COVID lessons from the global south – Face masks invading tourist beaches and recommendations for the outdoor seasons

dc.creatorThiel, Martin
dc.creatorDe Veer, Daniela
dc.creatorEspinoza Fuenzalida, Nuxia L.
dc.creatorEspinoza, Camilo
dc.creatorGallardo, Camila
dc.creatorHinojosa Toledo, Iván Andrés
dc.creatorKiessling, Tim
dc.creatorRojas, Javiera
dc.creatorSánchez, Abril
dc.creatorSotomayor, Fernanda
dc.creatorVásquez, Nelson
dc.creatorVillablanca, Roberto
dc.date2022-01-20T22:23:18Z
dc.date2022-01-20T22:23:18Z
dc.date2021-09
dc.date.accessioned2022-10-18T12:08:45Z
dc.date.available2022-10-18T12:08:45Z
dc.identifierScience of The Total Environment, Volume 786, 10 September 2021, 147486
dc.identifier0048-9697
dc.identifierhttp://repositoriodigital.ucsc.cl/handle/25022009/2626
dc.identifier10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147486
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorioslatinoamericanos.uchile.cl/handle/2250/4442220
dc.descriptionArtículo de publicación ISI
dc.descriptionIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been extensively used, and discarded PPE has been observed in many different environments, including on tourist beaches. Here we examined the distribution and densities of face masks on some of the main tourist beaches in Chile, and we monitored their daily accumulation rates on one beach in northern-central Chile. Face masks were found on beaches across the country with average densities of 0.006 ± 0.002 (mean ± se) face masks m−2, which are higher than densities reported on Peruvian beaches, but lower than those on some Kenyan beaches. Face masks were also found on more remote beaches and rocky shores in northern-central Chile. Daily accumulation rates on one tourist beach were low during austral fall/winter (0.2 face masks km−1 d−1), but were over ten times higher during austral summer (3.0 face masks km−1 d−1). These values are substantially higher than daily accumulation rates reported from urban streets, which is most likely due to the high densities of beach visitors during the summer tourist season. COVID-19 related infrastructure (signposts and PPE waste bins) was present on most beaches, but while signposts about personal protection were abundant, there were few signposts about littering, and only one of the 12 beaches sampled for COVID infrastructure had a signpost that offered recommendations about the proper disposal of used face masks. Specific waste bins for PPE waste were only available at three beaches. Based on these findings it is recommended to provide sufficient PPE-related signs and waste bins, establish general and strict waste disposal regulations, and to improve enforcement. Educational campaigns should aim at recommending proper use and disposal of face masks, litter prevention, reduction of single-use waste and enhanced pro-environmental behaviors.
dc.languageen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.sourcehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147486
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE)
dc.subjectLittering
dc.subjectBeach pollution
dc.subjectWaste infrastructure
dc.subjectWaste management
dc.titleCOVID lessons from the global south – Face masks invading tourist beaches and recommendations for the outdoor seasons
dc.typeArtículos de revistas


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