ABSTRACT
Waste generated by healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic has become a new source of pollution, particularly with the widespread use of single-use personal protective equipment (PPE). Releasing microplastics (MPs) and microfibers (MFs) from discarded PPE becomes an emerging threat to environmental sustainability. MPs/MFs have recently been reported in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including water, deep-sea sediments, air, and soil. As COVID-19 spreads, the use of plastic-made PPE in healthcare facilities has increased significantly worldwide, resulting in massive amounts of plastic waste entering the terrestrial and marine environments. High loads of MPs/MFs emitted into the environment due to excessive PPE consumption are easily consumed by aquatic organisms, disrupting the food chain, and potentially causing chronic health problems in humans. Thus, proper management of PPE waste is critical for ensuring a post-COVID sustainable environment, which has recently attracted the attention of the scientific community. The current study aims to review the global consumption and sustainable management of discarded PPE in the context of COVID-19. The severe impacts of PPE-emitted MPs/MFs on human health and other environmental segments are briefly addressed. Despite extensive research progress in the area, many questions about MP/MF contamination in the context of COVID-19 remain unanswered. Therefore, in response to the post-COVID environmental remediation concerns, future research directions and recommendations are highlighted considering the current MP/MF research progress from COVID-related PPE waste.
ABSTRACT
A wide range of emerging contaminants (ECs), such as pharmaceutically active compounds, personal care products (PCPs), endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), and hormones are released into hospital wastewater (HWW). These contaminants can enter into natural environments, such as aquatic and terrestrial ones, thereby threatening human health and aquatic life. Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not designed to treat all types of chemical and biological contaminants, thereby allowing the release of these contaminants into water bodies, such as rivers, streams, and groundwater. Accordingly, adequate measures and advanced technologies should be implemented to prevent the discharge of ECs into aquatic environments. Reducing environmental health risks of HWW is particularly important amid the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the necessary guidelines and legislation for wastewater treatment are available, efficient removal of ECs from HWW requires the applications of advanced treatment technologies. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the existing healthcare structures, ECs pathways to the environment, management practices, and effective treatment options for removing ECs from HWW. A critical evaluation of the current research advances, knowledge gaps, and directions for future research is also presented.