Developing better ways for people to get rid of their PPE waste may help prevent used surgical masks from ending up in the environment
This article by Shoshanah Jacobs, University of Guelph; Jackie Saturno, Dalhousie University, and Justine Ammendolia, Dalhousie University originally appeared on the Conversation and is published here with permission.
As ecologists, we were also aware of where the debris would end up — in nests, for example, or wrapped around the legs or in the stomachs of wildlife. We found that within the area that we were surveying — which covered an area of Toronto equivalent to about 45 football fields — over 14,000 disposable masks, gloves or hand wipes accumulated by the end of the year. That’s a lot of rat hammocks.
In total, we found 114 cases of wildlife interactions with PPE debris as documented on social media by concerned people around the world. Most of the wildlife were birds , although mammals , fish , invertebrates such as an octopus and sea turtles were also observed. So, what could we have done better? One thing we noted during our PPE litter surveys is the abundance of discarded masks and gloves in close proximity to public garbage bins.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Thunder pour it on early against Lakers, win Game 1 of the Mann Cup lacrosse national finalsIt’s the first Mann Cup since 2019 due to the COVID\u002D19 pandemic.
Read more »
BEYOND LOCAL: Caregivers can help build children’s emerging language skillsIt is not just the number of words that children hear that is important — the quality of the language children hear also matters
Read more »
BEYOND LOCAL: Caregivers can help build children’s emerging language skillsIt is not just the number of words that children hear that is important — the quality of the language children hear also matters
Read more »
BEYOND LOCAL: Queen Elizabeth II: the end of the ‘new Elizabethan age'The Queen’s death is bound to prompt Britain’s reflection on its past, its present and its future
Read more »
BEYOND LOCAL: Queen Elizabeth II: the end of the ‘new Elizabethan age'The Queen’s death is bound to prompt Britain’s reflection on its past, its present and its future
Read more »