Post-pandemic micro/nanoplastic pollution: Toward a sustainable management

The global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in massive plastic pollution from the use of personal protection equipment (PPE), with polypropylene (PP) being a major component. Owing to the weathering of exposed PPEs, such contamination causes microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) pollution and is extremely likely to act as a vector for the transportation of COVID-19 from one area to another. Thus, a post-pandemic scenario can fore-cast with certainty that a significant amount of plastic garbage combined with MP/NP formation has an adverse effect on the ecosystem. Therefore, updating traditional waste management practices, such as landfilling and incineration, is essential for making plastic waste management sustainable to avert this looming catastrophe. This study investigates the post-pandemic scenario of MP/NP pollution and provides an outlook on an integrated approach to the recycling of PP-based plastic wastes. The recovery of crude oil, solid char, hydrocarbon gases, and construction materials by ap-proximately 75, 33, 55, and 2 %, respectively, could be achieved in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, the development of biodegradable and self-sanitizing smart PPEs has been identified as a prom-ising alternative for drastically reducing plastic pollution.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in extensive plastic pollution from the use of PPE, particularly polypropylene (PP). Weathering of exposed PPEs leads to contamination and the formation of microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) pollution, acting as a vector for COVID-19 transmission. Traditional waste management practices need to be updated to prevent this potential ecological catastrophe. This study investigates post-pandemic scenarios of MP/NP pollution and proposes an integrated approach for the recycling of PP-based plastic waste, achieving environmentally friendly and cost-effective recovery of crude oil, solid char, hydrocarbon gases, and construction materials.