Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution assessment after the COVID-19 pandemic along the coast of the Strait of Messina, Italy

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, plastic pollution has increased considerably worldwide due to the discharge of personal protective equipment (PPE) into aquatic environments. The aim of this study is to evaluate the pollution rate caused by PPE along the coasts of the Strait of Messina (Italy). From June 2022 to May 2023, nine sampling sites were inspected using transects to collect PPE, including facemasks, face shields and surgical gloves. A total of 143 PPE was found in an area of 14 545 km2 of beach. Face masks were the most commonly found PPE (n = 92, 64.4 %) compared to gloves (n = 51, 35.6 %). The density of PPE was 1.08 × 10−2 PPE m−2. The results suggest lack of awareness, negligence in the waste management system, and poor implementation of policies on plastic pollution, with serious impacts on the health of coastal environments.