Will COVID-19 Containment and Treatment Measures Drive Shifts in Marine Litter Pollution?

Date of publication 7 September 2020

Authors Canning-Clode, Joao; Sepulveda, Pedro; Almeida, Silvia; Monteiro, Joao.

Sources Frontiers in Marine Science : 7

DOILink https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00691

Abstract

Our recommendation to quickly adjust monitoring programs includes not only updating the lists of litter categories but also preparing monitoring teams (i.e., staff, researchers, volunteers, and citizen scientists) for the potential increase in PPE litter and how to adequately deal with these items that may be potentially contaminated with COVID-19. The COVID-19 global pandemic has already made significant impacts on many aspects of people’s dayto-day lives and their overall livelihood. It is the authors’ opinion that action must be taken swiftly to address the rise in PPE use and other potential sources of marine pollution resulting from the current health recommendations.

TSC Opinion

Voici les résultats d’une petite publication sur une étude relativement simple du nombre de Google News portant sur la pollution plastique marine et sur celle associée aux protections individuelles à usage unique utilisées lors de la pandémie. Sans surprise, il apparaît que le développement de l’épidémie mondiale de Covid a conduit à une utilisation massive de systèmes de protection à usage unique et que beaucoup d’entre eux se sont retrouvés jetés volontairement dans la nature faute d’information, de moyen de collecte ou de recyclage approprié.

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