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. 2022 Apr;29(18):27521-27533.
doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-17859-8. Epub 2022 Jan 4.

PPE pollution in the terrestrial and aquatic environment of the Chittagong city area associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and concomitant health implications

Md Jainal Abedin  1 , Mayeen Uddin Khandaker  2 , Md Ripaj Uddin  3 , Md Rezaul Karim  4 , M Shahab Uddin Ahamad  5 , Md Ariful Islam  4 , Abu Mohammad Arif  6 , Abdelmoneim Sulieman  7 , Abubakr M Idris  8   9
Affiliations

PPE pollution in the terrestrial and aquatic environment of the Chittagong city area associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and concomitant health implications

Md Jainal Abedin et al. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

The present study focuses on the indiscriminate disposal of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and resulting environmental contamination during the 3rd wave of COVID-19-driven global pandemic in the Chittagong metropolitan area, Bangladesh. Because of the very high rate of infection by the delta variant of this virus, the use of PPEs by the public is increased significantly to protect the ingestion/inhalation of respiratory droplets in the air. However, it is a matter of solicitude that general people throw away the PPEs to the dwelling environment unconsciously. With the increase of inappropriate disposal of PPEs (i.e., mostly the disposable face masks made from plastic microfibers), the possibility of transmission of the virus to the general public cannot be neglected completely. This is because this virus can survive for several days on the inanimate matter like plastics and fibers. At the same time, the result of environmental contamination by microplastic/microfiber has been widespread which eventually creates the worst impact on ecosystems and organisms. The present results may help to increase public perception of the use and subsequent disposal of PPEs, especially the face masks.

Keywords: COVID-19; Disposal; Environmental contamination; PPEs; Pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Impact of microplastic pollution on aquatic lives, environmental degradation, and health disorder
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Sampling area
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
PPE abundance and sampling in different surveyed locations
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Information on the PPE types in the surveyed area
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Water and sediments pollution due to the face mask in the aquatic ecosystem
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Supplementary concepts