Study Suggests Nearly , 26,000 Tons of Covid-Related , Plastic Waste in the Ocean.<br />A new study has found that plastics from <br />the COVID-19 pandemic weighing approximately <br />25,900 tons is now polluting the world's oceans. .<br />Researchers suggest that the waste, <br />which includes masks and gloves, was discarded <br />at a rate countries were unable to keep up with. .<br />'The Guardian' reports that the study <br />by Nanjing University was published <br />on November 8 in the online journal PNAS. .<br />The COVID-19 pandemic has led <br />to an increased demand for single-use <br />plastics that intensifies pressure on an already <br />out-of-control global plastic waste problem, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.<br />The released plastics can be <br />transported over long distances <br />in the ocean, encounter marine wildlife, <br />and potentially lead to injury or even death, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.<br />The released plastics can be <br />transported over long distances <br />in the ocean, encounter marine wildlife, <br />and potentially lead to injury or even death, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.<br />According to the study, 46% of the plastic waste originated in Asia, 24% came from Europe and 22% from North and South America.<br />The study also suggests that approximately 87.4% of the waste was produced in hospitals. .<br />Most of the plastic is from <br />medical waste generated by hospitals <br />that dwarfs the contribution <br />from personal protection equipment<br />and online-shopping package material, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.<br />This poses a long-lasting problem <br />for the ocean environment <br />and is mainly accumulated <br />on beaches and coastal sediments, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'.<br />This poses a long-lasting problem <br />for the ocean environment <br />and is mainly accumulated <br />on beaches and coastal sediments, Yiming Peng and Peipei Wu, study authors, via 'The Guardian'
