tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Environ Res Public Health
. 2021 Mar 27;18(7):3488.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073488.
Eco-Environmental Aspects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Potential Control Strategies
Rashid Nazir[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jawad Ali[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ijaz Rasul[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Emilie Widemann[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Sarfraz Shafiq[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
A new coronavirus-strain from a zoonotic reservoir (probably bat)-termed as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-has recently claimed more than two million deaths worldwide. Consequently, a burst of scientific reports on epidemiology, symptoms, and diagnosis came out. However, a comprehensive understanding of eco-environmental aspects that may contribute to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread is still missing, and we therefore aim to focus here on these aspects. In addition to human-human direct SARS-CoV-2 transmission, eco-environmental sources, such as air aerosols, different public use objects, hospital wastes, livestock/pet animals, municipal wastes, ventilation facilities, soil and groundwater potentially contribute to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Further, high temperature and humidity were found to limit the spread of COVID-19. Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to decrease air and noise pollution during the period of lockdown, increased use of masks and gloves is threatening the environment by water and soil pollutions. COVID-19 badly impacted all the socio-economic groups in different capacities, where women, slum dwellers, and the people lacking social protections are the most vulnerable. Finally, sustainable strategies, waste management, biodiversity reclaim, eco-friendly lifestyle, improved health infrastructure and public awareness, were proposed to minimize the COVID-19 impact on our society and environment. These strategies will seemingly be equally effective against any future outbreak.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; disease outbreak; ecology; environment; viral spread; virus.
. 2021 Mar 27;18(7):3488.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073488.
Eco-Environmental Aspects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Potential Control Strategies
Rashid Nazir[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jawad Ali[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ijaz Rasul[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Emilie Widemann[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Sarfraz Shafiq[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33801704
- DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073488
Abstract
A new coronavirus-strain from a zoonotic reservoir (probably bat)-termed as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-has recently claimed more than two million deaths worldwide. Consequently, a burst of scientific reports on epidemiology, symptoms, and diagnosis came out. However, a comprehensive understanding of eco-environmental aspects that may contribute to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread is still missing, and we therefore aim to focus here on these aspects. In addition to human-human direct SARS-CoV-2 transmission, eco-environmental sources, such as air aerosols, different public use objects, hospital wastes, livestock/pet animals, municipal wastes, ventilation facilities, soil and groundwater potentially contribute to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Further, high temperature and humidity were found to limit the spread of COVID-19. Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to decrease air and noise pollution during the period of lockdown, increased use of masks and gloves is threatening the environment by water and soil pollutions. COVID-19 badly impacted all the socio-economic groups in different capacities, where women, slum dwellers, and the people lacking social protections are the most vulnerable. Finally, sustainable strategies, waste management, biodiversity reclaim, eco-friendly lifestyle, improved health infrastructure and public awareness, were proposed to minimize the COVID-19 impact on our society and environment. These strategies will seemingly be equally effective against any future outbreak.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; disease outbreak; ecology; environment; viral spread; virus.