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Amassing the Covid-19 driven PPE wastes in the dwelling environment of Chittagong Metropolis and associated implications

Abedin MJ 1 , Khandaker MU 2 , Uddin MR 3 , Karim MR 4 , Uddin Ahamad MS 5 , Islam MA 4 Show all authors , Arif AM 6 , Minhaz Hossain SM 7 , Sulieman A 8 , Idris AM 9

Affiliations 

  • 1 Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, 12121, Thailand
  • 2 Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 3 Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS), BCSIR, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
  • 4 Department of Chemistry, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh
  • 5 Department of Pathology, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, 4302, Bangladesh
  • 6 One Health Institute, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram, 4225, Bangladesh
  • 7 Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Premier University, Chattogram, 4000, Bangladesh
  • 8 Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 422, Alkharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
  • 9 Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, 62529, Abha, Saudi Arabia; Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, 62529, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Chemosphere, 2022 Jun;297:134022.
PMID: 35202672 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134022

Abstract

This study investigates the Covid-19 driven indiscriminate disposal of PPE wastes (mostly face mask and medical wastes) in Chittagong metropolitan area (CMA), Bangladesh. Based on the field monitoring, the mean PPE density (PPE/m2± SD) was calculated to be 0.0226 ± 0.0145, 0.0164 ± 0.0122, and 0.0110 ± 0.00863 for July, August, and September 2021, respectively (during the peak time of Covid-19 in Bangladesh). Moreover, gross information on PPE waste generation in the city was calculated using several parameters such as population density, face mask acceptance rate by urban population, total Covid-19 confirmed cases, quarantined and isolated patients, corresponding medical waste generation rate (kg/bed/day), etc. Moreover, the waste generated due to face mask and other PPEs in the CMA during the whole Covid-19 period (April 4, 2020 to September 5, 2021) were calculated to be 64183.03 and 128695.75 tons, respectively. It has been observed that the negligence of general people, lack of awareness about environmental pollution, and poor municipal waste management practices are the root causes for the contamination of the dwelling environment by PPE wastes. As a result, new challenges have emerged in solid waste management, which necessitates the development of an appropriate waste management strategy. The ultimate policies and strategies may help to achieve the SDG goals 3, 6, 11, 12, 13, and 15, and increase public perception on the use and subsequent disposal of PPEs, especially face masks.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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