COVID-19 estimated to have increased plastics, diclofenac, and triclosan pollution in more than half of urban rivers worldwide

• DOI: 10.1016/j.crsus.2023.100001
• Publication Date: 2024-01-08T11:57:15Z
• Authors: Qi Zhang; Carolien Kroeze; Shilei Cui; Yanan Li; Lin Ma; Vita Strokal; Paul Vriend; Mengru Wang; Jikke van Wijnen; Wen Xu; Fusuo Zhang; Maryna Strokal
• Keywords: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Diclofenac

Science for societyGlobally, river pollution is a growing concern, given its potential impacts on ecosystems. COVID-19 has likely compounded this via an increased use of products such as masks, hand sanitizers, and painkillers. However, we do not have clear understanding pollutant types, at which locations might increased, or the extent any increase. This hinders development control strategies in worst-affected basins. Countries encouraged enforced varying to combat pandemic; therefore, assessing impact these differing measures requires models that capture country-specific strategies.Highlights•We estimated effects 10,226 sub-basins•COVID-19 macroplastics, triclosan, diclofenac rivers by 33%–56% globally•Over half world's experience COVID-19-associated impacts•Water should consider measuresSummaryThe enhanced protective materials chemicals during pandemic probably pollution, but multiple pollutants worldwide are well documented. Here, updated, spatially explicit water quality model estimate soap (triclosan), personal equipment packaging (plastics), painkillers (diclofenac), reduced transportation (microplastics from car tires) sub-basins worldwide. Model results indicate that, globally, with macroplastics 56%, triclosan 33%, 50%. Notably, only microplastics tires decreased. We identified priority across globe measures. For sub-basins, our can inform ameliorating taken pandemic.Graphical abstract