The World Health Organization says overuse of gloves and 'moon suits' and the use of billions of masks and vaccination syringes to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus have spurred a huge glut of health care waste worldwide.
GENEVA -- The World Health Organization says overuse of gloves,"moon suits" and the use of billions of masks and vaccination syringes to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus have spurred a huge glut of health care waste worldwide.
"Part of the message for the public is to become more of a conscious consumer," said Dr. Margaret Montgomery, technical officer of WHO's water, sanitation, hygiene and health unit."In terms of the volume, it's enormous." The agency says most of the roughly 87,000 tons of such equipment - including what she called"moon suits" and gloves -- obtained from March 2020 to November 2021 to battle COVID-19 has ended up as waste. More than 8 billion doses of vaccine administered globally have produced 143 tons of extra waste in terms of syringes, needles and safety boxes.
In the statement, Dr. Anne Woolridge of the International Solid Waste Association said"safe and rational use" of personal protective equipment would reduce environmental harm, save money, reduce possible supply shortages and help prevent infection"by changing behaviors."
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