COVID-19 Pandemic Repercussions on the Use and Management of Plastics
University of Aveiro · Dalhousie University
Abstract
Plastics are essential in society as a widely available and inexpensive material. Mismanagement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a monthly estimated use of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves globally, is resulting in widespread environmental contamination. This poses a risk to public health as waste is a vector for SARS-CoV-2 virus, which survives up to 3 days on plastics, and there are also broad impacts to ecosystems and organisms. Concerns over the role of reusable plastics as vectors for SARS-CoV-2 virus contributed to the reversal of bans on single-use plastics, highly supported by the plastic industry. While not underestimating the importance of plastics…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 129.81
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 29
Authors
5Topics & keywords
- Pandemic
- Personal protective equipment
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
- 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak
- Public health
- Business
- Environmental health