Minimizing the long-term impact of COVID-19 on environmental pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased use of surgical masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) among people across the globe. While the use of these materials can be seen as a step toward limiting the spread of the coronavirus disease, it presents yet another sou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability : science, practice, & policy practice, & policy, 2021-01, Vol.17 (1), p.81-84
Main Authors: Arimiyaw, Abdul Wahid, Abass, Kabila, Morgan, Anthony Kwame
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Current sources
Environmental effects
environmental health
Materials
NGOs
Nongovernmental organizations
Pandemics
Personal protective equipment
Pollution
Pollution sources
Protective equipment
sanitation
Sub-Saharan Africa
Viral diseases
Waste management
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Summary:The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased use of surgical masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) among people across the globe. While the use of these materials can be seen as a step toward limiting the spread of the coronavirus disease, it presents yet another source of environmental pollution which is currently being overlooked by most governments and people. This article provides a commentary on the environmental effects of the disposal of PPE and recommendations for addressing the potential risks it presents. Health and environmental actors, in conjunction with governments and their various ministries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must step up public education on the need to properly discard used PPE without adding to current sources of environmental pollution and endangering human lives.
ISSN:1548-7733
1548-7733
DOI:10.1080/15487733.2020.1857571