Discernible decline in macroplastic litter inputs to the central eastern Red Sea shoreline during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Mar Pollut Bull
; 201: 116264, 2024 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38492266
ABSTRACT
Plastic debris accumulating on beaches pose a major threat to marine ecosystems. Unexpected events affecting human operations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted governments to implement safety measures and restrictions, can serve as an unplanned investigation of anthropogenic pressure on the marine environment. This study aimed to explore deviations in macroplastic delivery rates to the central eastern Red Sea shoreline during three distinct population mobility periods before, during, and after COVID-19 restrictions, spanning from January 2019 to June 2022. We observed a 50 % reduction in the estimated macroplastic delivery rates during the lockdown, followed by a 25 % increase after restrictions were eased. Seasonal variations in delivery rates were also observed, with higher values during the winter monsoon. Reduced shoreline litter delivery during the pandemic highlights human operations as a cause of macroplastic litter and suggests the potential of temporary measures to reduce plastic pollution in the coastal environment.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Contexto en salud:
1_ASSA2030
/
2_ODS3
/
4_TD
Problema de salud:
1_doencas_nao_transmissiveis
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1_doencas_transmissiveis
/
2_enfermedades_transmissibles
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2_muertes_prematuras_enfermedades_notrasmisibles
/
2_quimicos_contaminacion
/
4_pneumonia
Asunto principal:
Residuos
/
COVID-19
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mar Pollut Bull
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article