WEBOFSCIENCE2
WEBOFSCIENCE2
WEBOFSCIENCE2
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ABSTRACT
In the face of COVID-19 outbreak, we are living through truly unprecedented times. One of the areas where guidance
continues to evolve includes face coverings and masks. The use of PPE, in particular face masks, and to lesser extent
gloves and face shields, has become widespread and a common tool used in preventing the spread of pandemic.These
masks eventually land up in oceans and land-fills. These masks will take as long as 450 years to break down and negatively
impact marine wildlife and Ecosystem.More than 1.5 billion disposable face masks will wind up in the world’s oceans this
year polluting the water with tons of plastic and endangering marine wildlife, according to a Hong Kong-based
environmental group. With each mask weighing three to four grams, the situation could lead to 6,800 plus tons of plastic
pollution that will take as long as 450 years to break down.In addition to the harmful effects of micro-plastic and nano-
plastic particles, elastic ear loops pose a possible entanglement risk for wildlife.
If historical data is a reliable indicator, it can be expected that around 75 per cent of the used masks, as well as other
pandemic-related waste, will end up in landfills, or floating in the seas. Aside from the environmental damage, the financial
cost, in areas such as tourism and fisheries, is estimated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at around $40
billion.The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned that, if the large increase in medical waste, much of it made
from environmentally harmful single-use plastics, is not managed soundly, uncontrolled dumping could result. The
potential consequences, says UNEP, which has produced a series of factsheets on the subject, include public health risks
from infected used masks, and the open burning or uncontrolled incineration of masks, leading to the release of toxins in
the environment, and to secondary transmission of diseases to humans.Because of fears of these potential secondary
impacts on health and the environment, UNEP is urging governments to treat the management of waste, including medical
and hazardous waste, as an essential public service. The agency argues that the safe handling and final disposal of this
waste is a vital element in an effective emergency response.
Keywords: Bio-Medical Waste, Disposable masks, Pollution, Solid Concrete Blocks.
INTRODUCTION They enter oceans when they are littered, when waste
management systems are inadequate or non-existent, or
While masks and other protective items have been vital in
when these systems become overwhelmed due to
the fight against COVID-19, they can have an incredibly
increased volumes of waste.The promotion of mask
detrimental impact on the environment. Single-use face
wearing as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19 has led
masks are made from a variety of melt blown plastics and
to an extraordinary increase in the production of
are difficult to recycle due to both composition and risk of
disposable masks: the UN trade body, UNCTAD,
contamination and infection.
estimates that global sales will total some $166 billion
Plastic masks can take hundreds of years to break down. this year, up from around $800 million in 2019.Recent
The use of PPE, in particular face masks, has become a media reports, showing videos and photos of divers
common tool used in preventing the spread of the virus, picking up masks and gloves, littering the waters around
with many jurisdictions mandating the wearing of masks the French Riviera, were a wake-up call for many,
in public. The production of PPE has expanded in an refocusing minds on the plastic pollution issue, and a
attempt to meet skyrocketing demand, and PPE waste has reminder that politicians, leaders and individuals need to
also increased dramatically. address the problem of plastic pollution.
Bio-Medical Waste Solid Concrete Blocks:
During the pandemic large amounts of disposable masks and 2:3 were selected for BMW and Standard Solid
are been disposed off either in landfill or end up in seas, Blocks after trial and error method.
these masks can be reused instead of leaving to rot in
oceans causing negative impact on marine animals. In this
study these masks are used to prepare solid concrete
blocks by adding the disposable mask to the conventional
raw materials by doing so not only reduces the pollution
but also tends to reuse disposable masks. Bio-Medical
Waste Solid Concrete Blocks are manufactured using
Cement, mixture of M-Sand and stone chips and
Disposable Masks in a proportion of 3:3:1 (which is
obtained after trial and error method). These solid blocks
are found to be strong and can be used in construction of
both Load bearing and Non Load bearing wall
constructions, irrespective of the weather conditions. The
process involved in manufacturing and the test results are
show below.
Objectives of the study:
To study the effects of used Disposable face
mask on the Environment.
To manufacture solid concrete blocks with Bio-
Medical Waste (Disposable Mask).
To find out optimum ratio by trial and error
method (Through literature survey).
To study the effect of bio-medical waste
(Disposable Mask) on the compressive strength,
block density and water absorption capacity
according to IS 2185(Part1):2005.
To compare the results of BMW solid blocks
Materials used
with Standard or Conventional solid bocks.
Cement:
Significance of the study:
Is the most common type of cement in general use around
The onset of COVID-19 established a new set of health
the world, because it is a basic ingredient of concrete,
advisories, the need to practice social distancing, washing
mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout. It is a fine
hands frequently, and the absolute and unarguable powder produced by grinding Portland cement clinker
requirement to wear a mask. Wearing of masks is now the
(more than 90%), a limited amount of calcium sulphate
new normal, blurring all divides. To further emphasis the
which controls the set time, and up to 55 minor
importance, it has been made a punishable offence not to
constituents (as allowed by various standards).
wear one. More importantly, its sign of civic
responsibility for all citizens, not wearing one is a mark of The specific gravity of the cement was 3.15.
irresponsibility. These play an important role in present
Disposable Masks:
situation and once they are disposed off they cause
problems to the environment in form of land and marine One part of disposable mask is used to produce the Bio-
pollution. To overcome these problems, it is necessary to Medical Waste Blocks, the masks were collected from
study the effects of these wastes and find a way to recycle various sources and were kept sealed for a period of 72
and reuse these left over masks before it is too late to do hrs. Later they were removed and hand shredded into
so. small pieces.
01. 1:2 2.9 N/mm2 The results are then compared with the results
2 of standard solid concrete blocks.
02. 2:3 3.3 N/mm
Testing:
BMW blocks
Compressive strength test
01. 1.5:2:1 3.2 N/mm2
In this test the blocks are placed in the CTM and load is
02. 3:3:1 3.9 N/mm2 applied gradually without shock until the specimen fails.
5
4
3
2 sample 1
1
sample 2
0
Fig.2 Compressive Strength Test
8
6
4 After 7 days
2 After 14 days
0
After 28 days
STANDARD BMW BLOCKS
BLOCKS
2300
CONCLUSION
2200
After 7 days The addition of disposable mask with increased
2100 cement content has showmassive increase in
After 14 days compressive strength.
2000
After 28 days
STANDARD BMW BLOCKS The compressive strength of the Bio-Medical
BLOCKS Waste blocks has increased by about 30%.