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Occurrence of COVID-19-Related Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Litter in Mangroves and Beaches in Davao City, Philippines

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Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) has been an essential material to protect people from getting infected by the coronavirus disease. Many of these PPE are not properly disposed of and are found to pollute the environment. This study determined the occurrence of COVID-19-related PPE litter in beach and mangrove areas in Davao City, Philippines. Marine litter was collected during low tide from five beaches and three mangrove areas in January 2022. From the five beach areas, 2765 items of marine litter were collected with a mean density of 0.84/m2. From the three mangrove areas, 353 items were collected with a mean density of 0.20/m2. COVID-19-associated PPE litter comprised 10% and 34% of total marine litter in beaches and mangroves, respectively. These results reveal that the mangroves are significant sinks of COVID-19-related PPE litter. The clean-up, fate, and ecological effects of PPE litter in mangroves deserve more attention.

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Acknowledgements

The author wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the following institution and individuals: Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Carlo C. Francisco and Eric Alegado who assisted with the sampling, and family and friends, who provided support throughout the study.

Funding

This project received funding from DOST (Department of Science and Technology) under the scholarship program of the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Program (ASTHRDP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Science Graduate Program, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), 9200, Iligan, Lanao del Norte, Philippines

    Jiza Gay P. Jarabe, Armi G. Torres, Jaime Q. Guihawan & Hernando P. Bacosa

  2. Main Campus Bataraza Extension (MCBE), Mindanao State University-Main Campus, 9700, Marawi, Lanao del Sur, Philippines

    Hernando P. Bacosa

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  1. Jiza Gay P. Jarabe
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  2. Armi G. Torres
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  3. Jaime Q. Guihawan
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Correspondence to Jiza Gay P. Jarabe.

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Jarabe, J.G.P., Torres, A.G., Guihawan, J.Q. et al. Occurrence of COVID-19-Related Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Litter in Mangroves and Beaches in Davao City, Philippines. Water Air Soil Pollut 234, 395 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06408-3

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