Estimating marine plastic pollution from COVID-19 face masks in coastal regions

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:168

Article

Chowdhury, Hemal¹  Chowdhury, Tamal²  Sait, Sadiq M.³ 

[1] Chittagong Univ Engn & Technol, Dept Mech Engn, Raozan, Chattogram, Bangladesh

[2] Chittagong Univ Engn & Technol, Dept Elect & Elect Engn, Raozan, Chattogram, Bangladesh

[3] King Fahd Univ Petr & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

关键词: Face masks;    COVID-19;    Microplastic pollution;    Oceans;    Waste management;    Coastal regions;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112419

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Face masks are playing an essential role in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Face masks such as N95, and surgical masks, contain a considerable portion of non-recyclable plastic material. Marine plastic pollution is likely to increase due to the rapid use and improper dispensing of face masks, but until now, no extensive quantitative estimation exists for coastal regions. Linking behaviour dataset on face mask usage and solid waste management dataset, this study estimates annual face mask utilization and plastic pollution from mismanaged face masks in coastal regions of 46 countries. It is estimated that approximately 0.15 million tons to 0.39 million tons of plastic debris could end up in global oceans within a year. With lower waste management facilities, the number of plastic debris entering the ocean will rise. Significant investments are required from global communities in improving the waste management facilities for better disposal of masks and solid waste.

【 授权许可】

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