Study Suggests Nearly , 26,000 Tons of Covid-Related , Plastic Waste in the Ocean.
A new study has found that plastics from
the COVID-19 pandemic weighing approximately
25,900 tons is now polluting the world's oceans. .
Researchers suggest that the waste,
which includes masks and gloves, was discarded
at a rate countries were unable to keep up with. .
'The Guardian' reports that the study
by Nanjing University was published
on November 8 in the online journal PNAS. .
The COVID-19 pandemic has led
to an increased demand for single-use
plastics that intensifies pressure on an already
out-of-control global plastic waste problem, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.
The released plastics can be
transported over long distances
in the ocean, encounter marine wildlife,
and potentially lead to injury or even death, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.
The released plastics can be
transported over long distances
in the ocean, encounter marine wildlife,
and potentially lead to injury or even death, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.
According to the study, 46% of the plastic waste originated in Asia, 24% came from Europe and 22% from North and South America.
The study also suggests that approximately 87.4% of the waste was produced in hospitals. .
Most of the plastic is from
medical waste generated by hospitals
that dwarfs the contribution
from personal protection equipment
and online-shopping package material, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.
This poses a long-lasting problem
for the ocean environment
and is mainly accumulated
on beaches and coastal sediments, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.
This poses a long-lasting problem
for the ocean environment
and is mainly accumulated
on beaches and coastal sediments, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'