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Le VG, Nguyen MK, Lin C, Nguyen HL, Nguyen TQH, Hue NK, Truong QM, Chang SW, Nguyen XH, Nguyen DD. Review on personal protective equipment: Emerging concerns in micro(nano)plastic pollution and strategies for addressing environmental challenges. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 257:119345. [PMID: 38851370 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, marking one of the most catastrophic global health crises of the 21st century. Throughout this period, widespread use and improper disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) emerged as a pressing environmental issue, significantly impacting various life forms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a high rate of PEP disposal. An alarming 1.6 × 106 tons of plastic waste each day has been generated since the onset of the outbreak, predominantly from the inadequate disposal of PPE. The mismanagement and subsequent degradation of discarded PPE significantly contribute to increased non-biodegradable micro(nano)plastic (MNP) waste. This pollution has had profound adverse effects on terrestrial, marine, and aquatic ecosystems, which have been extensively of concern recently. Accumulated MNPs within aquatic organisms could serve as a potential route for human exposure when consuming seafood. This review presents a novel aspect concerning the pollution caused by MNPs, particularly remarking on their role during the pandemic and their detrimental effects on human health. These microplastic particles, through the process of fragmentation, transform into nanoparticles, persisting in the environment and posing potential hazards. The prevalence of MNP from PPE, notably masks, raises concerns about their plausible health risks, warranting global attention and comprehensive exploration. Conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the long-term effects of these processes and implementing effective management strategies is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van-Giang Le
- Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Vietnam National University (CRES-VNU), Hanoi, 111000, Viet Nam
| | - Minh-Ky Nguyen
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Nong Lam University, Hamlet 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam.
| | - Chitsan Lin
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan
| | - Hoang-Lam Nguyen
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Tri Quang Hung Nguyen
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Nong Lam University, Hamlet 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Nguyen K Hue
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Nong Lam University, Hamlet 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Quoc-Minh Truong
- Faculty of Management Science, Thu Dau Mot University, Binh Duong, 75000, Viet Nam
| | - Soon W Chang
- Department of Civil & Energy System Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon, 16227, South Korea
| | - X Hoan Nguyen
- Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - D Duc Nguyen
- Department of Civil & Energy System Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon, 16227, South Korea; Institute of Applied Technology and Sustainable Development, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam.
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Ge Y, Jia W, Zhao H, Xiang P. A framework for urban resilience measurement and enhancement strategies: A case study in Qingdao, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 367:122047. [PMID: 39096735 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Comprehensive measurement and analysis of urban resilience is essential to ensure sustainable urban development. This paper creates a multilevel urban resilience evaluation index system based on four dimensions of economy, society, ecology, and infrastructure and the three attributes (resistance, recovery, and adaptability), then applies the framework to Qingdao, China. The results suggest that: (1) The overall level of urban resilience in Qingdao showed an upward trend, rising from a relatively high level in 2012 to a high level in 2021. Economic and social resilience maintained a high consistency, developing rapidly, while the development of ecological and infrastructure resilience fluctuated, and infrastructure resilience was slow and lagging. (2) Qingdao's overall resilience is higher than other cities in the same region, but infrastructure resilience is relatively low. Moreover, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) of the resilience of the four subsystems in Qingdao has evolved from near imbalance to good coordination. (3) Infrastructure resilience is the primary obstacle factor in the dimension layer, followed by ecological resilience. Based on the results, corresponding improvement strategies are proposed. A comprehensive multidimensional measurement of the urban resilience of Qingdao can identify the main shortcomings and provide a reference for decision-making and resource allocation in resilient cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Ge
- School of management science and real estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Wenjuan Jia
- School of management engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, 266525, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- School of management engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, 266525, China
| | - Pengcheng Xiang
- School of management science and real estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China; Construction economy and management research center, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China.
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Jeyakumar SS, Ponniah JM, Vasudevan J, Muñoz-Sevilla NP, Urrutia-Goyes R, Escobedo-Urias DC, Rodriguez-Espinosa PF. Public views on tourist beach environment from multinational countries and ensuing changes during global epidemic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:41329-41341. [PMID: 36917386 PMCID: PMC10013292 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26277-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The continuous endemic of the new SARS-CoV-2 virus brought a halt to the world's activities from February 2020. Our study intends to gauge public perceptions on the consequences of post-pandemic changes on the marine environment, particularly as they are related to tourist beach amenities. Totally, 16 nations' knowledge and views on various environmental viewpoints over the effects of epidemic were gathered through public polls live on social media during social confinement in 2020. The results indicate that around 85% of respondents were most concerned about the alarming sights of widespread plastic trash and the increase of dangerous biomedical wastes through wastewater in the marine ecosystem. The outcomes of this study will undoubtedly aid in the establishment of a management strategy and for future studies on the consequences of any epidemic on the beaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakthi Selvalakshmi Jeyakumar
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios Sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Calle 30 de Junio de 1520, Barrio La Laguna Ticomán, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, C.P.07340, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Jonathan Muthuswamy Ponniah
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios Sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Calle 30 de Junio de 1520, Barrio La Laguna Ticomán, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, C.P.07340, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.
| | - Joshua Vasudevan
- School of Architecture Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Mumfordway, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Norma Patricia Muñoz-Sevilla
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios Sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Calle 30 de Junio de 1520, Barrio La Laguna Ticomán, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, C.P.07340, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Urrutia-Goyes
- Departamento de Ciencias de La Energía y Mecánica, Av. Gral. Rumiñahui S/N, Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, P.O. Box 171-5-231B, Sangolqui, 171103, Ecuador
| | - Diana Cecilia Escobedo-Urias
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional (CIIDIR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Bulevar Juan de Dios Bátiz Paredes #250, Colonia San Joachin, C.P.81101, Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Pedro Francisco Rodriguez-Espinosa
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios Sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Calle 30 de Junio de 1520, Barrio La Laguna Ticomán, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, C.P.07340, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
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Akhtar S, Pranay K, Kumari K. Personal protective equipment and micro-nano plastics: A review of an unavoidable interrelation for a global well-being hazard. HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVANCES 2023; 6:100055. [PMID: 37102160 PMCID: PMC10089666 DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2023.100055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
The usage and the demand for personal protective equipments (PPEs) for our day-to-day survival in this pandemic period of COVID-19 have seen a steep rise which has consequently led to improper disposal and littering. Fragmentation of these PPE units has eventually given way to micro-nano plastics (MNPs) emission in the various environmental matrices and exposure of living organisms to these MNPs has proven to be severely toxic. Numerous factors contribute to the toxicity imparted by these MNPs that mainly include their shape, size, functional groups and their chemical diversity. Even though multiple studies on the impacts of MNPs toxicity are available for other organisms, human cell line studies for various plastic polymers, other than the most common ones namely polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP), are still at their nascent stage and need to be explored more. In this article, we cover a concise review of the literature on the impact of these MNPs in biotic and human systems focusing on the constituents of the PPE units and the additives that are essentially used for their manufacturing. This review will subsequently identify the need to gather scientific evidence at the smaller level to help combat this microplastic pollution and induce a more in-depth understanding of its adverse effect on our existence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaheen Akhtar
- Kolkata Zonal Centre, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata 700107, West Bengal, India
| | - Kumar Pranay
- Department of Biochemistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna 800014, Bihar, India
| | - Kanchan Kumari
- Kolkata Zonal Centre, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata 700107, West Bengal, India
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Impact of domestic tourism on economy under COVID-19: The perspective of tourism satellite accounts. ANNALS OF TOURISM RESEARCH EMPIRICAL INSIGHTS 2022. [PMCID: PMC9189102 DOI: 10.1016/j.annale.2022.100055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic reversed the ongoing upsurge in the global tourism industry. Yet compared with still-stagnant international tourism, domestic tourism has shown signs of recovery. This study takes Guangdong Province, China as a case for regional domestic tourism and adopts the tourism satellite account (TSA) method to assess domestic tourism's status. A pre- and post-pandemic comparison is conducted to map the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on domestic tourism's economic contribution. The TSA results show that the direct contribution of domestic tourism to Guangdong's economy fell from 2.53% to 1.20% across these timeframes. Findings also reveal changes in visitor composition by places of origin and in industries' proportional contributions to tourism.
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Zhang H, Wang Q, Chen J, Rangel-Buitrago N, Shu Y. Cruise tourism in the context of COVID-19: Dilemmas and solutions. OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 228:106321. [PMID: 35990780 PMCID: PMC9376310 DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 cases on international cruise ships have attracted extensive attention from the international community as well as the world's tourism and shipping industry. This virus highlighted the plight that must be faced by cruise ships in complicated times and situations such as pandemics. The comparative method is adopted to analyze the management measures taken by the "Diamond Princess", "Costa Serena", "Westerdam" and "Grand Princess" cruises in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and then to summarize the common dilemmas faced by these cruise ships, including defects of their internal environment, unclear health-care obligations during an epidemic, weak collaboration between the parties involved and their limited performance, and widespread infodemic and unfavorable public opinion. Given these dilemmas, measures are suggested to deal with the "cruise dilemma", including establishing and defining isolation standards on boards, enhancing the capacity of international organizations, the international community's joint response to the pandemic, promoting cooperation between countries, building an effective mechanism for the broad participation of the whole society, and standardizing the release of information and reasonably guiding public social opinion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Zhang
- School of International Law, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuwen Wang
- School of International Law, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai, China
| | - Jihong Chen
- College of Management, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen International Maritime Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programas de Fisica y Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del, Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Yaqing Shu
- School of Navigation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
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Pizarro-Ortega CI, Dioses-Salinas DC, Fernández Severini MD, Forero López AD, Rimondino GN, Benson NU, Dobaradaran S, De-la-Torre GE. Degradation of plastics associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 176:113474. [PMID: 35231785 PMCID: PMC8866080 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented form of plastic pollution: personal protective equipment (PPE). Numerous studies have reported the occurrence of PPE in the marine environment. However, their degradation in the environment and consequences are poorly understood. Studies have reported that face masks, the most abundant type of PPE, are significant sources of microplastics due to their fibrous microstructure. The fibrous material (mostly consisting of polypropylene) exhibits physical changes in the environment, leading to its fracture and detachment of microfibers. Most studies have evaluated PPE degradation under controlled laboratory conditions. However, in situ degradation experiments, including the colonization of PPE, are largely lacking. Although ecotoxicological studies are largely lacking, the first attempts to understand the impact of MPs released from face masks showed various types of impacts, such as fertility and reproduction deficiencies in both aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Melisa D Fernández Severini
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), CONICET/UNS, CCT-Bahía Blanca, Camino La Carrindanga, km 7.5, Edificio E1, Bahía Blanca, B8000FWB Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana D Forero López
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), CONICET/UNS, CCT-Bahía Blanca, Camino La Carrindanga, km 7.5, Edificio E1, Bahía Blanca, B8000FWB Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guido Noé Rimondino
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Fisicoquímica de Córdoba (INFIQC), Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria (X5000HUA), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nsikak U Benson
- Department of Chemistry, Covenant University, Km 10 Idiroko Road, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Sina Dobaradaran
- Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran; Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, Essen, Germany
| | - Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru.
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