February 10 2021
The more contagious variant of the coronavirus is rapidly spreading across the United States. So far, only about 11 percent of Americans have received one or two doses of vaccines, according to The New York Times. All these strongly suggest the need for continuing adherence to COVID safety measures. PPE is the first thing that strikes our mind whenever we talk about protection from the virus.
PPE, including medical protective clothing, has been one of the most widely used commodities for the past year. And like other products of the modern-day industrial world, PPE is creating an unbearable amount of hazardous waste. PPE waste is polluting the environment at a scale comparable with plastic pollution. And its impacts are everywhere — soil, air, and water.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how PPE waste is damaging. We’ll also highlight some measures to address the issues and responsibilities of wholesale PPE manufacturers and other organizations. Read on.
Plastic pollution is one of the most threatening global ecological problems. Study after study has concluded how plastic pollution is damaging our oceans and lands. The pandemic made it even worse by adding a large-scale generator of plastic waste: PPE kits.
Plastic products have incredibly high pervasiveness. That’s why most of the human population is constantly exposed to the chemical components of plastic. According to an analysis, at least 95 percent of American adults had detectable levels of bisphenol A (BPA). It’s an industrial-grade chemical used in plastic manufacturing.
Be it PPE suppliers in the USA, or hospitals in Europe, every organization needs to think about tackling PPE-generated pollution. Careless disposal of hospital wastes not just damages the environment but also poses risks to public health. Healthcare facilities and waste management agencies need to be cautious about handling PPE wastes.
Marine ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the threats posed by plastic pollution. Sea turtles, for instance, are significantly affected by solid waste-induced pollution. Some of them rely on jellyfish for their food. But they often mistake plastic waste lying at the bottom of the sea. Besides, whales, too, are threatened by plastics and other solid waste.
Plastic pollutants have over the years emerged as the largest contributor to ocean and soil pollution. Many PPE kit products like gloves, swabs, and face shields are made of plastic. With the entire world relying on medical protective clothing and other PPE, the scale of plastic pollution has quadrupled.
In countries like India, plastic pollution has been a looming threat since before the pandemic. Several Indian research institutes have proposed different innovative ways to deal with plastic pollution. For instance, institutions affiliated with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are working on techniques to convert PPE and other plastic waste into fuel, pellets, and automobile parts.
Rationing and reuse of face masks and medical protective clothing became a norm in the U.S. amid PPE shortages. PPE reuse also significantly contributes to reducing ecological footprints. More PPE reuse means less waste generation and lower ecological impacts. Some researchers have also proposed the reuse of PPE after decontaminating those with chemicals.
Face masks and other personal protective equipment will likely remain parts of our lives for some time. But while using them we need to think carefully about the environmental impacts. Whether you are a medical professional or a businessperson, the responsibility toward the environment is the same. Along with medical facilities, wholesale PPE manufacturers, too, need to be more responsible toward the environment. Only through strategic and sustainable measures, we can lower the ecological damages caused by PPE wastes.