Covid-19 and the impact of the disease on our Environment

When we think about saving our environment and issues related to it the first concern that comes to our mind is plastic, air, and water pollution. But from the past few months, since the time we all have been living with the fear of the pandemic-COVID-19 and quarantined ourselves to our homes, the planet earth has actually recovered from the damages that we caused.

The air has less pollution when compared to the previous pollution index.  There has been a reduction in water, land contamination. This mass isolation of us has resulted in the betterment of climate change. However, our prime concern now has become the disposal of safety gear, masks, and gloves that are being used by us to protect ourselves from the deadly virus.

In the process of fighting against Corona Virus, we humans have broken a lot of routines and habits, just to be safe and healthy. But the real matter which requires our attention is about the things used to protect us can also cause and spread the disease faster and can also affect our environment in multiple ways.

Masks, which are mainly made of non-woven fabrics like Polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene or polyester. These poly-products keep out the bacteria effectively. As the masks are plastic-based, these are liquid-resistant, have a long afterlife, later to their disposal they end up in landfills or oceans.

Given the fact that surgical masks are only for one-time use, their disposal along with tissues, empty sanitizer bottles, and gloves are the massive medical waste, whose disposal has to be rightly done. This medical debris is not only filling up the city disposal lands, but it’s now being found in water bodies and in natural wildlife habitats.

When used masks are not disposed of properly, the virus gets exposed leading to the spread of the disease. And a certain portion of the population who directly deal with medical waste, like garbage collectors will be exposed to the disease directly.

The only way to put a tab on this issue is to adopt a few environment-friendly measures. That will not keep us, humans protected but the environment too.

It is very important for us to control this condition at this moment. Take all the precautions and measures that will keep you safe and the environment too! Let’s take responsibility for the wastes we produce as the general public. Let’s keep ourselves and the environment healthy and tidy.

By Dr. Hirenappa Udnur, Consultant Pulmonologist, Columbia Asia Hospital Hebbal

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