Since the mask requirement was imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more protective masks are being found on Australia’s beaches. And residents are increasingly seeing rapid antigen tests on the beaches south of the capital Perth. The finds have been classified as a biohazard by the Western Australian Department of Environment.
Linda Davies of the University of Notre Dame Australia in the port city of Fremantle has been analyzing the waste on the beach of the capital Perth for years. As plastic waste declines, other types of litter are appearing more and more. Since there is a mask obligation because of Corona, significantly more masks have been found on the beach, according to the environmental management teacher.
More than 12,000 objects analysed
Rapid antigen testing has also been seen more and more recently on the coast, says Davis, who helps volunteers clean up trash and examine more than 12,000 finds — most of them plastic. “I thought if I analyzed it scientifically, we would have evidence of where the nest is coming from and if there are any changes in the nest that we find,” Davies says.
Since the corona-related introduction of the mask requirement Down Under, she has collected significantly more masks, according to researcher Davies (photo below). “And lately I’ve only seen the rapid antigen tests laying on the ground. So not on the beach yet, but I guess they’ll wash up there eventually.”
Western Australia’s Environment Minister Reece Whitby sees no easy way to throw out the tests and classifies them as a biohazard. “In terms of public health, the safe disposal of this material should be a priority,” he says.
Covid pandemic increased amount of waste
The amount of waste generated as a result of the Covid pandemic is staggering. According to researchers from Nanjing University in China, the pandemic had resulted in 8.4 million tons of plastic waste, of which 26,000 tons ended up in the world’s oceans. About 87 percent of this waste — plastic gloves, coats and masks — came from hospitals. Only about eight percent of the waste was produced by private individuals.
The study was the first to quantify the extent of pollution from the pandemic. This Covid-related pollution is an ongoing problem for the marine environment, with debris accumulating mainly on beaches and in coastal sediments, the authors write. They demanded that public awareness of the effects of PPE (personal protective equipment such as clothing, devices or self-protection items; note) should be increased.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
