particles from PPE can adsorb chemical and microbial contaminants, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. The study argues that the pandemic could serve as an opportunity to improve life cycle assessment approaches and develop more sustainable plastic waste management strategies.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 62 citations
Article Tier 2

The long-term impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on environmental health: a review study of the bi-directional effect

Researchers reviewed how the COVID-19 pandemic created a two-way relationship with environmental health, finding that lockdowns temporarily improved air and water quality while simultaneously driving a surge in single-use plastic waste and biohazard materials. The review calls for long-term sustainability policies that balance economic recovery with environmental protection, including reducing plastic pollution.

2023 Bulletin of the National Research Centre/Bulletin of the National Research Center 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution during COVID-19: Plastic waste directives and its long-term impact on the environment

Researchers reviewed how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated global plastic production — through mandatory masks, gloves, and single-use packaging — worsening long-term micro- and nanoplastic pollution in oceans, soils, and food chains. The study calls for stronger plastic waste management programs that specifically target the prevention of small plastic particles from entering ecosystems.

2021 Environmental Advances 317 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution and associated health hazards: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

This review explores how the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in single-use plastic waste from masks, gloves, and packaging, increasing microplastic pollution in the environment. Microplastics from this waste can enter land, air, and water, ultimately accumulating in the human body. The study highlights the need for better plastic waste detection, recycling, and management to reduce health risks from pandemic-driven microplastic contamination.

2023 Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 36 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2020 Chemical Engineering Journal 1028 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as potential source for environmental pollution: An updated review on Indian scenario Post Covid -19

This review examines the status of microplastic pollution in India following the COVID-19 pandemic, during which accelerated plastic production for personal protective equipment and medical supplies intensified microplastic inputs to the environment. Researchers synthesized available data on microplastic contamination across Indian environmental compartments, identifying knowledge gaps and regulatory challenges specific to the post-pandemic Indian context.

2022 World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Article Tier 2

The COVID-19 pandemic reshapes the plastic pollution research – A comparative analysis of plastic pollution research before and during the pandemic

This comparative bibliometric analysis found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reshaped plastic pollution research, driving increased focus on single-use plastics from personal protective equipment and medical waste while temporarily shifting attention away from traditional environmental microplastic topics.

2021 Environmental Research 40 citations
Article Tier 2

A sustainable trend in COVID-19 research: An environmental perspective

This review analyzes the sustainable research trends linking COVID-19 and the environment, examining how the pandemic affected environmental conditions including increased plastic waste from personal protective equipment and medical supplies.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic accumulation during COVID-19: call for another pandemic; bioplastic a step towards this challenge?

Researchers reviewed the surge in single-use plastic waste driven by COVID-19 personal protective equipment and evaluated bioplastics as an alternative, concluding that while bioplastics have limitations, transitioning toward them alongside circular economy waste management and policy intervention is essential to prevent plastic pollution from compounding pandemic-era environmental pressures.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 65 citations
Article Tier 2

COVID‐19: An Accelerator for Global Plastic Consumption and Its Implications

This review examined how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated global plastic consumption through increased medical waste and single-use plastics, analyzing the environmental implications and challenges for waste management systems worldwide.

2022 Journal of Environmental and Public Health 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Global face mask pollution: threats to the environment and wildlife, and potential solutions

Researchers reviewed the global face mask pollution crisis following COVID-19, estimating massive production volumes and finding that most disposal pathways generate secondary microplastic pollution or toxic emissions, and proposing countermeasures including biodegradable mask development and improved waste management policy.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 86 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Revista de Direito Internacional 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Revista Colombiana de Cirugía 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Increased pollution due to COVID-19 pandemic and bioremediation: A dire need of management

This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic increased plastic pollution — particularly from PPE and single-use plastics — and discusses bioremediation strategies for cleaning up the resulting environmental contamination. The authors assess both short-term cleanup approaches and long-term strategies for preventing the accumulated pandemic plastic waste from becoming a persistent source of microplastic pollution. The review covers microbial and plant-based remediation options.

2021 Abasyn Journal Life Sciences
Article Tier 2

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research on marine plastic pollution – A bibliometric-based assessment

Researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis of marine plastic pollution research from 2015 to 2022 and found that while the COVID-19 pandemic initially disrupted international collaboration, it also spurred new research on pandemic-related plastic waste entering the marine environment.

2022 Marine Policy 23 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Polymers 36 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Nanomaterials 42 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Chemosphere 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and other emerging contaminants in the environment after COVID-19 pandemic: The need of global reconnaissance studies

This review examines how COVID-19 pandemic waste, including disposable masks, gloves, and disinfectants, has increased microplastic and chemical contamination in the environment. These contaminants enter waterways through improper disposal, wastewater plants, and surface runoff. The study calls for global monitoring to understand the full impact of pandemic-related pollution on ecosystems and human health.

2023 Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Novel Covid-19: The Surge in Plastics (Known-Unknowns), Its Impacts on Public and Environmental Health and The Way Forward

This paper examined how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased single-use plastic consumption — PPE, packaging, and food delivery items — reversing previous progress on plastic reduction. The surge in pandemic plastics is expected to increase microplastic pollution in air, water, and food for years to come.

2021 Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research 1 citations