A concerning wave of pollution brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is harming the Earth’s oceans, with an estimate of 1.56 billion face masks dumped around the world’s waters according to a study.
Hong-Kong-based marine conservation organization OceansAsia’s study ““Masks on the Beach: The Impact of COVID-19 on Marine Plastic Pollution” suspects that the irresponsible dumping of face masks in the oceans will result to an estimated 4,680 to 6,240 metric tons of plastic waste that will have a negative impact on marine wildlife and ecosystems.
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“The 1.56 billion face masks that will likely enter our oceans in 2020 are just the tip of the iceberg. The 4,680 to 6,240 metric tonnes of face masks are just a small fraction of the estimated 8 to 12 million metric tonnes of plastic that enter our oceans each year,” said Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Director of Research for OceansAsia, and lead author of the report.
OceansAsia urges the public to rely more on reusable masks as often as possible and for the proper disposal of single-use masks in order to preserve the environment.
It also called on governments to do the following preventive measures:
• Implement policies designed to encourage the use of reusable masks, such as releasing guidelines regarding the proper manufacture and use of reusable masks.
• Foster innovation and the development of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic masks.
• Discourage littering by increasing fines, and educate the public about responsible ways to dispose of masks.
• Repair and improve waste management systems to reduce losses and spillage.
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“It is critical that we work to reduce our use of single-use plastics, and we all have a role to play. There are reusable and sustainable options for almost every single single-use plastic item. Please wear a reusable mask, unless absolutely necessary, and be sure to dispose of all masks responsibly,” said Dr. Bondaroff.
