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Huang X, Zhuang Z, Liu J, Shi W, Xu X, Wang L, Li Q, Wang H. Research on the impact mechanism of changes in the production of medical solid waste in China before and after COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:37717-37731. [PMID: 38789708 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33755-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The changes of medical solid waste (MSW) output in recent years have had a significant impact on the spread of the virus. There is a high-risk transmission of MSW in various stages such as storage, transportation, and treatment during the COVID-19. To cope with the risks brought by the epidemic, normalized prevention consumes a large amount of protective clothing, medical masks, goggles, packaging bags, and other related medical supplies. There is a significant uncertainty in the amount of MSW output that poses a risk of COVID-19 infection in the event of an emergency, which increases the difficulty of collecting and handling epidemic prevention MSW. The analysis of MSW data from 2000 to 2022 found a stable growth trend before 2019. However, the MSW data was a sudden increase trend from 2020 to 2022, and the COVID-19 in China was characterized by an initial stage, an outbreak stage, and a stable growth stage. The range of MSW output during the epidemic was (1.19-1.75) × 106 t a-1. The amount of MSW was approximately 1.19 × 106 t a-1 during the normalized epidemic period, and its treatment cost was as high as 3.57 × 109 yuan (RMB)·a-1. The distribution of MSW output was uneven due to factors such as climate conditions, population data, and local economy. This study has important reference value for epidemic medical material reserves and MSW treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Huang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions/Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety/School of Geographical Sciences, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China
| | - Ziqi Zhuang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions/Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety/School of Geographical Sciences, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China
| | - Jiajun Liu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions/Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety/School of Geographical Sciences, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China
| | - Wen Shi
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions/Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety/School of Geographical Sciences, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China
| | - Xiangdong Xu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions/Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety/School of Geographical Sciences, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China
| | - Lingyan Wang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions/Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety/School of Geographical Sciences, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China
| | - Qi Li
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Hanxi Wang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions/Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety/School of Geographical Sciences, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, China.
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Wang Q, Zhang M, Li R. Does medical waste research during COVID-19 meet the challenge induced by the pandemic to waste management? WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2024; 42:244-259. [PMID: 37334464 PMCID: PMC10277880 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x231178226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented amount of medical waste, presenting significant challenges for the safe disposal of hazardous waste. A systematic review of existing research on COVID-19 and medical waste can help address these challenges by providing insights and recommendations for effective management of the massive medical waste generated during the pandemic. This study utilized bibliometric and text mining methods to survey the scientific outcomes related to COVID-19 and medical waste, drawing on data from the Scopus database. The results show that the spatial distribution of medical waste research is unbalanced. Surprisingly, developing countries rather than developed countries lead research in this area. Especially, China, a major contributor to the field, has the highest number of publications and citations, and is also a centre of international cooperation. The main study authors and research institutions are also mainly from China. And the research on medical waste is a multidisciplinary field. Text mining analysis shows that COVID-19 and medical waste research is mainly organized around four themes: (i) medical waste from personal protective equipment; (ii) research on medical waste in Wuhan, China; (iii) threats of medical waste to the environment and (iv) disposal and management of medical waste. This would serve to better understand the current state of medical waste research and to provide some implications for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wang
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
- School of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Wulumuqi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Min Zhang
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rongrong Li
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
- School of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Wulumuqi, People’s Republic of China
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3
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Peula FJ, Martín-Lara MÁ, Calero M. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on municipal solid waste generation: a case study in Granada city (Spain). JOURNAL OF MATERIAL CYCLES AND WASTE MANAGEMENT 2023; 25:1-13. [PMID: 37360948 PMCID: PMC10156574 DOI: 10.1007/s10163-023-01671-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The 2020 coronavirus pandemic has involved a series of political and social measures that have been adapted to the spread of the disease. Apart from the severe effects on health sector, the most effects of the pandemic have been felt in households and day-to-day life. Consequently, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the generation of not only medical and health care waste but also of municipal solid waste production and composition. In this context, this work studied the implications of COVID-19 for municipal solid waste generation in Granada, Spain. Granada is a city where the economy is based mainly on the services sector, tourism and the University. Therefore, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the city and it can be analyzed through the municipal solid waste generation. For the study of the incidence of COVID-19 in the generation of waste a period that goes from March 2019 to February 2021 has been chosen. The results show that, in the global calculation, a decrease in the generation of waste in the city is observed in this last year, reaching - 13.8%. Regarding the organic-rest fraction, the decrease in the COVID year represents - 11.7%. However, bulky waste has shown an increase in the COVID year which may be related to higher home furnishings renovation rates than in other years. Finally, glass is the waste flow that best indicates the effect of COVID in the service sector. In leisure areas, a significant reduction in the collection of glass is observed (- 45%). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10163-023-01671-2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mónica Calero
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Kaewchutima N, Precha N, Duangkong N, Jitbanjong A, Dwipayanti NMU. Knowledge and practice of facemask disposal among university students in Thailand: A new normal post the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284492. [PMID: 37053157 PMCID: PMC10101522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of facemasks is essential to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. University students are a significant demographic that generates substantial infectious waste due to the new normal practice of using disposable facemasks. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the facemask disposal knowledge and practices among university students in Thailand between September and October 2022. We used a self-report questionnaire comprising 29 questions to determine the students' demographic characteristics and facemask disposal knowledge and practices. We then applied a logistic regression model to estimate the association between the students' facemask disposal knowledge and practices and their demographic characteristics. A total of 433 participants completed the questionnaire comprising health science (45.27%) and non-health science (54.73%) students. Surgical masks were the most popular masks (89.84%), followed by N95 (26.33%) and cloth masks (9.94%). While their levels of knowledge regarding facemask disposal were poor, the students' practices were good. The factors associated with proper facemask disposal were sex (AOR = 0.469, 95% CI: 0.267, 0.825), academic grade (AOR = 0.427, 95% CI: 0.193, 0.948), and knowledge level (AOR = 0.594, 95% CI: 0.399, 0.886). No demographic factors influenced knowledge. Our findings highlight the influence of facemask disposal knowledge on students' disposal practices. Information promoting the appropriate disposal practices should therefore be promoted extensively. Furthermore, continuous reinforcement by raising awareness and educating students on proper facemask disposal combined with the provision of adequate infectious waste disposal facilities could help reduce the environmental contamination of infectious waste and thus improve general waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narisara Kaewchutima
- Department of Environmental Health and Technology, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Nopadol Precha
- Department of Environmental Health and Technology, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Netnapa Duangkong
- Department of Environmental Health and Technology, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Anthika Jitbanjong
- Department of Environmental Health and Technology, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Ni Made Utami Dwipayanti
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
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Janik-Karpinska E, Brancaleoni R, Niemcewicz M, Wojtas W, Foco M, Podogrocki M, Bijak M. Healthcare Waste-A Serious Problem for Global Health. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:242. [PMID: 36673610 PMCID: PMC9858835 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11020242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthcare waste (HCW) is generated in different healthcare facilities (HCFs), such as hospitals, laboratories, veterinary clinics, research centres and nursing homes. It has been assessed that the majority of medical waste does not pose a risk to humans. It is estimated that 15% of the total amount of produced HCW is hazardous and can be infectious, toxic or radioactive. Hazardous waste is a special type of waste which, if not properly treated, can pose a risk to human health and to the environment. HCW contains potentially harmful microorganisms that can be spread among healthcare personnel, hospital patients and the general public, causing serious illnesses. Healthcare personnel are the specialists especially exposed to this risk. The most common medical procedure, which pose the highest risk, is injection (i.e, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravenous, taking blood samples). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 16 billion injections are administered worldwide each year. However, if safety precautions are not followed, and needles and syringes are not properly disposed of, the risk of sharps injuries increases among medical staff, waste handlers and waste collectors. What is more, sharps injuries increase the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV/HCV), tuberculosis (TB), diphtheria, malaria, syphilis, brucellosis and other transmissions. Disposing of medical waste in a landfill without segregation and processing will result in the entry of harmful microorganisms, chemicals or pharmaceuticals into soil and groundwater, causing their contamination. Open burning or incinerator malfunctioning will result in the emission of toxic substances, such as dioxins and furans, into the air. In order to reduce the negative impact of medical waste, waste management principles should be formulated. To minimize health risks, it is also important to build awareness among health professionals and the general public through various communication and educational methods. The aim of this paper is to present a general overwiev of medical waste, its categories, the principles of its management and the risks to human health and the environment resulting from inappropriate waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Janik-Karpinska
- Biohazard Prevention Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Rachele Brancaleoni
- Bed Management Unit, Agostino Gemelli IRCCS University Hospital Foundation, Via della Pineta Sacchetti 217, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marcin Niemcewicz
- Biohazard Prevention Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Wiktor Wojtas
- European Commission, Directorate-General Migration and Home Affairs, Rue du Luxembourg 46, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maurizio Foco
- Emergency Surgery Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Pineta Sacchetti 217, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marcin Podogrocki
- Biohazard Prevention Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Michal Bijak
- Biohazard Prevention Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
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Mohana AA, Islam MM, Rahman M, Pramanik SK, Haque N, Gao L, Pramanik BK. Generation and consequence of nano/microplastics from medical waste and household plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 311:137014. [PMID: 36328315 PMCID: PMC9619086 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Since the end of 2019, the world has faced a major crisis because of the outbreak of COVID-19 disease which has created a severe threat to humanity. To control this pandemic, the World Health Organization gave some guidelines like wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) (e.g., face masks, overshoes, gloves), social distancing, hand hygiene and shutting down all modes of public transport services. During this pandemic, plastic products (e.g., household plastics, PPE and sanitizer bottles) have substantially prevented the spread of this virus. Since the outbreak, approximately 1.6 million tons of plastic waste have been generated daily. However, single-use PPE like face masks (N95), surgical masks and hand gloves contain many non-biodegradable plastics materials. These abandoned products have created a huge number of plastic debris which ended up as microplastics (MPs) followed by nanoplastics (NPs) in nature that are hazardous to the eco-system. These MPs and NPs also act as vectors for the various pathogenic contaminants. The goal of this review is to offer an extensive discussion on the formation of NPs and MPs from all of these abandoned plastics and their long-term impact on the environment as well as human health. This review paper also attempts to assess the present global scenario and the main challenge of waste management to reduce the potential NP/MPs pollution to improve the eco-systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Amir Mohana
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Md Monjurul Islam
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, South Korea
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Department of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Sagor Kumar Pramanik
- Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nawshad Haque
- CSIRO Mineral Resources, Clayton South, Melbourne, VIC, 3169, Australia
| | - Li Gao
- South East Water, Frankston, Victoria, 3199, Australia
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7
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Ngoc SMV, Nguyen MA, Nguyen TL, Thi HV, Dao TL, Bui TMP, Hoang VT, Chu DT. COVID-19 and environmental health: A systematic analysis for the global burden of biomedical waste by this epidemic. CASE STUDIES IN CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2022; 6:100245. [PMID: 37520922 PMCID: PMC9364663 DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2022.100245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Since the beginning of this outbreak, much evidence stated that the climb in the amount of biomedical waste harmed human health and had adverse effects on the environment. With the increase of cases of COVID-19 all around the globe, the amount of biomedical waste was also constantly rising. Also, many solutions regarding either reducing or recycling biomedical waste. However, the potential global burden of biomedical waste during this pandemic was not yet been analyzed. Herein, we perform a systematic review of literature on these modalities, including mentioning types of biomedical waste, the effect on health, the environment, and methods of handling biomedical waste during this pandemic. A total of 3551 published papers were identified by two databases. In the end, 15 references were selected for this systematic analysis. Most of the included studies focus on research on the impact of medical waste caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment. The total biomedical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic was approximately 16,649.48 tons/day. Most publications agreed that the amount of waste has also increased due to the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 patients. In 15 articles, we identified 2 mentioning the COVID-19 biomedical waste on health. 9 out of 15 gave out the context related to the solution of BMW by COVID-19. More studies, including meta-analyses, are recommended to shed more light on the effects of medical waste on environmental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suong-Mai Vu Ngoc
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Mai-Anh Nguyen
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Thanh-Lam Nguyen
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Hue Vu Thi
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Thi Loi Dao
- Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Viet Nam
| | | | - Van Thuan Hoang
- Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Viet Nam
| | - Dinh-Toi Chu
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
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Ganesapillai M, Mondal B, Sarkar I, Sinha A, Ray SS, Kwon YN, Nakamura K, Govardhan K. The face behind the Covid-19 mask - A comprehensive review. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION 2022; 28:102837. [PMID: 35879973 PMCID: PMC9299984 DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2022.102837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The threat of epidemic outbreaks like SARS-CoV-2 is growing owing to the exponential growth of the global population and the continual increase in human mobility. Personal protection against viral infections was enforced using ambient air filters, face masks, and other respiratory protective equipment. Available facemasks feature considerable variation in efficacy, materials usage and characteristic properties. Despite their widespread use and importance, face masks pose major potential threats due to the uncontrolled manufacture and disposal techniques. Improper solid waste management enables viral propagation and increases the volume of associated biomedical waste at an alarming rate. Polymers used in single-use face masks include a spectrum of chemical constituents: plasticisers and flame retardants leading to health-related issues over time. Despite ample research in this field, the efficacy of personal protective equipment and its impact post-disposal is yet to be explored satisfactorily. The following review assimilates information on the different forms of personal protective equipment currently in use. Proper waste management techniques pertaining to such special wastes have also been discussed. The study features a holistic overview of innovations made in face masks and their corresponding impact on human health and environment. Strategies with SDG3 and SDG12, outlining safe and proper disposal of solid waste, have also been discussed. Furthermore, employing the CFD paradigm, a 3D model of a face mask was created based on fluid flow during breathing techniques. Lastly, the review concludes with possible future advancements and promising research avenues in personal protective equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Ganesapillai
- Mass Transfer Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Bidisha Mondal
- Mass Transfer Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ishita Sarkar
- Mass Transfer Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Aritro Sinha
- Mass Transfer Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Saikat Sinha Ray
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Nam Kwon
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea
| | - Kazuho Nakamura
- Faculty of Engineering, Division of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Yokohama National University, Tokiwadai, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan
| | - K Govardhan
- Department of Micro and Nano-Electronics, School of Electronics Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
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Mei X, Hao H, Sun Y, Wang X, Zhou Y. Optimization of medical waste recycling network considering disposal capacity bottlenecks under a novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:79669-79687. [PMID: 34480311 PMCID: PMC8416578 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16027-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The sudden outbreak and prolonged impact of the global novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic has caused an increase in demand for medical products, such as masks and protective clothing, leading to an exponential increase in the generation of medical waste. As medical waste under the epidemic is highly infectious, it poses a great danger to human health. Therefore, with the proliferation of medical waste, it has become crucial to construct a reverse logistics recycling network that can handle medical waste quickly and efficiently. In this study, we construct a multi-period medical waste emergency reverse logistics network siting model with the objectives of minimum cost, minimum safety risk, and minimum time for the safe and quick disposal of medical waste. The model considers disposal capacity bottlenecks of existing facilities. Based on an empirical analysis using the COVID-19 epidemic in New York City, USA, as a case study, we find that the use of a suitable number of synergistic facilities and the establishment of temporary medical waste disposal centers are viable options for handling the dramatic increase in medical waste during the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyun Mei
- School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, 201209, China
| | - Hao Hao
- School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, 201209, China.
| | - Yichen Sun
- School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, 201209, China
| | - Xinyang Wang
- School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, 201209, China
| | - Yanjun Zhou
- School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, 201209, China
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10
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Wang F, Yu L, Long J, Bu H, He C, Wu A. Quantifying the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of medical waste generation during the outbreak of public health emergencies. JOURNAL OF MATERIAL CYCLES AND WASTE MANAGEMENT 2022; 25:221-234. [PMID: 36310674 PMCID: PMC9589721 DOI: 10.1007/s10163-022-01523-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Based on the medical waste quantity and patient data during the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China, this study used scenario analysis to quantitatively analyze the temporal and spatial evolution of medical waste generation during the pandemics. First, the results show that the estimated medical waste per capita reached 15.4 kg/day if only patients were considered in Scenario 1, while the figures were reduced to 3.2 kg/day in Scenario 2 and 2.5 kg/day in Scenario 3 when the effects of both the patient type and the number of medical staffs were considered. The estimated results also demonstrated that the per capita medical waste related to the epidemic showed the characteristics of a U-shaped and trailing phenomenon over time. Then, the amount of medical waste related to the COVID-19 generated that generated due to COVID-19 was estimated in Hubei, Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, Henan and Hunan provinces under Scenario 2 and Scenario 3. The results indicated that the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of five provinces show the significant differences, and the patient type has a remarkable influence on the generation of medical waste. Finally, a novel decomposition-ensemble approach was designed to make a better short-term forecasting effect for future medical waste generation in different provinces. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10163-022-01523-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710126 China
| | - Lean Yu
- Present Address: Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China
- WQ-UCAS Joint Lab, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China
- WQ-UCAS Graduate School of Business, Binzhou Institute of Technology, Binzhou, 256600 China
- School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Junhong Long
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004 China
| | - Haoyue Bu
- School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710126 China
| | - Changhua He
- School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Aiping Wu
- School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710126 China
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Xu W, Liu J, Ding Z, Fu J, Evrendilek F, Xie W, He Y. Dynamic pyrolytic reaction mechanisms, pathways, and products of medical masks and infusion tubes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 842:156710. [PMID: 35718187 PMCID: PMC9212457 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Given the COVID-19 epidemic, the quantity of hazardous medical wastes has risen unprecedentedly. This study characterized and verified the pyrolysis mechanisms and volatiles products of medical mask belts (MB), mask faces (MF), and infusion tubes (IT) via thermogravimetric, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses. Iso-conversional methods were employed to estimate activation energy, while the best-fit artificial neural network was adopted for the multi-objective optimization. MB and MF started their thermal weight losses at 375.8 °C and 414.7 °C, respectively, while IT started to degrade at 227.3 °C. The average activation energies were estimated at 171.77, 232.79, 105.14, and 205.76 kJ/mol for MB, MF, and the first and second IT stages, respectively. Nucleation growth for MF and MB and geometrical contraction for IT best described the pyrolysis behaviors. Their main gaseous products were classified, with a further proposal of their initial cracking mechanisms and secondary reaction pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jingyong Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Ziyi Ding
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jiawei Fu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Fatih Evrendilek
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, 14052, Turkey
| | - Wuming Xie
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yao He
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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12
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Puertas R, Carracedo P, Marti L. Environmental policies for the treatment of waste generated by COVID-19: Text mining review. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2022; 40:1480-1493. [PMID: 35282720 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x221084073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The rapid transmission of COVID-19 has meant that all economic and human efforts have been focused on confronting it, ignoring environmental aspects whose consequences are causing adverse situations all over the planet. The saturation of the sanitary system and confinement measures have multiplied the waste generated, which implies the need to adapt environmental policies to this new situation caused by the pandemic. It is a review article whose objective was to identify the environmental policies that would facilitate an adequate treatment of the waste generated by the pandemic. It was proposed to analyse the current lines of research developed on this paradigm, applying the text mining methodology. A systematic review of 111 studies published in environmental journals indexed in the Web of Science was carried out. The results identified three areas of interest: knowledge of transmission routes, management of the massive generation of plastics and appropriate treatment of solid waste in extreme situations. Leaders are called upon to implement the contingency plans to sustainably alleviate the enormous waste burden caused by society's adaptation to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Specifically, innovation aimed at achieving the reuse of medical products, the promotion of the circular economy and educational campaigns to promote clean environments should be encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Puertas
- Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Luisa Marti
- Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
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13
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Mahyari KF, Sun Q, Klemeš JJ, Aghbashlo M, Tabatabaei M, Khoshnevisan B, Birkved M. To what extent do waste management strategies need adaptation to post-COVID-19? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 837:155829. [PMID: 35561899 PMCID: PMC9087148 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The world has been grappling with the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year. Various sectors have been affected by COVID-19 and its consequences. The waste management system is one of the sectors affected by such unpredictable pandemics. The experience of COVID-19 proved that adaptability to such pandemics and the post-pandemic era had become a necessity in waste management systems and this requires an accurate understanding of the challenges that have been arising. The accurate information and data from most countries severely affected by the pandemic are not still available to identify the key challenges during and post-COVID-19. The documented evidence from literature has been collected, and the attempt has been made to summarize the rising challenges and the lessons learned. This review covers all raised challenges concerning the various aspects of the waste management system from generation to final disposal (i.e., generation, storage, collection, transportation, processing, and burial of waste). The necessities and opportunities are recognized for increasing flexibility and adaptability in waste management systems. The four basic pillars are enumerated to adapt the waste management system to the COVID-19 pandemic and post-COVID-19 conditions. Striving to support and implement a circular economy is one of its basic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Faraji Mahyari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran
| | - Qiaoyu Sun
- Center for Science and Technology Personnel Exchange and Development Service, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, No.54 Sanlihe Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jiří Jaromír Klemeš
- Sustainable Process Integration Laboratory - SPIL, NETME Centre, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology - VUT Brno, Technická 2896/2, 616 69 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mortaza Aghbashlo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran
| | - Meisam Tabatabaei
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Benyamin Khoshnevisan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
| | - Morten Birkved
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
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14
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Cao C, Li J, Liu J, Liu J, Qiu H, Zhen J. Sustainable development-oriented location-transportation integrated optimization problem regarding multi-period multi-type disaster medical waste during COVID-19 pandemic. ANNALS OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH 2022:1-47. [PMID: 36035452 PMCID: PMC9395823 DOI: 10.1007/s10479-022-04820-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
After the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, devising an effective reverse logistics supply chain to clean up disaster medical waste is conducive to controlling and containing novel coronavirus transmission. Thus, the focus of this paper concentrates on multi-period multi-type disaster medical waste location-transportation integrated optimization problem with the concern of sustainability, which is formulated as a tri-objective mixed-integer programming model with the goals of maximizing total economic benefits, minimizing total carbon emissions and total potential social risks. Then, a real-world case from Wuhan using CPLEX solver is used to validate the developed model. Results indicate that constructing DMWTTSs with flexible capacity in different periods is encouraged to handle the sharply increasing disaster medical waste. The multi-period decision model outperforms the single-period one in disaster medical waste supply chains because the former has the capability of handling the uncertainties in the future periods. Increasingly, since the increase of budget doesn't always work well and social resources are limited, the estimation of minimum budget to obtain optimum overall performance is of great importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cejun Cao
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Chongqing’s Modern Trade Logistics & Supply Chain, School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
| | - Juan Li
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ju Liu
- School of Business Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiahui Liu
- School of Business Administration, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanguang Qiu
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Zhen
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067 People’s Republic of China
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15
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Wang Z, An C, Lee K, Chen X, Zhang B, Yin J, Feng Q. Physicochemical change and microparticle release from disposable gloves in the aqueous environment impacted by accelerated weathering. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:154986. [PMID: 35395312 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The explosive growth of disposable gloves usage in cities around the world has posed a considerable risk to municipal solid management and disposal during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of the environmental awareness leads to glove waste being discarded randomly and ending up in the soil and/or the ocean ecosystem. To explore the physicochemical changes and environmental behaviors of disposable glove wastes in the aqueous environment, three kinds of glove (latex, nitrile and vinyl) were investigated. The results showed that the physicochemical characteristics of disposable gloves made of different materials were altered to different degrees by UV weathering. Nitrile gloves were more stable than latex and vinyl gloves after being exposed to weathering conditions. Although the chemical structures were not clearly demonstrated through FTIR after weathering, the SEM results showed significant microscopic changes on the surfaces of the gloves. Analysis of the leachate results showed that UV weathered gloves released leachable substances, including microparticles, organic matter, and heavy metals. Latex gloves were more likely to release microparticles and other substances into the water after UV weathering. The release of microparticles from gloves can also be impacted by sand abrasion. The appropriate strategy needs to be developed to mitigate the environmental impact caused by the discarded gloves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Chunjiang An
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada.
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, Ottawa, K1A 0E6, Canada
| | - Xiujuan Chen
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - Baiyu Zhang
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - Jianan Yin
- Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Communities, University of Regina, Regina, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Qi Feng
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
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16
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Singh M, Karimi N, Ng KTW, Mensah D, Stilling D, Adusei K. Hospital waste generation during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a case study in Delhi. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:50780-50789. [PMID: 35239117 PMCID: PMC8892816 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19487-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the hospital waste generation rates and compositions in Delhi were examined temporally and spatially during the first COVID-19 wave of April 2020. A total of 11 representative hospitals located in five districts were considered. The pre-COVID hospital waste generation rates were relatively consistent among the districts, ranging from 15 to 23 tonne/month. It is found that the number of hospital beds per capita may not be a significant factor in the hospital waste quantity. Strong seasonal variations were not observed. All districts experienced a drastic decrease in generation rates during the 1-month lockdown. The average rates during the COVID period ranged from 12 to 24 tonne/month. Bio-contaminated and disposable medical product wastes were the most common waste in Delhi's hospitals, representing 70-80% by weight. The changes in waste composition were however not spatially consistent. The lockdown appeared to have had a higher impact on hospital waste generation rate than on waste composition. The findings are important as the design and operation of a waste management system are sensitive to both waste quantity and quality. Waste records at source helped to minimize waste data uncertainties and allowed a closer examination of generation trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayank Singh
- Environmental Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Nima Karimi
- Environmental Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng
- Environmental Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada.
| | - Derek Mensah
- Environmental Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Denise Stilling
- Industrial Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Kenneth Adusei
- Environmental Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada
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17
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Liu S, Zhang J, Niu B, Liu L, He X. A novel hybrid multi-criteria group decision-making approach with intuitionistic fuzzy sets to design reverse supply chains for COVID-19 medical waste recycling channels. COMPUTERS & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING 2022; 169:108228. [PMID: 35601730 PMCID: PMC9116081 DOI: 10.1016/j.cie.2022.108228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to exponential growth in COVID-19 medical waste (CMW) generation worldwide. This tremendous growth in CMW is a major transmission medium for COVID-19 virus and thus brings serious challenges to medical waste (MW) management. Designing an efficient and reliable CMW reverse supply chain in this situation can help to prevent epidemic spread. Nowadays, the assessment of CMW recycling channels has become a challenging mission for health-care institutions, especially in developing countries. It can be seen as a complex multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) problem that requires the consideration of multiple conflicting tangible and intangible criteria. Nevertheless, few academics have been concerned about this issue. Moreover, current MCGDM methods have limited support for CMW recycling channel evaluation and they do not consider hospitals' reverse supply chain strategy when evaluating. Thus, this study presents a novel MCGDM approach based on intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) and the VIKOR method for assessing the capacity of CWM recycling channels. According to the characteristics of CMW, processing flow and the TOE (Technology, Organization and Environment) theoretical framework, we established a new CMW recycling channel capacity evaluation index system which makes our proposed method more targeted and efficient. In the decision-making process, we integrate the best-worst method (BWM) and entropy to determine the decision makers (DMs) weighting in a more comprehensive way, considering both subjective and objective criteria, which was ignored by many MCGDM methods. A new aggregation operator called IFWA is proposed by us, considering the priority of DMs. Based on both the ranking of capacity and disposal charges, we then position the alternatives in the recycling channel priority index (RCPI) matrix constructed by us. According to this PCPI matrix and the reverse supply chain strategy of hospitals, a more reasonable CMW allocation strategy is determined and a more efficient CMW reverse supply chain is designed. Finally, a real case study from Wuhan was examined to illustrate the validation of our approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Liu
- School of Logistics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
| | - Jinxin Zhang
- School of Logistics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
| | - Ben Niu
- College of Management, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Institute of Big Data Intelligent Management and Decision, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ling Liu
- School of Logistics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
| | - Xiaojun He
- School of Logistics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
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18
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Thakur DV. Locating temporary waste treatment facilities in the cities to handle the explosive growth of HCWs during pandemics: A novel Grey-AHP-OCRA hybrid approach. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2022; 82:103907. [PMID: 35528480 PMCID: PMC9052740 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2022.103907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak has not only put the community health at stake but, also the environmental health. Usually, the healthcare wastes (HCWs) are composed of 15-20% of the infectious wastes and the rest of the non-infectious wastes. But, during any communicable health outbreak like COVID-19, the whole HCWs coming from the infected people become contagious. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the infectious waste is not only limited to the hospitals' premises, but also comes from the households, where COVID19 infected people are under home quarantine. Hence, keeping in mind the explosive growth in generation rates of infectious HCWs, the present study targets to expand the treatment and disposal capacity by installing temporary healthcare waste treatment facilities (HCWTFs). The study identifies ten criteria from the literature review and in consultation with the field experts, to evaluate the potential candidates for setting up temporary HCWTF during the health outbreaks. The study proposes a hybrid methodology based on grey analytical hierarchy process (G-AHP) and grey operational competitiveness rating analysis (grey-OCRA) for prioritizing the evaluation criteria and selecting the optimal temporary HCWTF location by considering the experts' inputs, respectively. The stakeholders consider the 'proximity to the inhabitation', 'infrastructure availability', and 'transportation distance' are the most important criteria for selecting the temporary HCWTF location. The proposed methodology is applied to select the temporary HCWTF location in Sundargarh District, Odisha, India. The study identifies the four locations by using geographical information system (GIS) tools and sequences them as per the preferences given by the stakeholders on various identified criteria. The study may be useful for the administration to set up the temporary facilities to quickly dispose of the extra HCWs during the pandemics. However, the future studies can be targeted to coordinate the collection, storage and transportation activities with the temporary HCWTFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dr Vikas Thakur
- Assistant Professor, Department: School of Management, University/Institution: National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, Town/City Rourkela, State Odisha, Country India
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19
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Nabavi-Pelesaraei A, Mohammadkashi N, Naderloo L, Abbasi M, Chau KW. Principal of environmental life cycle assessment for medical waste during COVID-19 outbreak to support sustainable development goals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 827:154416. [PMID: 35276163 PMCID: PMC8904000 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Disposal of medical waste (MW) must be considered as a vital need to prevent the spread of pandemics during Coronavirus disease of the pandemic in 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the globe. In addition, many concerns have been raised due to the significant increase in the generation of MW in recent years. A structured evaluation is required as a framework for the quantifying of potential environmental impacts of the disposal of MW which ultimately leads to the realization of sustainable development goals (SDG). Life cycle assessment (LCA) is considered as a practical approach to examine environmental impacts of any potential processes during all stages of a product's life, including material mining, manufacturing, and delivery. As a result, LCA is known as a suitable method for evaluating environmental impacts for the disposal of MW. In this research, existing scenarios for MW with a unique approach to emergency scenarios for the management of COVID-19 medical waste (CMW) are investigated. In the next step, LCA and its stages are defined comprehensively with the CMW management approach. Moreover, ReCiPe2016 is the most up-to-date method for computing environmental damages in LCA. Then the application of this method for defined scenarios of CMW is examined, and interpretation of results is explained regarding some examples. In the last step, the process of selecting the best environmental-friendly scenario is illustrated by applying weighting analysis. Finally, it can be concluded that LCA can be considered as an effective method to evaluate the environmental burden of CMW management scenarios in present critical conditions of the world to support SDG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Nabavi-Pelesaraei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering of Biosystems, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Naghmeh Mohammadkashi
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science & Engineering, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Leila Naderloo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering of Biosystems, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Mahsa Abbasi
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Kwok-Wing Chau
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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20
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Evaluating the Effectiveness of the COVID-19 Emergency Outbreak Prevention and Control Based on CIA-ISM. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127146. [PMID: 35742390 PMCID: PMC9222504 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by high uncertainty and difficulty in prevention and control, has caused significant disasters in human society. In this situation, emergency management of pandemic prevention and control is essential to reduce the pandemic’s devastation and rapidly restore economic and social stability. Few studies have focused on a scenario analysis of the entire emergency response process. To fill this research gap, this paper applies a cross impact analysis (CIA) and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach to analyze emergency scenarios and evaluate the effectiveness of emergency management during the COVID-19 crisis for outbreak prevention and control. First, the model extracts the critical events for COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, including source, process, and resultant events. Subsequently, we generated different emergency management scenarios according to different impact levels and conducted scenario deduction and analysis. A CIA-ISM based scenario modeling approach is applied to COVID-19 emergency management in Nanjing city, China, and the results of the scenario projection are compared with actual situations to prove the validity of the approach. The results show that CIA-ISM based scenario modeling can realize critical event identification, scenario generation, and evolutionary scenario deduction in epidemic prevention and control. This method effectively handles the complexity and uncertainty of epidemic prevention and control and provides insights that can be utilized by emergency managers to achieve effective epidemic prevention and control.
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21
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Artacho-Ramírez MÁ, Moreno-Solaz H, Lo-Iacono-Ferreira VG, Cloquell-Ballester VA. Statistical Analysis of the Long-Term Influence of COVID-19 on Waste Generation-A Case Study of Castellón in Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:6071. [PMID: 35627607 PMCID: PMC9141199 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Existing research recognizes the COVID-19 impact on waste generation. However, the preliminary studies were made at an early pandemic stage, focused on the household waste fraction, and employed descriptive statistics that lacked statistical support. This study tries to fill this gap by providing a reliable statistical analysis setting inferential confidence in the waste generation differences found in Castellón. Repeated measures ANOVA were carried out for all the waste fractions collected and recorded in the city landfill database from 2017 to 2020. Additionally, Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test (p < 0.05) was used to assure confidence level correction and identify which pairs of years’ differences appeared. The longitudinal study identified trends for each waste fraction before the pandemic and showed how they changed with the advent of the crisis. Compared to 2019, waste collection in 2020 significantly grew for glass and packaging; remained unchanged for beaches, paper and cardboard, and dropped substantially for households, streets, markets, bulky waste, hospitals, and recycling centres. Total waste showed no differences between 2017 and 2019 but dropped significantly in 2020. These findings may help us better understand the long-term implications of COVID-19 and improve municipal solid waste management in a similar crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel-Ángel Artacho-Ramírez
- Project Management, Innovation and Sustainability Research Center (PRINS), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (M.-Á.A.-R.); (V.G.L.-I.-F.); (V.-A.C.-B.)
| | | | - Vanesa G. Lo-Iacono-Ferreira
- Project Management, Innovation and Sustainability Research Center (PRINS), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (M.-Á.A.-R.); (V.G.L.-I.-F.); (V.-A.C.-B.)
| | - Víctor-Andrés Cloquell-Ballester
- Project Management, Innovation and Sustainability Research Center (PRINS), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (M.-Á.A.-R.); (V.G.L.-I.-F.); (V.-A.C.-B.)
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22
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Samany NN, Liu H, Aghataher R, Bayat M. Ten GIS-Based Solutions for Managing and Controlling COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak. SN COMPUTER SCIENCE 2022; 3:269. [PMID: 35531569 PMCID: PMC9069122 DOI: 10.1007/s42979-022-01150-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused disastrous results in most countries of the world. It has rapidly spread across the globe with over 156 million cumulative confirmed cases and 3.264 million deaths to date, according to World Health Organization (WHO) Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard. With these huge amounts of causalities in the world, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a computer-based analyzer could help governments, experts, medical staff, and citizens to prevent and respond to the incidence. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic involves many unknown parameters where most of them have a spatial dimension. Thus, spatial analysis and GIS could provide appropriate decision-making tools, predictive models, statistical methods, and new technologies for COVID-19 outbreak control, also help the people for avoiding direct contact and preserving social distance. This article aims to review the most promising categories of GIS-based solutions in this domain. We divided the solutions into ten classes including spatio-temporal analysis, SDSS approaches, geo-business, context-aware recommendation systems, participatory GIS and volunteered geographic information (VGI), internet of things (IoT), location-based service (LBS), web mapping, satellite imagery-based analysis, and waste management. The main contribution of this paper is proposing different geospatial guidelines that could provide reliable and useful protocols for COVID-19 outbreak control to minimize causalities, restrict incidence, establish effective urban communication, provide new approaches for business in lockdown situations, telehealth treatment, patient monitoring, adaptive decision making, and visualize trend analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najmeh Neysani Samany
- Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Vesal Shirazi St, Tehran, Tehran Province Iran
| | - Hua Liu
- Department of Political Science and Geography, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 USA
| | - Reza Aghataher
- School of Surveying Engineering, Shahre-Ray branch, Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Bayat
- School of Surveying Engineering, West Tehran Branch, Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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23
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Zhao H, Liu H, Wei G, Zhang N, Qiao H, Gong Y, Yu X, Zhou J, Wu Y. A review on emergency disposal and management of medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 810:152302. [PMID: 34896492 PMCID: PMC8660658 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The surge of medical waste (MW) generated during the COVID-19 pandemic has exceeded the disposal capacity of existing facilities. The timely, safe, and efficient emergency disposal of MW is critical to prevent the epidemic spread. Therefore, this review presents the current status of MW generation and disposal in China and analyzes the characteristics and applicability of emergency disposal technologies. The results show that movable disposal facilities can dispose of infectious MW on site, even though most of their disposal capacity is at a low level (<5 t/day). Co-disposal facilities need to be reformed completely for emergency MW disposal, in which separate feeding systems should be taken seriously. Specifically, municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration facilities have great potential to improve emergency MW disposal capacities. For hazardous waste incineration facilities, compatibility of the wastes must be matched to the composition and calorific value of the waste. As for cement kiln, MW can only be used as an alternative fuel instead of a raw material for cement. Based on the environmental risk and technical adaptability, the six emergency MW disposal technologies are recommended to be prioritized as follows: movable microwave sterilization, movable steam sterilization, movable incineration, co-incineration with hazardous waste, co-incineration with MSW and co-disposal in cement kilns. Infectious MW, especially COVID-19 MW, should be prioritized for disposal by centralized and movable disposal facilities, while non-infectious MW can be disposed of using co-disposal facilities. All stakeholders should strengthen the delicacy management of the end-of-life stage of MW, including collection, classification, packaging identification, transportation, and disposal. Currently, it is necessary for centralized disposal enterprises to follow the emergency disposal operation flowchart. From a long-term strategic perspective, making full use of regional movable and co-disposal facilities in the megacities can effectively enhance the emergency MW disposal capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Zhao
- College of Energy and Safety Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China; State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hanqiao Liu
- College of Energy and Safety Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China.
| | - Guoxia Wei
- College of Science, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), Weberplatz 1, Dresden 01217, Germany
| | - Haoyu Qiao
- College of Energy and Safety Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Yongyue Gong
- College of Energy and Safety Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Xiangnan Yu
- College of Energy and Safety Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Jianhua Zhou
- Shandong Advanced Materials Industry Association, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Yuhang Wu
- Mathematical Modeling Innovation Lab, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
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24
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Khan AH, López-Maldonado EA, Khan NA, Villarreal-Gómez LJ, Munshi FM, Alsabhan AH, Perveen K. Current solid waste management strategies and energy recovery in developing countries - State of art review. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:133088. [PMID: 34856242 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Solid waste generation has rapidly increased due to the worldwide population, urbanization, and industrialization. Solid waste management (SWM) is a significant challenge for a society that arises local issues with global consequences. Thus, solid waste management strategies to recycle waste products are promising practices that positively impact sustainable goals. Several developed countries possess excellent solid waste management strategies to recycle waste products. Developing countries face many challenges, such as municipal solid waste (MSW) sorting and handling due to high population density and economic instability. This mismanagement could further expedite harmful environmental and socioeconomic concerns. This review discusses the current solid waste management and energy recovery production in developing countries; with statistics, this review provides a comprehensive revision on energy recovery technologies such as the thermochemical and biochemical conversion of waste with economic considerations. Furthermore, the paper discusses the challenges of SWM in developing countries, including several immediate actions and future policy recommendations for improving the current status of SWM via harnessing technology. This review has the potential of helping municipalities, government authorities, researchers, and stakeholders working on MSW management to make effective decisions for improved SWM for achieving sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afzal Husain Khan
- Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Jazan University, P.O. Box. 706, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; School of Civil Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300, Pulau, Pinang, Malaysia.
| | - Eduardo Alberto López-Maldonado
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, CP, 22390, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Nadeem A Khan
- Civil Engineering Department, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.
| | - Luis Jesús Villarreal-Gómez
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, CP, 22390, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico; Facultad de Ciencias de La Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Blvd Universitario 1000, Unidad Valle de Las Palmas, 22260, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Faris M Munshi
- Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah H Alsabhan
- Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kahkashan Perveen
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11495, Saudi Arabia
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25
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Lan DY, Zhang H, Wu TW, Lü F, Shao LM, He PJ. Repercussions of clinical waste co-incineration in municipal solid waste incinerator during COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127144. [PMID: 34555763 PMCID: PMC8440058 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
During coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the exponential increase in clinical waste (CW) generation has caused immense burden to CW treatment facilities. Co-incineration of CW in municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) is an emergency treatment method. A material flow model was developed to estimate the change in feedstock characteristics and resulting acid gas emission under different CW co-incineration ratios. The ash contents and lower heating values of the feedstocks, as well as HCl concentrations in flue gas showed an upward trend. Subsequently, 72 incineration residue samples were collected from a MSWI performing co-incineration (CW ratio <10 wt%) in Wuhan city, China, followed by 20 incineration residues samples from waste that were not co-incineration. The results showed that the contents of major elements and non-volatile heavy metals in the air pollution control residues increased during co-incineration but were within the reported ranges, whereas those in the bottom ashes revealed no significant changes. The impact of CW co-incineration at a ratio <10 wt% on the distribution of elements in the incineration residues was not significant. However, increase in alkali metals and HCl in flue gas may cause potential boiler corrosion. These results provide valuable insights into pollution control in MSWI during pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Ying Lan
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Ting-Wei Wu
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Fan Lü
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Li-Ming Shao
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Pin-Jing He
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China
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26
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Mondal R, Mishra S, Pillai JSK, Sahoo MC. COVID 19 Pandemic and biomedical waste management practices in healthcare system. J Family Med Prim Care 2022; 11:439-446. [PMID: 35360761 PMCID: PMC8963639 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1139_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The whole world was shaken with the pandemic of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in end of the year 2019. Due to its novel origin, it was required to follow all precautions possible. Dealing with the massive amount of infectious healthcare waste became an enormous challenge. This review identifies the impacts of the pandemic on biomedical waste management. This systematic review was made by using keywords "biomedical waste" and "COVID 19" in open access databases like PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholers etc. 2124 articles downloaded and 765 found duplicate and 634 not related to the topic. after scrutiny with inclusion criteria 102 articles were considered to analyze the practices related to biomedical waste management during pandemic using PRISMA guideline.. The COVID-19 waste segregation, collection, storage, transportation, and disposal are a big challenge with all stakeholders. In order to control the virus spread, strict monitoring of the complete waste management cycle is required. Adoption of appropriate guidelines is paramount to worker safety and containment of infection. Sustainable recycling methods are needed to deal with the ever-increasing plastic waste resulting from mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) usage. The situation also demands a rethinking of the healthcare system. Overall, there was an increase in BMW generation, and municipal waste had increased globally. Pandemic preparedness requires a global public health strategy and long-term investments. This will be vital for making a robust community capable enough to fight against any public health pressures in the future, as well as the pandemic tremors. Systematized efforts from all stakeholders, at all levels, not only refines epidemic preparation but also helps to attain a sustainable development of health for a healthier future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramkrishna Mondal
- Department of Hospital Administration, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Siddharth Mishra
- Department of Hospital Administration, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Jawahar S. K. Pillai
- Department of Hospital Administration, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Mukunda C. Sahoo
- Department of Hospital Administration, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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27
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Ye J, Song Y, Liu Y, Zhong Y. Assessment of medical waste generation, associated environmental impact, and management issues after the outbreak of COVID-19: A case study of the Hubei Province in China. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0259207. [PMID: 35073321 PMCID: PMC8786120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 greatly challenges the human health sector, and has resulted in a large amount of medical waste that poses various potential threats to the environment. In this study, we compiled relevant data released by official agencies and the media, and conducted data supplementation based on earlier studies to calculate the net value of medical waste produced in the Hubei Province due to COVID-19 with the help of a neural network model. Next, we reviewed the data related to the environmental impact of medical waste per unit and designed four scenarios to estimate the environmental impact of new medical waste generated during the pandemic. The results showed that a medical waste generation rate of 0.5 kg/bed/day due to COVID-19 resulted in a net increase of medical waste volume by about 3366.99 tons in the Hubei Province. In the four scenario assumptions, i.e., if the medical waste resulting from COVID-19 is completely incinerated, it will have a large impact on the air quality. If it is disposed by distillation sterilization, it will produce a large amount of wastewater and waste residue. Based on the results of the study, we propose three policy recommendations: strict control of medical wastewater discharge, reduction and transformation of the emitted acidic gases, and attention to the emission of metallic nickel in exhaust gas and chloride in soil. These policy recommendations provide a scientific basis for controlling medical waste pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinquan Ye
- School of Management, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, PR China
| | - Yifan Song
- Ji luan Academy, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, PR China
| | - Yurong Liu
- School of Economics and Management, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, PR China
| | - Yun Zhong
- Ji luan Academy, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, PR China
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28
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Patrício Silva AL, Prata JC, Duarte AC, Barcelò D, Rocha-Santos T. An urgent call to think globally and act locally on landfill disposable plastics under and after covid-19 pandemic: Pollution prevention and technological (Bio) remediation solutions. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND : 1996) 2021; 426:131201. [PMID: 35791349 PMCID: PMC9248071 DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.131201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Landfilling and illegal waste disposal have risen to deal with the COVID-19 potentially infectious waste, particularly in developing countries, which aggravates plastic pollution and inherent environmental threats to human and animal health. It is estimated that 3.5 million metric tonnes of masks (equivalent to 601 TIR containers) have been landfilled worldwide in the first year, with the potential to increase global plastic municipal solid waste by 3.5%, alter biogas composition, and release 2.3 × 1021 microplastics to leachates or adjacent environments, in the coming years. This paper reviews the challenges raised in the pandemic scenario on landfills and discusses the potential environmental and health implications that might drive us apart from the 2030 U.N. sustainable goals. Also, it highlights some innovative technologies to improve waste management (from collection to disposal, waste reduction, sterilization) and mitigates plastic leakage (emission control approaches, application of biotechnological and monitoring/computational tools) that can pave the way to environmental recovery. COVID-19 will eventually subside, but if no action is taken in the short-term towards effective plastic policies, replacement of plastics for sustainable alternatives (e.g., biobased plastics), improvement of waste management streams (prioritising flexible and decentralized approaches), and a greater awareness and responsibility of the general public, stakeholders, industries; we will soon reach a tipping-point in natural environments worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L Patrício Silva
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana C Prata
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Armando C Duarte
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Damià Barcelò
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA - CERCA), H2O Building, Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
- Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Rocha-Santos
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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29
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Nguyen TD, Kawai K, Nakakubo T. Estimation of COVID-19 waste generation and composition in Vietnam for pandemic management. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2021; 39:1356-1364. [PMID: 34634951 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x211052849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite its initial success in COVID-19 pandemic control, Vietnam faces a growing risk of outbreaks as new infection waves driven by the highly contagious Delta variant surge in the region. In the context of preparedness through waste management, this study estimated the rate and quantity of generation and the composition of COVID-19 waste in Vietnam from the supply of resources and equipment. Over a year under COVID, 1486 t of COVID-19 waste was produced from the treatment of isolated COVID-19 patients (4.64 kg bed-1 day-1), quarantine in medical facilities (3.86 kg bed-1 day-1), centralised quarantine (46.43 g bed-1 day-1), testing (50 g test-1) and vaccination (10.46 g shot-1). Plastic dominated the waste at 76.7%, followed by paper. The additional management of waste from households with persons under quarantine is likely to reduce infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - contaminated waste. Thorough assessment is recommended for the establishment of regional collaboration to secure COVID-19 waste treatment capacity. These findings will support COVID-19 waste planning in Vietnam in association with pandemic scenarios and could be used as a reference by other developing countries for pandemic control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kosuke Kawai
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
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30
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Polat EG. Medical waste management during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic at the city level. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : IJEST 2021; 19:3907-3918. [PMID: 34721594 PMCID: PMC8546391 DOI: 10.1007/s13762-021-03748-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 brings about the economic damage and loss of life. Thus, demand of personal protective equipment continues to increase, consequently an increase in infectious equipment pollution. Most of these wastes threaten the environment and increase the spread of diseases. This paper provides a research hypothesis whether effective medical waste management would prevent the possible impacts of coronavirus disease 2019-related waste issues on environment at the city level. To confirm this hypothesis, installation of waste treatment centre is addressed. Then, by incorporating uncertain waste generation amounts utilizing Jimenez method, a pickup routing is addressed to decide the pickup routes between the waste treatment centre and residential area. This study is first to assign the optimistic, realistic and pessimistic scenarios of the uncertain waste generation using time series analysis method and waste generation formulation. Also, L-type matrix is used to define, assess and prioritize the environmental and operational risks on waste generation formulation and to provide risk reaction strategies. Practicality of these approaches is illustrated in the case of Turkey. The computational results reveal the effectiveness of the integrated method, which ensures practical and theoretical insights controlling the waste generation to prevent virus propagation for health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. G. Polat
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Munzur University, Tunceli, Turkey
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31
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El-Ramady H, Brevik EC, Elbasiouny H, Elbehiry F, Amer M, Elsakhawy T, Omara AED, Mosa AA, El-Ghamry AM, Abdalla N, Rezes S, Elboraey M, Ezzat A, Eid Y. Planning for disposal of COVID-19 pandemic wastes in developing countries: a review of current challenges. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:592. [PMID: 34424421 PMCID: PMC8380865 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09350-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The health sector is critical to the well-being of any country, but developing countries have several obstacles that prevent them from providing adequate health care. This became an even larger concern after the COVID-19 outbreak left millions of people dead worldwide and generated huge amounts of infected or potentially infected wastes. The management and disposal of medical wastes during and post-COVID-19 represent a major challenge in all countries, but this challenge is particularly great for developing countries that do not have robust waste disposal infrastructure. The main problems in developing countries include inefficient treatment procedures, limited capacity of healthcare facilities, and improper waste disposal procedures. The management of medical wastes in most developing countries was primitive prior to the pandemic. The improper treatment and disposal of these wastes in our current situation may further speed COVID-19 spread, creating a serious risk for workers in the medical and sanitation fields, patients, and all of society. Therefore, there is a critical need to discuss emerging challenges in handling, treating, and disposing of medical wastes in developing countries during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. There is a need to determine best disposal techniques given the conditions and limitations under which developing countries operate. Several open questions need to be investigated concerning this global issue, such as to what extent developing countries can control the expected environmental impacts of COVID-19, particularly those related to medical wastes? What are the projected management scenarios for medical wastes under the COVID-19 outbreak? And what are the major environmental risks posed by contaminated wastes related to COVID-19 treatment? Studies directed at the questions above, careful planning, the use of large capacity mobile recycling facilities, and following established guidelines for disposal of medical wastes should reduce risk of COVID-19 spread in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan El-Ramady
- Soil and Water Dept, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516 Egypt
| | - Eric C. Brevik
- College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL USA
| | - Heba Elbasiouny
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Home Economy Faculty, Al-Azhar University, Tanta, 31732 Egypt
| | - Fathy Elbehiry
- Central Laboratory of Environmental Studies, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516 Egypt
| | - Megahed Amer
- Soils Improvement Dept., Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Sakha Station, Agricultural Research Center, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33717 Egypt
| | - Tamer Elsakhawy
- Agriculture Microbiology Department, Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agriculture Research Center, Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33717 Egypt
| | - Alaa El-Dein Omara
- Agriculture Microbiology Department, Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agriculture Research Center, Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33717 Egypt
| | - Ahmed A. Mosa
- Soils Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516 Egypt
| | - Ayman M. El-Ghamry
- Soils Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516 Egypt
| | - Neama Abdalla
- Plant Biotechnology Dept, , Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology Research Div, National Research Centre, Cairo, 12622 Egypt
| | - Szilárd Rezes
- Division of Oto-Rhyno-Laryngology, Medical and Health Science Center, Debrecen University, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Mai Elboraey
- Division of Oto-Rhyno-Laryngology, Medical and Health Science Center, Debrecen University, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ahmed Ezzat
- Horticulture Dept, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516 Egypt
| | - Yahya Eid
- Poultry Dept, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516 Egypt
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32
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Asim N, Badiei M, Sopian K. Review of the valorization options for the proper disposal of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION 2021; 23:101797. [PMID: 34307792 PMCID: PMC8278925 DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2021.101797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected not only human health and economies but also the environment due to the large volume of waste in the form of discarded personal protective equipment. The remarkable increase in the global usage of face masks, which mainly contain polypropylene, and improper waste management have led to a serious environmental challenge called microplastic pollution. Potential practices for waste management related to waste valorization of discarded face masks as the major type of waste during the COVID-19 pandemic are explored in this study. Recommendations based on governmental practices, situation of state facilities, and societal awareness and engagement applicable to emergency (including COVID-19 pandemic) and postpandemic scenarios are offered while considering potential solutions and available waste management practices in different countries during emergency conditions. However, multicriteria decision making for a country must determine the optimal solution for waste management on the basis of all affecting factors. Awareness of scientific, governments, and communities worldwide will successfully eradicate this important environmental issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilofar Asim
- Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
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33
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Chen C, Chen J, Fang R, Ye F, Yang Z, Wang Z, Shi F, Tan W. What medical waste management system may cope With COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from Wuhan. RESOURCES, CONSERVATION, AND RECYCLING 2021; 170:105600. [PMID: 33821099 PMCID: PMC8011665 DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The global pandemic caused by the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to a dramatic increase in medical waste worldwide. This tremendous increase in medical waste is an important transmission medium for the virus and thus poses new and serious challenges to urban medical waste management. This study investigates the response of medical waste management to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent changes in Wuhan City based on the most detailed data available, including waste generation, storage, transportation, and disposal. The results show that despite a 5-fold increase in the demand for daily medical waste disposal in the peak period, the quick responses in the storage, transportation, and disposal sectors during the pandemic ensured that all medical waste was disposed of within 24 hours of generation. Furthermore, this paper discusses medical waste management during future emergencies in Wuhan. The ability of the medical waste management system in Wuhan to successfully cope with the rapid increase in medical waste caused by major public health emergencies has important implications for other cities suffering from the pandemic and demonstrates the need to establish resilient medical emergency systems in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, 430070 Hubei, Wuhan, China
- College of Resource and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070 Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaao Chen
- School of Resource and Environment Science, Wuhan University, 430072 Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Ran Fang
- School of Resource and Environment Science, Wuhan University, 430072 Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Fan Ye
- School of Resource and Environment Science, Wuhan University, 430072 Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhenglun Yang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, 430070 Hubei, Wuhan, China
- College of Resource and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070 Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, 430070 Hubei, Wuhan, China
- College of Resource and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070 Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Shi
- Lishui Institute of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 211200, China
| | - Wenfeng Tan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Health and Green Remediation, 430070 Hubei, Wuhan, China
- College of Resource and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070 Hubei, Wuhan, China
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Su G, Ong HC, Ibrahim S, Fattah IMR, Mofijur M, Chong CT. Valorisation of medical waste through pyrolysis for a cleaner environment: Progress and challenges. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 279:116934. [PMID: 33744627 PMCID: PMC9756756 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted great shocks and challenges to the environment, society and economy. Simultaneously, an intractable issue appeared: a considerable number of hazardous medical wastes have been generated from the hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities, constituting a serious threat to public health and environmental sustainability without proper management. Traditional disposal methods like incineration, landfill and autoclaving are unable to reduce environmental burden due to the issues such as toxic gas release, large land occupation, and unsustainability. While the application of clean and safe pyrolysis technology on the medical wastes treatment to produce high-grade bioproducts has the potential to alleviate the situation. Besides, medical wastes are excellent and ideal raw materials, which possess high hydrogen, carbon content and heating value. Consequently, pyrolysis of medical wastes can deal with wastes and generate valuable products like bio-oil and biochar. Consequently, this paper presents a critical and comprehensive review of the pyrolysis of medical wastes. It demonstrates the feasibility of pyrolysis, which mainly includes pyrolysis characteristics, product properties, related problems, the prospects and future challenges of pyrolysis of medical wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangcan Su
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hwai Chyuan Ong
- School of Information, Systems and Modelling, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - Shaliza Ibrahim
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - I M Rizwanul Fattah
- School of Information, Systems and Modelling, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - M Mofijur
- School of Information, Systems and Modelling, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia; Mechanical Engineering Department, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahad University, Al Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Cheng Tung Chong
- China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Lingang, Shanghai, 201306, China
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Das AK, Islam MN, Billah MM, Sarker A. COVID-19 and municipal solid waste (MSW) management: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021. [PMID: 33877522 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13914-6/tables/2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents an inevitable by-product of human activity and a major crisis for communities across the globe. In recent times, the recycling of MSW has drawn attention as the process can add value through resources from the recovered waste materials and facilitates the process of circular economy. However, during the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the risk of infection with the highly contagious virus has proven detrimental to the continuation of MSW as a valuable resource. The volume of waste, especially household waste, is higher; face masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), and hazardous materials such as batteries and empty chlorine bottles are examples of extra waste that have arisen during the pandemic. Various countries have set up initiatives for MSW management, including safety measurements for employees in the MSW management sector. The use of disinfectant prior to sorting waste, as well as storing waste for 9 days, may help to inactivate the COVID-19 virus, ensuring an appropriate safety level for MSW management. This work aimed at studying different MSW management strategies, specific challenges, and possible solutions for better understanding for those involved in waste management, in addition to providing a possible management strategy during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atanu Kumar Das
- Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-90183, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Md Nazrul Islam
- Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Md Morsaline Billah
- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Asim Sarker
- Umeå International School of Public Health, Umeå University, SE-90187, Umeå, Sweden
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Yousef S, Eimontas J, Striūgas N, Abdelnaby MA. Pyrolysis kinetic behaviour and TG-FTIR-GC-MS analysis of Coronavirus Face Masks. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS 2021; 156:105118. [PMID: 33875899 PMCID: PMC8045431 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2021.105118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In the times of Covid-19, face masks are considered to be the main source of protection against the virus that reduces its spread. These masks are classified as single-use medical products with a very short service life, estimated at few days, hence millions of contaminated masks are generated daily in the form of hazardous materials, what requires to develop a safe method to dispose of them, especially since some of them are loaded with viruses. 3-ply face masks (3PFM) represent the major fraction of this waste and are composed mainly from polypropylene and melt blown filter with high content of volatile substances (96.6 wt.%), what makes pyrolysis treatment an emerging technology that could be used to dispose of face masks and convert them into energy products. In this context, this work aims to study pyrolysis kinetic behaviour and TG-FTIR-GC-MS analysis of 3PFM. The research started with analysis of 3PFM using elemental analysis, proximate analysis, and compositional analyses. Afterwards, TG-FTIR system was used to study the thermal and chemical decomposition of 3PFM analyzed at different heating rates: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C/min. The GC/MS system was used to observe the synthesized volatile products at the maximum decomposition temperatures. After that, isoconversional methods, the advanced nonlinear integral isoconversional method, and the iterative linear integral isoconversional method were used to determine the activation energies of mask pyrolysis, while the distributed activation energy model and the independent parallel reactions kinetic model were used to fit TGA and DTG curves with deviations below <1. The TGA-DTG results showed that 3PFM can decompose in three different periods with a total weight loss of 95 % and maximum decomposition in the range 405-510 °C, while the FTIR spectra and GC-MS analysis exhibited that - C-H (aromatic and aliphatic) and 2,4-Dimethyl-1-heptene (28-43 % based on heating rate) represented the major compounds in the released volatile components. Finally, Vyazovkin and the iterative linear integral isoconversional methods gave activation energies almost similar to that obtained by the KAS isoconversional method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy Yousef
- Department of Production Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design, Kaunas University of Technology, LT-51424, Kaunas, Lithuania
- Department of Materials Science, South Ural State University, Lenin Prospect 76, 454080, Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Justas Eimontas
- Lithuanian Energy Institute, Laboratory of Combustion Processes, Breslaujos 3, LT-44403, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Nerijus Striūgas
- Lithuanian Energy Institute, Laboratory of Combustion Processes, Breslaujos 3, LT-44403, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby
- Department of Production Engineering and Printing Technology, Akhbar Elyom Academy 6th of October, Egypt
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Tsai WT. Analysis of medical waste management and impact analysis of COVID-19 on its generation in Taiwan. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2021; 39:27-33. [PMID: 33666120 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x21996803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Medical waste management in Taiwan is a crucial issue due to its highly environmental and human health risks. The main objectives of this paper were to analyse the status of medical waste generation and treatment in recent years, and also address the discussions on the impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on its generation in the first half of 2020. It showed that the reported quantities have slightly increased from 35,747 metric tonnes (Mt) in 2016 to 40,407 Mt in 2019, showing an average increase by 4.17%. This rate of increase was consistent with the hospital services. When classified by the reported codes, the C-type waste (infectious waste) accounted for about 89% of the reported quantities, which indicated an annual increase by 4.14% during the same period. In addition, the medical waste treatment in 2019 was mainly dependent on the commissioned treatment (80.18%), followed by the recycling (18.53%) and the self-treatment (1.29%). Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 on the medical waste generation in Taiwan was not significant in the first half of 2020 compared to the data during the years of 2016-2019. It was indicated that the consistent trend was observed at the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Taiwan during this period. Obviously, the reduction in the hospital medical services during the COVID-19 outbreak should be offset by the increase in medical waste generation from the medical services. In order to try to ensure safe and complete destruction of the COVID-19 virus, all the waste generated from the healthcare facilities should be treated in the incineration plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Tien Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Bioresources, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung County
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38
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Wang Q, Yang X. How do pollutants change post-pandemic? Evidence from changes in five key pollutants in nine Chinese cities most affected by the COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 197:111108. [PMID: 33812870 PMCID: PMC8545702 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Under the COVID-19 global pandemic, China has weakened the large-scale spread of the epidemic through lockdown and other measures. At the same time, with the recovery of social production activities, China has become the only country which achieves positive growth in 2020 in the major economies. It entered the post pandemic period. These measures improved the local environmental quality. However, whether this improvement can be sustained is also a problem that needs to be solved. So, this study investigated the changes of five air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO) in the nine cities most severely affected by the pandemic in China during the lockdown and post pandemic period. We emphasized that when analyzing the changes of environmental quality during the epidemic, we must consider not only the impact of the day and short-term changesbut also the cumulative lag effect and sustainable development. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, it is found that the concentration of pollutants decreased significantly during the lockdown compared to the situation before the epidemic. PM10 and NO2 are falling most, which downs 39% and 46% respectively. During the lockdown period, the pollutant concentrations response to the pandemic has a lag of 3-7 days. More specifically, in the cities related to single pollutants, the impact on the pollutant shows a significant correlation when the measures are delayed for seven days. In the cities that are related to multiple pollutants, the correlation is usually highest in 3-5 days. This means that the impact of policy measures on the environment lasted for 3-5 days. Besides, Wuhan, Jingmen and Jingzhou have seen the most obvious improvement. However, this improvement did not last. In the post pandemic period, the pollutants rebounded, the growth rates of PM10 and NO2 reached 44% and 87% in September. When compared with the changes of pollutants concentration in the same period from 2017 to 2019, the decline rate has also been significantly slower, even higher than the average concentration of previous years. The research not only contributes to China's economic "green recovery" plan during the post epidemic period, but also provides references for environmental governance during economic recovery in other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wang
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong, 266580, People's Republic of China; Institute for Energy Economics and Policy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong, 266580, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xuan Yang
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong, 266580, People's Republic of China; Institute for Energy Economics and Policy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong, 266580, People's Republic of China
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Das AK, Islam MN, Billah MM, Sarker A. COVID-19 and municipal solid waste (MSW) management: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:28993-29008. [PMID: 33877522 PMCID: PMC8055481 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13914-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents an inevitable by-product of human activity and a major crisis for communities across the globe. In recent times, the recycling of MSW has drawn attention as the process can add value through resources from the recovered waste materials and facilitates the process of circular economy. However, during the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the risk of infection with the highly contagious virus has proven detrimental to the continuation of MSW as a valuable resource. The volume of waste, especially household waste, is higher; face masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), and hazardous materials such as batteries and empty chlorine bottles are examples of extra waste that have arisen during the pandemic. Various countries have set up initiatives for MSW management, including safety measurements for employees in the MSW management sector. The use of disinfectant prior to sorting waste, as well as storing waste for 9 days, may help to inactivate the COVID-19 virus, ensuring an appropriate safety level for MSW management. This work aimed at studying different MSW management strategies, specific challenges, and possible solutions for better understanding for those involved in waste management, in addition to providing a possible management strategy during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atanu Kumar Das
- Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-90183, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Md Nazrul Islam
- Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Md Morsaline Billah
- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Asim Sarker
- Umeå International School of Public Health, Umeå University, SE-90187, Umeå, Sweden
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40
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Liu Z, Liu T, Liu X, Wei A, Wang X, Yin Y, Li Y. Research on Optimization of Healthcare Waste Management System Based on Green Governance Principle in the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5316. [PMID: 34067709 PMCID: PMC8156784 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
At present, strategies for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic have made significant and strategic strides; however, and the large quantities of healthcare treatment waste have become another important "battlefield". For example, in Wuhan, the production rate of healthcare waste in hospitals, communities, temporary storage, and other units was much faster than the disposal rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Improving the efficiency of healthcare waste transfer and treatment has become an important task for government health and environmental protection departments at all levels. Based on the situation of healthcare waste disposal in Wuhan during the critical period of the pandemic, this paper analyzes and studies green governance principles and summarizes the problems that exist in the current healthcare waste management system. Through the establishment of temporary storage facilities along transit routes, digital simulation and bionic experiments were carried out in the Hongshan District of Wuhan to improve the efficiency of healthcare waste transfer. Furthermore, this study discusses the coordination and cooperation of government, hospitals, communities, and other departments in the healthcare waste disposal process and provides guiding suggestions for healthcare waste disposal nationwide in order to deal with potential risks and provide effective references in all regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tianle Liu
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China; (Z.L.); (X.L.); (A.W.); (X.W.); (Y.Y.); (Y.L.)
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41
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Kang A, Ren L, Hua C, Song H, Dong M, Fang Z, Zhu M. Environmental management strategy in response to COVID-19 in China: Based on text mining of government open information. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 769:145158. [PMID: 33485207 PMCID: PMC7837070 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic and a major health emergency. In the process of fighting against COVID-19, the China Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) responded quickly and set up a working group as soon as possible. This article uses text mining to retrospectively analyze the government's public information on the website of MEE during the epidemic, sort out the timeline of MEE's response to COVID-19. We find that MEE's work during the COVID-19 pandemic is focused on medical waste and wastewater treatment, environment emergency monitoring, pollution prevention, and other environmental management for supporting economic recovery. It drafted three main medical waste management plans, an emergency environmental monitoring plan, and formulated "two lists" - a Positive checklist for Environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval and a positive checklist for supervision and enforcement, to promote the resumption of work and production. 2020 is the final year of China's "three years of fighting pollution prevention and control". In the case of the sudden COVID-19 epidemic, the Chinese environment department has ensured that the quality of the ecological environment has not been affected by the epidemic prevention and control while ensuring the smooth progress of the fight against pollution. China's medical waste disposal capacity has also been greatly improved during this epidemic. The review of China's environmental management strategy in response to COVID-19 can provide a reference for countries in the world that are still in the critical period of epidemic control; it can provide action guidelines for the ecological environment system to respond to sudden pandemic events in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailin Kang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Lijun Ren
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Chunyu Hua
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Hui Song
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Miaoxin Dong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Zhaotong Fang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Mengyuan Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
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Wang J, Chen Z, Lang X, Wang S, Yang L, Wu X, Zhou X, Chen Z. Quantitative evaluation of infectious health care wastes from numbers of confirmed, suspected and out-patients during COVID-19 pandemic: A case study of Wuhan. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 126:323-330. [PMID: 33794444 PMCID: PMC7983547 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still running its courses. Proper management and disposal of health care wastes (HCWs) are critical to win the fight. To achieve aforementioned tasks, prediction of their production is highly desired. In this study, primary data of production of three kinds of HCWs collected from Wuhan, the first epidemic epicenter worldwide and a mega city with more than 10 million population who has went through a lockdown period of 78 days, were reported for their first time. HCWs were classified into routine HCWs, infectious HCWs (IHCWs) and infectious municipal solid wastes. Among them, infectious HCWs from designated hospitals for COVID-19 were recognized as the most dangerous one. A multiple linear regression (MLR) model was built to predict the production of IHCWs with high significance. Numbers of patients were demonstrated high correlations with the production of IHCWs in an order of confirmed patients > out-patients > suspected patients. By the MLR model, production rates of IHCWs by confirmed, suspected and out patients were determined as 3.2, 1.8 and 0.1 kg/patient, respectively. In addition, constant production of IHCWs during the pandemic period was determined as 13 tons/d. This is the first study on quantitative evaluation of infectious HCWs during COVID-19 pandemic. The achievements in this study have potentials to shed light on global efforts to the prediction, management and disposal of vast HCWs generated in the war against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Zhuqi Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education; Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China.
| | - Xiaojuan Lang
- School of Business Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Songlin Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Lie Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources Processing and Environment, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Xiaolong Wu
- Hubei Solid Waste and Chemical Pollution Prevention Center, Wuhan 430000, PR China
| | - Xinquan Zhou
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Zhulei Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China
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43
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Zhao H, Liu H, Wei G, Wang H, Zhu Y, Zhang R, Yang Y. Comparative life cycle assessment of emergency disposal scenarios for medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 126:388-399. [PMID: 33827006 PMCID: PMC7997725 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic attracts concerns globally and leads to an exponential increase in medical waste generation, and disposal of medical waste is an urgent need for preventing the epidemic spread. Emergency disposal scenarios of medical waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic require a systematic assessment to quantify their potential environmental impacts. The environmental impacts and key factors of three movable disposal scenarios (i.e. incineration disposal vehicle, movable steam and microwave sterilization equipment both followed by co-incineration with municipal solid waste) were quantified via life cycle assessment approach. Furthermore, the environmental impacts of three movable disposal and two co-incineration scenarios were compared via life cycle assessment by expanding system boundaries. The results show that co-incineration with municipal solid waste has the lowest environmental impacts due to environmental benefits produced by power generation, while co-incineration with hazardous waste is the highest due to the high energy consumption. Energy consumption (i.e. kerosene, electricity and diesel) are the key factors for three movable disposal scenarios. For movable steam and microwave sterilization equipment followed by co-incineration with municipal solid waste, power generation from incinerating disinfected medical waste has significant beneficial environmental impacts due to avoided impacts of electricity consumption. The recommendations for improvement of the emergency disposal and management of medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic globally and other serious epidemic in the future are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Zhao
- College of Energy and Safety Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - HanQiao Liu
- College of Energy and Safety Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China.
| | - Guoxia Wei
- College of Science, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Hongtao Wang
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yuwen Zhu
- College of Energy and Safety Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- College of Energy and Safety Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Yong Yang
- College of Materials and Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
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44
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Parashar N, Hait S. Plastics in the time of COVID-19 pandemic: Protector or polluter? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 759:144274. [PMID: 33333331 PMCID: PMC7726519 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has reemphasized the indispensable role of plastics in our daily life. Plastics in terms of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other single-use medical equipment along with packaging solutions owing to their inherent properties have emerged as a life-savior for protecting the health and safety of the frontline health workers and the common citizens during the pandemic. However, plastics have been deemed as evil polluter due to their indiscriminate littering and mismanagement amid increased plastic usage and waste generation during this unprecedented crisis. This article reviews and assesses to dwell upon whether plastics in the time of pandemic are acting as protector of the public health or polluter of the environment. Considering the utilities and limitations of plastic along with its management or mismanagement, and the fate, an equitable appraisal suggests that the consumers' irresponsible behavior, and attitude and poor awareness, and the stress on waste management infrastructure in terms of collection, operation, and financial constraints as the major drivers, leading to mismanagement, turn plastic into an evil polluter of the environment. Plastic can be a protector if managed properly and complemented by the circular economy strategies in terms of reduction, recycle and recovery, and thereby preventing leakage into the environment. To safeguard the supply chain of PPEs, several decontamination techniques have been adopted worldwide ensuring their effective reprocessing to prioritize the circular economy within the system. Policy guidelines encouraging to adopt safer practices and sustainable technical solutions along with consumers' education for awareness creation are the need of the hour for preventing plastic to turn from protector with high utility to polluter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Parashar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar 801 106, India
| | - Subrata Hait
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar 801 106, India.
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45
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Liang Y, Song Q, Wu N, Li J, Zhong Y, Zeng W. Repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic on solid waste generation and management strategies. FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2021; 15:115. [PMID: 33686359 PMCID: PMC7930516 DOI: 10.1007/s11783-021-1407-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
It has been over ten months since the beginning of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-2019), and its impact on solid waste management, especially medical waste, is becoming clearer. This study systematically reviews the potential influences of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical waste, personal protection equipment waste and municipal solid waste (MSW), and discusses the corresponding measures and policies of solid waste management in typical countries. The results show that the generation of medical waste from the pandemic increased significantly, with 18%-425% growth. It is estimated that the daily output of COVID-19 medical waste increased from 200 t/d on Feb. 22 to over 29000 t/d at the end of September 2020 throughout the world. The use of personal protective equipment will continue to grow in the long-term, while the blockade and isolation measures greatly reduced the volume of commercial waste, especially for tourist cities, and part of this waste was transferred to household waste. Residents' attitudes and behavior toward food waste have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the pandemic, international organizations and several countries have issued new policies and guidelines and adjusted their management strategies for medical waste and MSW treatment. The pandemic has brought specific challenges to the disposal capacity of medical waste worldwide. It has also brought about the stagnation of policies related to the reduction of plastic products and waste recycling. This study will provide some useful information for managers and governmental officials on effective solid waste management during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Liang
- Macao Institute of Systems Engineering, Macao University of Science and Technology, Macao, 999078 China
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Qingbin Song
- Macao Environmental Research Institute, Macao University of Science and Technology, Macao, 999078 China
| | - Naiqi Wu
- Macao Institute of Systems Engineering, Macao University of Science and Technology, Macao, 999078 China
| | - Jinhui Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Yuan Zhong
- Macao Environmental Research Institute, Macao University of Science and Technology, Macao, 999078 China
| | - Wenlei Zeng
- Macao Environmental Research Institute, Macao University of Science and Technology, Macao, 999078 China
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Liu J, Vethaak AD, An L, Liu Q, Yang Y, Ding J. An Environmental Dilemma for China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Explosion of Disposable Plastic Wastes. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 106:237-240. [PMID: 33515068 PMCID: PMC7845788 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-021-03121-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution control has been on top of the political agenda in China. In January 2020, China announced a phased ban on the production and usage of various types of single-use plastics as a solution to environmental pollution problems. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 seems to be a new obstacle to the ban on single-use plastic products. To basically satisfied the daily necessities and contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 under the background of the regular epidemic prevention and control in China, online ordering, contactless delivery and wearing mask have become an important and feasible way of daily life. However, the unrestrained use of disposable plastic bags, lunch boxes and masks within the nationwide quarantine leads to hundreds of millions of plastics wastes every day. The potential environmental pollution caused by the use of disposable plastic products during the pandemic should arouse social concern. The Chinese government should manage environmental protection in parallel with anti-pandemic endeavors as the situation of the pandemic evolves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianli Liu
- School of Textile Science and Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214021 China
| | - A. Dick Vethaak
- Deltares, Marine and Coastal Systems, Boussinesqweg 1, Delft, 2629 HV the Netherlands
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV the Netherlands
| | - Lihui An
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012 China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 4648601 Japan
| | - Yunfei Yang
- Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Nanjing, 210036 China
| | - Jiannan Ding
- School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122 China
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Si H, Shen L, Liu W, Wu G. Uncovering people's mask-saving intentions and behaviors in the post-COVID-19 period: Evidence from China. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 65:102626. [PMID: 33288994 PMCID: PMC7706823 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a surge in the demand for medical masks over the past few months. Many countries and regions have experienced a shortage of masks and raw materials, as well as soaring prices. Understanding mask-saving behavior is an important way to help improve medical resource sustainability and respond to the outbreak. This study integrates the theory of planned behavior and normative activation to propose a new comprehensive theoretical framework, which aims to reveal people's mask-saving intentions (MSI) and behaviors in the post-pandemic period. Using the partial least squares structural equation modeling method, a total of 1057 questionnaires randomly collected from China were measured and empirically analyzed. Results indicate the following: (i) Reducing the frequency of going-out is the main approach to saving masks in China, and the majority of people reuse a mask from two to five times. (ii) Personal norms, subjective norms, attitudes and perceived behavioral control all have significant positive effects on MSI; awareness of consequences and ascription of responsibility also indirectly affect MSI through personal norms. (iii) As for extended factors, environmental concerns, perceived risk and information publicity positively affect MSI, but supply chain performance does not have a significant role. (iv) Excessive information publicity may weaken the impact of personal norms, subjective norms and perceived risk on MSI. Given the above findings, some insightful management implications are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyun Si
- School of Public Administration and Policy, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan, China
| | - Lin Shen
- Humanities and Management School, Hebei Agricultural University, Cangzhou, China
- College of Economics and Management, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Wenchao Liu
- College of Economics and Management, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Guangdong Wu
- School of Public Affairs, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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Sangkham S. Face mask and medical waste disposal during the novel COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. CASE STUDIES IN CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2020; 2:100052. [PMID: 38620353 PMCID: PMC7543915 DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2020.100052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The origin of the novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its potential for harm increased face mask and medical waste in the environment, thereby necessitating the urgent prevention and control of the pandemic. The article estimates the face mask and medical waste generation in Asia during the pandemic to convince the waste management and scientific communities to find ways to address the negative impact that the waste disposal has on the environment. Standardisation, procedures, guidelines and strict implementation of medical waste management related to COVID-19, community habitats and public areas should be carefully considered to reduce pandemic risks in hospitals, as proper medical waste disposal effectively controls infection sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarawut Sangkham
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Phayao, Muang District, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
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