Environmental impact of personal protective equipment distributed for use by health and social care services in England in the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To quantify the environmental impact of personal protective equipment (PPE) distributed for use by the health and social care system to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in England, and model strategies for mitigating the environmental impact.

Design

Life cycle assessment was used to determine environmental impacts of PPE distributed to health and social care in England during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The base scenario assumed all products were single-use and disposed of via clinical waste. Scenario modelling was used to determine the effect of environmental mitigation strategies: (1) eliminating international travel during supply; (2) eliminating glove use; (3) reusing gowns and face shields; and (4) maximal recycling.

Setting

Royal Sus

SUBMITTER: Rizan C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8150566 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature