Asian Research Journal of Current Science

The growing usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) might result in secondary environmental catastrophes as COVID-19 spreads swiftly throughout Nigeria. To conserve the environment and safeguard public health from approaching health hazards, it is crucial for the relevant authorities to maintain a secure waste disposal system. As of 2015, Nigeria produced about 411000 tons of plastic, and it is anticipated that this volume will rise to 513000 tons due to population growth, rising demand for PPE and other medical facilities, which are primarily made of plastic and 9 percent of which have been recycled and burned, respectively. As the number of people with COVID-19 rises, there is a steady need for PPE, which are plastic items, which increases plastic waste production and the associated environmental damage. We have concentrated on the harmful impacts of these chemicals on air, water, soil, creatures, and human health as well as on the prevalent disposal techniques. Toxic chemicals like phthalates, heavy metals, bisphenol A, brominated flame retardants, nonylphenol, polychlorinated biphenylethers, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, and phenanthrene are among those found in various plastics used in the manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical devices. Every year, an estimated 8 million tons of hazardous medical waste are dumped into the ocean, degrading the marine environment and eventually having an impact on aquatic life. Utilizing PPE and plastic items for an extended period of time and exposing them to high temperatures can cause the leaching of harmful chemical components into food, beverages, and water. Indiscriminate disposal of PPE on land and open air burning can lead to the release of toxic chemicals into the air causing public health hazards. This work also presents mismanagement and risk assessment of PPE wastes disposal.