Since the start of the pandemic, 8 million metric tons of pandemic- related plastic waste, which includes masks, PPE and gloves, has been generated with 26,000 tons of it ending up in the world’s ocean.
The impact has been seen in wildlife, for example, an American robin wrapped in a face mask and a perch wrapped in the thumb of a glove. Among all countries, Asian countries account for most of the global plastic discharge, with China and India being the main culprits.
Better management of medical waste, public information campaigns, and their judicial use are suggested by an advocacy group. Otherwise, the waste will become deathtraps for coastal animals, increase coastal temperature, and even generate toxic chemicals, affecting the food chain.
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