"1.6 Billion Masks Floating in the Ocean"... The Sea Cries from the Pandemic-Induced Fear

Masks littered along the coastline. Photo by Oceans Asia

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] The severity of global marine pollution is being raised due to mask waste caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the surge in plastic waste compared to previous years.

According to foreign media including Hong Kong Free Press on the 12th (local time), 1.56 billion disposable masks generated by COVID-19 have washed into the world's oceans this year.

OceansAsia, a marine environmental organization headquartered in Hong Kong, released a report titled "Masks on the Beach: The Impact of COVID-19 on Marine Plastic Pollution," stating that an additional 4,680 to 6,250 tons of marine plastic pollution will occur due to discarded masks.

Disposable masks made of polypropylene take 450 years to decompose and are expected to turn into microplastics during the process, adversely affecting marine ecosystems.

Not only discarded masks, but overall plastic consumption has surged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Tille Phelps Bondaroff, the lead author of the report, said, "The 1.56 billion masks entering the ocean in 2020 are just the tip of the iceberg," adding, "Mask waste is estimated at 4,680 to 6,240 tons, but the annual plastic waste flowing into the ocean reaches 8 to 12 million tons."

Gary Stokes, director of OceansAsia, said, "About 100,000 marine animals die due to plastic pollution," and "The economic cost caused by marine pollution is expected to reach $13 billion (14 trillion KRW) annually."

The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 11th (local time) that "blue surgical masks tangled together can be easily found in the beach wetlands along the northern coast of San Francisco Bay."

A study published last summer in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that globally, 129 billion masks and 65 billion plastic gloves are used monthly, with a significant portion drifting as marine debris.

At the "Beach Cleanup Day" hosted by the California Coastal Commission last September, about 70,000 pounds (approximately 10 tons) of trash was collected, 75% of which consisted of disposable plastic items such as masks, straws, water bottles, and takeout containers.

Feeling the seriousness of the situation, the state of San Francisco banned the use of plastic straws, and Berkeley restricted the use of plastic utensils and plastic bags provided with takeout food.

The OceansAsia report emphasized the use of reusable masks whenever possible and responsible disposal. It also urged governments worldwide to increase fines to prevent citizens from carelessly discarding mask waste and to dispose of it responsibly. Furthermore, it called for sustainable development alternatives to replace disposable plastics.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.