Beware of polymer waste due to pandemic. [Newspaper]
Abstract
SURGING Covid-19 cases worldwide has recorded up to 2 million fatalities to date (that is about 10 per cent of the total death during WW1), witnessed an overwhelming demand for medical attention in hospitals, necessitating medical institutions to have sufficient supplies of personal protection equipment (PPE). The demand for polymer-based PPE is also observed among enforcement personnel and civilians. PPE such as gloves, face masks, face shields, and coveralls are not just used in the medical sector but also heavily used as a part of household products and among service industries including cashiers, petrol pump and flight attendants, customer service staffs, and security guards to limit and eventually inhibit the Covid-19 infection. Many food handlers and eateries used more plastic than usual to protect their edibles from being medium of infection. The continuous demand for polymer-based PPE is alarmingly jeopardising the environment. The disposal of used PPE in the medical sector is regulated by the local authorities, which are normally classified as biohazards. A more dire situation of polymer waste handling is focused on single used PPE among civilians.
| Item Type: | Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Ecosystem services, Local authorities, Polymer waste |
| Taxonomy: | By Subject > Applied Sciences > Biology By Subject > Applied Sciences > Chemistry By Subject > Applied Sciences > Environmental Technology By Subject > Applied Sciences > Industrial Technology |
| Local Content Hub: | Subjects > Applied Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Jamil Jawi |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Feb 2021 08:37 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Feb 2021 08:37 |
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