COVID-19 discarded disposable gloves as a source and a vector of pollutants in the environment

Katarzyna Jędruchniewicz, Yong Sik Ok, Patryk Oleszczuk

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The appearance of the virus SARS-CoV-2 at the end of 2019 and its spreading all over the world has caused global panic and increase of personal protection equipment usage to protect people against infection. Increased usage of disposable protective gloves, their discarding to random spots and getting to landfills may result in significant environmental pollution. The knowledge concerning possible influence of gloves and potential of gloves debris on the environment (water, soil, etc.), wildlife and humans is crucial to predict future consequences of disposable gloves usage caused by the pandemic. This review focuses on the possibility of chemical release (heavy metals and organic pollutants) from gloves and gloves materials, their adsorptive properties in terms of contaminants accumulation and effects of gloves degradation under environmental conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number125938
JournalJournal of hazardous materials
Volume417
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Sept 5

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Disposable gloves
  • Pandemic
  • Plastics
  • Pollution
  • Risk

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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