tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Environ Chem Lett
. 2021 Sep 26;1-12.
doi: 10.1007/s10311-021-01323-7. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 variants and environmental effects of lockdowns, masks and vaccination: a review
Shirin Akter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marzuka Ahmed Zakia[SUP] 2 [/SUP], M Mofijur[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Shams Forruque Ahmed[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Dai-Viet N Vo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Gulam Khandaker[SUP] 2 7 [/SUP], T M I Mahlia[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuously evolving and four variants of concern have been identified so far, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants. Here we review the indirect effect of preventive measures such as the implementation of lockdowns, mandatory face masks, and vaccination programs, to control the spread of the different variants of this infectious virus on the environment. We found that all these measures have a considerable environmental impact, notably on waste generation and air pollution. Waste generation is increased due to the implementation of all these preventive measures. While lockdowns decrease air pollution, unsustainable management of face mask waste and temperature-controlled supply chains of vaccination potentially increases air pollution.
Keywords: Air pollution; COVID-19 vaccination; Delta variants; Environmental impact; Face masks; SARS-CoV-2; Waste generation.
. 2021 Sep 26;1-12.
doi: 10.1007/s10311-021-01323-7. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 variants and environmental effects of lockdowns, masks and vaccination: a review
Shirin Akter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Marzuka Ahmed Zakia[SUP] 2 [/SUP], M Mofijur[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Shams Forruque Ahmed[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Dai-Viet N Vo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Gulam Khandaker[SUP] 2 7 [/SUP], T M I Mahlia[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34602923
- PMCID: PMC8475459
- DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01323-7
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuously evolving and four variants of concern have been identified so far, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants. Here we review the indirect effect of preventive measures such as the implementation of lockdowns, mandatory face masks, and vaccination programs, to control the spread of the different variants of this infectious virus on the environment. We found that all these measures have a considerable environmental impact, notably on waste generation and air pollution. Waste generation is increased due to the implementation of all these preventive measures. While lockdowns decrease air pollution, unsustainable management of face mask waste and temperature-controlled supply chains of vaccination potentially increases air pollution.
Keywords: Air pollution; COVID-19 vaccination; Delta variants; Environmental impact; Face masks; SARS-CoV-2; Waste generation.