Environmental and human health impact of single-use plastic-made personal protective equipment used to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2

Zakia, MA; Akter, S; Rony, ZI; Rahaman, M; Ahmed, SF; Vo, DVN; Mofijur, M

Environmental and human health impact of single-use plastic-made personal protective equipment used to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2

Zakia, MA Akter, S Rony, ZI Rahaman, M Ahmed, SF Vo, DVN Mofijur, M

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Publisher:: AIP Publishing
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: AIP Conference Proceedings, 2023, 2785, (1), pp. 030012
Issue Date:: 2023-07-10

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Zakia, MA
dc.contributor.author	Akter, S
dc.contributor.author	Rony, ZI
dc.contributor.author	Rahaman, M
dc.contributor.author	Ahmed, SF
dc.contributor.author	Vo, DVN
dc.contributor.author	Mofijur, M
dc.date.accessioned	2024-07-02T04:25:03Z
dc.date.available	2024-07-02T04:25:03Z
dc.date.issued	2023-07-10
dc.identifier.citation	AIP Conference Proceedings, 2023, 2785, (1), pp. 030012
dc.identifier.issn	0094-243X
dc.identifier.issn	1551-7616
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179695
dc.description.abstract	The novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has wreaked havoc throughout the world, affecting nearly every country. Several countries are currently battling the virus's second or third wave, which is wreaking havoc far worse than the first. A variety of plastic-based personal protective equipment (PPE) was instrumental in protecting people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every day, a significant amount of single-use PPE including masks, gloves, protective aprons, face shields, safety glasses, sanitiser containers, plastic shoes, and medical gowns (made primarily of polypropylene) is discarded by health care workers and the general public. While this personal protective equipment is lowering the spread of SARS-CoV2, the lacking of sustainable management possesses a serious threat to public health and the environment. As the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive in discarded medical waste for up to 168 hours, likely, the medical waste originating from hospitals, clinics, medical centres, home isolation, and quarantine facilities where the infected individual is getting treatment could spread and increase the infectivity of the virus. Therefore, this paper discusses the environmental and human health consequences of single-use personal protective equipment used to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	AIP Publishing
dc.relation.ispartof	AIP Conference Proceedings
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1063/5.0149930
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Environmental and human health impact of single-use plastic-made personal protective equipment used to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2785
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CGT - Centre for Green Technology
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2024-07-02T04:25:02Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	2785
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

The novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has wreaked havoc throughout the world, affecting nearly every country. Several countries are currently battling the virus's second or third wave, which is wreaking havoc far worse than the first. A variety of plastic-based personal protective equipment (PPE) was instrumental in protecting people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every day, a significant amount of single-use PPE including masks, gloves, protective aprons, face shields, safety glasses, sanitiser containers, plastic shoes, and medical gowns (made primarily of polypropylene) is discarded by health care workers and the general public. While this personal protective equipment is lowering the spread of SARS-CoV2, the lacking of sustainable management possesses a serious threat to public health and the environment. As the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive in discarded medical waste for up to 168 hours, likely, the medical waste originating from hospitals, clinics, medical centres, home isolation, and quarantine facilities where the infected individual is getting treatment could spread and increase the infectivity of the virus. Therefore, this paper discusses the environmental and human health consequences of single-use personal protective equipment used to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179695