Face Masks Are Invading The Ocean At A Record Level - COVID-19 Consequence

Dhir Acharya - Jun 11, 2020

During the COVID-19, people are wearing and discarding more face masks than ever into the ocean, which further threatens marine life.

Humans have been disposing of their trash into the ocean of decades, and this is undoubtedly getting worse rather than better. During the COVID-19, people are wearing masks and we have to replace them with new masks regularly to avoid contracting the virus. However, that also means more face masks are being thrown at sea, putting marine life at a higher risk than ever.

face masks in the ocean — During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are throwing away huge numbers of face masks, adding to the already serious threat to marine life

Specifically, surgical masks are increasingly washing up on the shores of Hong Kong. According to conservationists, masks disposed of during the pandemic is adding to the already high plastic waste levels in the water surrounding Hong Kong.

Experts say that discarded gloves and masks are becoming a serious threat to the health of the environment and animals as people are dumping more of them on the street.

face masks wash up the shore — Ocean Asia, an environmental group, is using surgical gloves to sort out face masks from other pieces of litter on the beach

Ocean Asia, an environmental group, is collecting trash on the beach, using surgical gloves to sort out face masks from other pieces of liter on the beach in Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

surgical gloves in the ocean — People are discarding surgical gloves into the ocean too

Conservationists have warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could trigger a spike in the level of ocean pollution. There will be more face masks and gloves than jellyfish in the Mediterranean. The alarm came from French ecologist organization Opération Mer Propre.