Tracking the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic-related debris on wildlife using digital platforms.

ABSTRACT: Since the start of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19) pandemic in December 2019, there have been global surges of single-use plastic use. Due to the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitation items in protecting against virus transmission and from testing, facemasks, respirators, disposable gloves and disposable wet wipes have become global staples in households and institutions. Widespread use and insufficient infrastructure, combined with improper waste management have resulted in an emerging category of litter. With widespread presence in the environment, such items pose a direct threat to wildlife as animals can interact with them in a series of ways. We examined the scope of COVID-19 pandemic-related debris, including PPE a

SUBMITTER: Ammendolia J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9310380 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature