LITERATRE REVIEW: -

Even if many researches have been conducted previously about the impact of plastic
pollution on the environment and based on this many action plans have been prepared to stop
the consumption of single use plastic before 2020. But the pandemic has led to an
unprecedented crisis leading to sudden increase in use of plastic materials like gloves, face
mask, ppe kits etc. which are unavoidable and needed for safety.
According to an estimate mismanagement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during
COVID-19 pandemic, with a monthly estimated use of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion
gloves globally, is resulting in widespread environmental contamination. (Prata, Joana &
Patricio Silva, A.L. & Walker, Tony & Duarte, Armando & Santos, Teresa. (2020))
After COVID-19 19 the research publications on medicine and health have increased by 65%
whereas publications on environment have increased by only 3% out of which 20% of the
publications talk about impact of plastic pollution and wastage after COVID-19 19. ( Patrício
Silva AL, Prata JC, Walker TR, et al 2020).
As most off the protective gears like mask, gloves etc. are made up of Polystyrene,
polycarbonate, polyethylene or polyester they have a long after life after being discarded and
they end up polluting the environment immensely.
Apart from these the used of hand sanitizer bottles, handwash bottles are being used up
rapidly in a large scale which is ultimately leading to piling up of these wastes in the
environment.
the accumulation of these kinds of plastic and products made of plastic in the environment
lead to plastic pollution which have a hazardous effect on wildlife and human food chain.
The plastics have a chemical configuration by which they are resistant to environmental
degradation rusting to high incidences of environmental pollution due to slow
degradation. (Ganguly, Subha. (2018). Plastic Pollution and its Adverse Impact on
Environment and Ecosystem)