Hanging on trees, in the subway, and on the sidewalk, used masks and gloves are everywhere except where they should be- the trash can. Amidst the global pandemic of COVID-19, the government and the healthcare industry have advocated relentlessly towards wearing masks and gloves to slow down the transmission rate of the rapidly spreading virus. However, with the widespread use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the amount of litter produced worldwide has greatly increased.

Masks in the Ocean

As pollution often does, littered masks, gloves, and other sanitary equipment are reaching beaches and oceans. The media has displayed images of divers holding masks in the ocean to show that, in addition to the pollution already existing in the ocean, the items that are supposed to protect us in our environment are harming other creatures in theirs.

Similarly to the issue with ocean plastics, sea creatures like whales and turtles can mistake the masks for food, leading to suffocation or even death. In fact, sources suggest that PPE may be “the new plastic bags”, in terms of mass pollution. 

Solving the Issue

In an attempt to decrease pollution rates, local governments are starting to bring awareness to this issue, and a few are imposing fines on littering involving PPE. The media has also begun to advise the use of sustainable forms of PPE such as reusable masks and latex gloves. 

Although community cleanup efforts had been put on hold due to stay-at-home orders, groups across the country have begun their cleanups again while wearing masks and implementing social distancing.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/07/1069151

Featured image: https://www.omanobserver.om/littering-epidemic-in-oman/