Plastic and its consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19
Environmental problems
Personal protective equipment
Plastic
Public health
Recycling
Virus spread
Journal
Environmental science and pollution research international
ISSN: 1614-7499
Titre abrégé: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 9441769
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Sep 2021
Sep 2021
Historique:
received:
18
01
2021
accepted:
08
07
2021
pubmed:
20
7
2021
medline:
19
8
2021
entrez:
19
7
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
During the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, the important role of plastic becomes evident since vital equipment such as respirators have plastic parts, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE), which avoids the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is made of plastic. So, plastic during a pandemic is considered a life savior in the struggle against the virus. However, the same material that is a protector becomes a polluter when inadequately disposed of in the environment, generating or worsening socio-environmental problems, such as pollution of water bodies by plastic. This work proposes a reflection about the role and the importance of plastic in our society, bringing an overview of its main applications and consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic, correlating its use with aspects related to environmental problems and public health. Some questions revolving around the concerns caused by plastic pollution are posed, and some possible solutions to the problems are outlined.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34279783
doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-15425-w
pii: 10.1007/s11356-021-15425-w
pmc: PMC8287553
doi:
Substances chimiques
Plastics
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
46067-46078Informations de copyright
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Références
ADB (2020) Managing infectious medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ahmadifard A (2020) Unmasking the hidden pandemic: sustainability in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Br Dent J 229:343–345. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2055-z
doi: 10.1038/s41415-020-2055-z
Ahmed AM, Ali MI, Abbas AH (2018) Recycling of disposal syringe needles to produce fiber reinforced concrete. Int Rev Civ Eng 9:148–153. https://doi.org/10.15866/irece.v9i4.15275
doi: 10.15866/irece.v9i4.15275
Ammendolia J, Saturno J, Brooks AL, Jacobs S, Jambeck JR (2021) An emerging source of plastic pollution: environmental presence of plastic personal protective equipment (PPE) debris related to COVID-19 in a metropolitan city. Environ Pollut 269:116160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116160
doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116160
Anastopoulos I, Pashalidis I (2021) Single-use surgical face masks, as a potential source of microplastics: do they act as pollutant carriers? J Mol Liq 326:115247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2020.115247
doi: 10.1016/j.molliq.2020.115247
Anderson G, Shenkar N (2021) Potential effects of biodegradable single-use items in the sea: Polylactic acid (PLA) and solitary ascidians. Environ Pollut 268:115364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115364
doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115364
Aragaw TA (2020) Surgical face masks as a potential source for microplastic pollution in the COVID-19 scenario. Mar Pollut Bull 159:111517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111517
doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111517
Ardusso M, Forero-López AD, Buzzi NS, Spetter CV, Fernández-Severini MD (2021) COVID-19 pandemic repercussions on plastic and antiviral polymeric textile causing pollution on beaches and coasts of South America. Sci Total Environ 763:144365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144365
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144365
Auta HS, Emenike C, Fauziah S (2017) Distribution and importance of microplastics in the marine environment: a review of the sources, fate, effects, and potential solutions. Environ Int 102:165–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVINT.2017.02.013
doi: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2017.02.013
Behera BC (2021) Challenges in handling COVID-19 waste and its management mechanism: a review. Environ. Nanotechnology, Monit. Manag:100432
Borrelle SB, Ringma J, Lavender Law K et al (2020) Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution. Science (80- ) 369:1515–1518. https://doi.org/10.1126/SCIENCE.ABA3656
doi: 10.1126/SCIENCE.ABA3656
Bradsher K, Swanson A (2020) The U.S. needs China’s masks, as acrimony grows - The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/business/coronavirus-china-masks.html . Accessed 22 Apr 2021
Celis JE, Espejo W, Paredes-Osses E, Contreras SA, Chiang G, Bahamonde P (2021) Plastic residues produced with confirmatory testing for COVID-19: classification, quantification, fate, and impacts on human health. Sci Total Environ 760:144167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144167
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144167
Chin AWH, Chu JTS, Perera MRA, Hui KPY, Yen HL, Chan MCW, Peiris M, Poon LLM (2020) Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental conditions. The Lancet Microbe 0: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(20)30003-3 , 1, e10
(2021) Cleaning and disinfecting your home | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html . Accessed 20 Apr 2021
Cordova MR, Nurhati IS, Riani E, Nurhasanah, Iswari MY (2021) Unprecedented plastic-made personal protective equipment (PPE) debris in river outlets into Jakarta Bay during COVID-19 pandemic. Chemosphere 268:129360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129360
doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129360
(2020) COVID-19 impact on packaging market by material type, application and region - Global forecast to 2021 | Markets Insider. https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/covid-19-impact-on-packaging-market-by-material-type-application-and-region-global-forecast-to-2021-1029187123 . Accessed 27 Apr 2021
da Costa JP (2021) The 2019 global pandemic and plastic pollution prevention measures: playing catch-up. Sci. Total Environ. 774:145806
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145806
Das AK, Islam MN, Billah MM, Sarker A (2021) COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare solid waste management strategy – a mini-review. Sci. Total Environ. 778:146220
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146220
de Albuquerque FP, Dhadwal M, Dastyar W et al (2021) Fate of disposable face masks in high-solids anaerobic digestion: experimental observations and review of potential environmental implications. Case Stud Chem Environ Eng 3:100082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2021.100082
doi: 10.1016/j.cscee.2021.100082
de Sousa FDB (2020) Pros and cons of plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recycling 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling5040027
de Sousa FDB (2021) Management of plastic waste: a bibliometric mapping and analysis. Waste Manag Res 39:664–678. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X21992422
doi: 10.1177/0734242X21992422
De-la-Torre GE, Aragaw TA (2021) What we need to know about PPE associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the marine environment. Mar Pollut Bull 163:111879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111879
doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111879
De-la-Torre GE, Rakib MRJ, Pizarro-Ortega CI, Dioses-Salinas DC (2021) Occurrence of personal protective equipment (PPE) associated with the COVID-19 pandemic along the coast of Lima, Peru. Sci Total Environ 774:145774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145774
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145774
e Silva PHS, de Sousa FDB (2021) Microplastic pollution of Patos Lagoon, south of Brazil. Environ Challenges 4:100076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2021.100076
doi: 10.1016/j.envc.2021.100076
Eriksen M, Mason S, Wilson S, Box C, Zellers A, Edwards W, Farley H, Amato S (2013) Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Mar Pollut Bull 77:177–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MARPOLBUL.2013.10.007
doi: 10.1016/J.MARPOLBUL.2013.10.007
(2020) Face mask recycling: French firm finds way to re-use Covid waste. https://www.france24.com/en/20200827-face-mask-recycling-french-firm-finds-way-to-re-use-covid-waste . Accessed 28 Apr 2021
Fadare OO, Okoffo ED (2020) Covid-19 face masks: a potential source of microplastic fibers in the environment. Sci Total Environ 737:140279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140279
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140279
Filho WL, Voronova V, Kloga M, Paço A, Minhas A, Salvia AL, Ferreira CD, Sivapalan S (2021) COVID-19 and waste production in households: a trend analysis. Sci Total Environ 777:145997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145997
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145997
Francisco P (2020) Vamos sonhar juntos: O caminho para um futuro melhor, 1st edn. Intrínseca, Rio de Janeiro
Geyer R, Jambeck JR, Law KL (2017) Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Sci Adv 3:e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782
doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1700782
Ghodrat M, Samali B (2018) Thermodynamic analysis of incineration treatment of waste disposable syringes in an EAF steelmaking process. In: Minerals, Metals and Materials Series. Springer International Publishing, pp 77–88
Hantoko D, Li X, Pariatamby A, Yoshikawa K, Horttanainen M, Yan M (2021) Challenges and practices on waste management and disposal during COVID-19 pandemic. J Environ Manage 286:112140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112140
doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112140
Haque MS, Sharif S, Masnoon A, Rashid E (2021) SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-induced PPE and single-use plastic waste generation scenario. Waste Manag Res 39:3–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X20980828
doi: 10.1177/0734242X20980828
Hassan MA, Abbas AH, Habeeb AA, Lateef KH (2019) Recycling of used disposable plastic syringes as fibers reinforced concrete. Rev AUS 26(26):375–385. https://doi.org/10.4206/aus.2019.n26-32
doi: 10.4206/aus.2019.n26-32
Joo SH, Liang Y, Kim M, Byun J, Choi H (2021) Microplastics with adsorbed contaminants: mechanisms and treatment. Environ Challenges 3:100042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2021.100042
doi: 10.1016/j.envc.2021.100042
Jung S, Lee S, Dou X, Kwon EE (2021) Valorization of disposable COVID-19 mask through the thermo-chemical process. Chem Eng J 405:126658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126658
doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.126658
Kalina M, Tilley E (2020) “This is our next problem”: Cleaning up from the COVID-19 response. Waste Manag 108:202–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2020.05.006
doi: 10.1016/J.WASMAN.2020.05.006
Kalina M, Ali F, Tilley E (2021) “Everything continued as normal”: what happened to Africa’s wave of Covid-19 waste? Waste Manag. 120:277–279
doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.11.051
Karim N, Afroj S, Lloyd K, Oaten LC, Andreeva DV, Carr C, Farmery AD, Kim ID, Novoselov KS (2020) Sustainable personal protective clothing for healthcare applications: a review. ACS Nano 14:12313–12340
doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c05537
Klemeš JJ, Van Fan Y, Jiang P (2020) The energy and environmental footprints of COVID-19 fighting measures – PPE, disinfection, supply chains. Energy 211:118701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.118701
doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.118701
Konda A, Prakash A, Moss GA, Schmoldt M, Grant GD, Guha S (2020) Aerosol filtration efficiency of common fabrics used in respiratory cloth masks. ACS Nano 14:6339–6347. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252
doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c03252
Miller SA (2020) Five misperceptions surrounding the environmental impacts of single-use plastic. Environ Sci Technol 54:14143–14151. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c05295
doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05295
Morawska L (2006) Droplet fate in indoor environments, or can we prevent the spread of infection? In: Indoor Air. Indoor Air, pp 335–347
(2020) Necropsia aponta que pinguim encontrado morto no litoral de SP engoliu máscara. https://g1.globo.com/sp/vale-do-paraiba-regiao/noticia/2020/09/15/necropsia-aponta-que-pinguim-encontrado-morto-no-litoral-de-sp-engoliu-mascara.ghtml . Accessed 16 Sep 2020
O’Donovan S, Mestre NC, Abel S et al (2018) Ecotoxicological effects of chemical contaminants adsorbed to microplastics in the Clam Scrobicularia plana. Front Mar Sci 5:143. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00143
doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00143
Ogunola OS, Onada OA, Falaye AE (2018) Mitigation measures to avert the impacts of plastics and microplastics in the marine environment (a review). Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 25:9293–9310
doi: 10.1007/s11356-018-1499-z
Padervand M, Lichtfouse E, Robert D, Wang C (2020) Removal of microplastics from the environment. A review. Environ. Chem. Lett. 18:807–828
doi: 10.1007/s10311-020-00983-1
Parashar N, Hait S (2021) Plastics in the time of COVID-19 pandemic: protector or polluter? Sci. Total Environ. 759:144274
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144274
Patrício Silva AL, Prata JC, Walker TR, Duarte AC, Ouyang W, Barcelò D, Rocha-Santos T (2021) Increased plastic pollution due to COVID-19 pandemic: challenges and recommendations. Chem. Eng. J. 405:126683
doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.126683
(2020a) Plastics - The facts 2020 - PlasticsEurope. https://www.plasticseurope.org/en/resources/publications/4312-plastics-facts-2020 . Accessed 22 Apr 2021
(2020b) Plastics - The facts 2019. www.plasticseurope.org
Prata JC, Silva ALP, Walker TR, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T (2020) COVID-19 pandemic repercussions on the use and management of plastics. Environ Sci Technol 54:7760–7765. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c02178
doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02178
Purnomo CW, Kurniawan W, Aziz M (2021) Technological review on thermochemical conversion of COVID-19-related medical wastes. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 167:105429
doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105429
(2021) Quantitativos: Resíduos coletados no município | Prefeitura da Cidade de São Paulo. https://www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/cidade/secretarias/subprefeituras/amlurb/index.php?p=185375 . Accessed 21 Apr 2021
Ragusa A, Svelato A, Santacroce C, Catalano P, Notarstefano V, Carnevali O, Papa F, Rongioletti MCA, Baiocco F, Draghi S, D'Amore E, Rinaldo D, Matta M, Giorgini E (2021) Plasticenta: first evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environ. Int. 146:106274
doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274
(2020) Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and considerations during severe shortages: interim guidance, 6 April 2020. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/331695
Ribeiro D (2021) Efeito pandemia: gastos com delivery crescem 187% em 2020. https://cultura.uol.com.br/noticias/16003_efeito-pandemia-gastos-com-delivery-crescem-187-em-2020.html . Accessed 8 Apr 2021
Rowan NJ, Laffey JG (2021) Unlocking the surge in demand for personal and protective equipment (PPE) and improvised face coverings arising from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic – implications for efficacy, re-use and sustainable waste management. Sci. Total Environ. 752:142259
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142259
Saliu F, Veronelli M, Raguso C, Barana D, Galli P, Lasagni M (2021) The release process of microfibers: from surgical face masks into the marine environment. Environ Adv 4:100042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2021.100042
doi: 10.1016/j.envadv.2021.100042
Schwabl P, Köppel S, Königshofer P, Bucsics T, Trauner M, Reiberger T, Liebmann B (2019) Detection of various microplastics in human stool: a prospective case series. Ann Intern Med 171:453. https://doi.org/10.7326/M19-0618
doi: 10.7326/M19-0618
Selvaranjan K, Navaratnam S, Rajeev P, Ravintherakumaran N (2021) Environmental challenges induced by extensive use of face masks during COVID-19: a review and potential solutions. Environ Challenges 3:100039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2021.100039
doi: 10.1016/j.envc.2021.100039
(2020) Shortage of personal protective equipment endangering health workers worldwide. https://www.who.int/news/item/03-03-2020-shortage-of-personal-protective-equipment-endangering-health-workers-worldwide . Accessed 16 Apr 2021
Shruti VC, Pérez-Guevara F, Elizalde-Martínez I, Kutralam-Muniasamy G (2020) Reusable masks for COVID-19: a missing piece of the microplastic problem during the global health crisis. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 161:111777
doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111777
Swelum AA, Shafi ME, Albaqami NM, el-Saadony MT, Elsify A, Abdo M, Taha AE, Abdel-Moneim AME, al-Gabri NA, Almaiman AA, Saleh al-wajeeh A, Tufarelli V, Staffa VN, Abd el-Hack ME (2020) COVID-19 in human, animal, and environment: a review. Front. Vet. Sci. 7:578
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00578
Tilley E, Kalina M (2020) “We are already sick”: Infectious waste management and inequality in the time of Covid-19, a reflection from Blantyre. Malawi. Worldw Waste J Interdiscip Stud 3. https://doi.org/10.5334/wwwj.54
Urban RC, Nakada LYK (2021) COVID-19 pandemic: solid waste and environmental impacts in Brazil. Sci Total Environ 755:142471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142471
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142471
van Doremalen N, Bushmaker T, Morris DH, Holbrook MG, Gamble A, Williamson BN, Tamin A, Harcourt JL, Thornburg NJ, Gerber SI, Lloyd-Smith JO, de Wit E, Munster VJ (2020) Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1. N Engl J Med NEJMc2004973. 382:1564–1567. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2004973
Vasil A (2020) Curing the plastic pollution pandemic | The Star. https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/09/08/curing-the-plastic-pollution-pandemic.html . Accessed 22 Apr 2021
Wei G, Manyu L (2020) The hidden risks of medical waste management and COVID-19. https://www.waste360.com/medical-waste/hidden-risks-medical-waste-and-covid-19-pandemic . Accessed 24 Apr 2021