COVID-19 Generated Personal Protective Equipment: Sources of Microplastics and Pathogen Vectors in Marine Environments?

ABSTRACT

The world has already been experienced the severe adverse effects of COVID-19 at every levels. When it is understood that the COVID-19 infection is spread in the community via respiratory transmission from human, then the widespread use of plastic-made personal protective equipments (PPEs) like face masks and hand gloves have tremendously increased throughout the world. Although it has reduced the spreading of virus, however, careless disposal or mismanagement of these single use PPEs has created another major concern for the environment as plastics are known source of environmental contamination. In one hand, they are infected with SARS-CoV-2, while in the other, they act as a carrier or vector or pathways for other pathogens or diseases, and hence can increase the degree of continuing pandemic. Besides, there might have chance that plastics or microplastics may be responsible for introducing new pathogenic viruses or bacteria to humankind. As such, it is clear that more research needs to be conducted to clarify this fact, and its underlying mechanisms. In this review, we briefly explored how PPEs used in the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated existing microplastic pollution, how they could act as disease routes or vectors, and how they could introduce new pathogens to the terrestrial and marine environment. Addressing these questions may create awareness in plastic use, waste management and enacting relevant policy which may protect our environment and health.