Journal of Clinical Research & Bioethics

Environmental Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aswin V^* Department of Medicine, Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
^*Correspondence: Aswin V, Department of Medicine, Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Email:

Received: 06-Jan-2021 Published: 27-Jan-2021, DOI: 10.35248/2155-9627.21.s8.e001

Introduction

The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is affecting every part of human lives, including the physical world. The measures taken to control the spread of the virus and the slowdown of economic activities have significant effects on the environment. Therefore, this study intends to explore the positive and negative environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, by reviewing the available scientific literatures. This study indicates that, the pandemic situation significantly improves air quality in different cities across the world, reduces GHGs emission, lessens water pollution and noise, and reduces the pressure on the tourist destinations, which may assist with the restoration of the ecological system. In addition, there are also some negative consequences of COVID-19, such as increase of medical waste, haphazard use and disposal of disinfectants, mask, and gloves; and burden of untreated wastes continuously endangering the environment. It seems that, economic activities will return soon after the pandemic, and the situation might change.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Diverse environmental attributes govern the outbreak and dissemination of epidemic or pandemic occurrences with concomitant environmental feedbacks. The COVID-19 or novel coronavirus disease with its rapid and expansive spatiotemporal distribution and complex sequelae presented as a global pandemonium undergirded with ecological fallacy and mass hysteria. Countries responded with diverse measures, such as the application of face masks, hand washing, social distancing and other environmental, health and healthcare measures which assisted to ameliorate the disaster in certain instances. Otherwise, the COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by dissipation of the ingress of income, adverse impacts of the disease and comorbidities. Anthropogenic activities were mainly determinants and risk factors in the harnessing and curbing of COVID-19 globally. Anthropogenic activities and natural occurrences as well as multidimensional phenomena have been inextricably related in the resolution of the conflicting presence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Numerous environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic include environmental perturbation and deterioration from anthropogenic activities and uncontrolled natural interventions. These have ostensibly retarded social, economic and industrial processes, consumption, motion, natural resources, as well as decreased contaminant and pollutant emissions. However, atmospheric carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions have incessantly become elevated. Processes for ecosystem and biodiversity conservation almost reached diminutive capacity. These have culminated in inter alia increased unwholesome and sporadic solid waste-dumping with resultant unsustainable way of existence. Also, there is associated abrogation of crucial features on global environmental governance regarding the climate change and biodiversity ''super year''.

Environmental Health and Biodiversity

Biodiversity undergirds present and future economic abundance, human health, well-being and welfare . It is pertinent that nations inculcate and adhere to biodiversity in all COVID-19 concerns, sustainable and restorative processes. Biodiversity protection is crucial in confronting any imminent pandemic. Certain countries or regions have integrated biodiversity paradigm in disparate COVID-19 policy and governance which invariably includes ecosystem restoration, strengthening environmental regulations, enhancing stimulus measures and biodiversity conservation. The variation between socio-economic and environmental parameters depicts the complexity of interactions associated with global supply chains, spillover impacts encompassing manufacturing, tourism and transportation in the industry sectors. These need to be examined to rapidly stimulate global economy for society and environment in the present dispensation and in the future of post- COVID-19. Numerous anthropogenic activities are detrimental to biodiversity, landscape and environmental heterogeneity, with expansive propensity for the dissemination of emerging and reemerging diseases. The positive environmental health effects due to stringent environmental and health activities serve as instances in way of life in which necessary behavioral changes pose positive impacts towards biodiversity and ecosystems for the present and future.

Conclusion

There are extant immense impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across countries or regions within disparate contexts. The paucity of informantion and communication have resulted in the acquisition of merely anecdotal data in most instances. There is expansive latitude for further investigation in all facets, and especially the potential effects of COVID-19 on restoration and sustainability with particular reference to the environment, health and socioeconomic development as related to biodiversity, landuse, water, air, quality and way of life as well as policy making, administration and governance. The obliteration or suppression of COVID-19 and its concomitant sequelae is achievable via the knowledge of constituting an integral component where COVID-19 will not continue to be a local and global nuisance of ecological impertinence.