An overview on metal pollution on touristic sandy beaches: Is the COVID-19 pandemic an opportunity to improve coastal management?

ABSTRACT: The worldwide spread of the SARS-CoV-2 caused an unprecedented lockdown measures in most countries with consequences on the world society, economy, and sanitary systems. This situation provided an opportunity to identify the effects of human confinement on natural environments, like touristic sandy beaches, which are stressed due to anthropogenic pressures. Based on previous articles about heavy metals sources and levels in these ecosystems, this paper discusses the dynamic of these pollutants and a regulatory scenario associated with COVID-19 sanitation policies. The main findings suggest that 39% of the studies were on Asian sandy beaches, 16% from Europe, while America and Africa with 23% each. Also Co, Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, Ni, Fe and Mn were the most frequently analyzed metals in sedime

SUBMITTER: Buzzi NS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8759033 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature