COVID-19-related litter pollution on Greek beaches and nearshore shallow water environments. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kouvara, Konstantina; Papatheodorou, George; Kosmopoulou, Angeliki; Giovos, Ioannis; Charitou, Anastasia; Filippides, Anastasios; Kaberi, Helen; Kalaitzi, Loukia; Kyrkitsos, Filippos; Koundouri, Phoebe; Triantafyllou, Constantinos; Gletsos, Miltos; Fakiris, Elias; Geraga, Maria
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 185:Part A(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Personal protective equipment (PPE) -- Plastic pollution -- Beach -- Benthic litter -- Greece; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in certain types of litter, many of which are expected to end up in the marine environment. The present study aimed to monitor the pandemic-related litter pollution along the Greek coastal environment. Overall, 59 beach and 83 underwater clean-ups were conducted. Litter was categorized as: PPE (face masks and gloves), COVID-19-related, single-use plastic (SUP) and takeaway items. PPE, dominated by face masks (86.21 %), accounted for 0.29 % of all litter. The average PPE density was 3.1 × 10 −3 items m −2 and 2.59 items/ 100 m. COVID-19-related items represented 1.04 % of the total. Wet wipes showed higher densities (0.67 % of all litter) than in the pre-COVID era, while no increase in SUP and takeaway items was observed. Benthic PPE, dominated by gloves (83.95 %), represented 0.26 % of the total. The mean PPE density was 2.5 × 10 −3 items m −2 . Highlights: Pandemic-related litter pollution was monitored in Greek coastal environments. PPE, dominated by face masks, accounted for 0.29 % of the total. COVID-19-related litter accounted for 1.04 % of the total. PPE and wet wipes are indicators of pandemic-driven plastic pollution. Benthic PPE, dominated by gloves (83.95 %), represented 0.26 % of the total.