Prevalence and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) litter along the shoreline of Charleston Harbor estuary, South Carolina, USA

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced personal protective equipment (PPE) litter into the environment since early 2020. These items are often made of plastic polymers and can degrade over time. This study quantified PPE litter abundance around Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Plastic and PPE litter were collected at ten sites in September 2021. Items were weighed and categorized by type and plastic polymer. A total of 286 items of PPE were found, comprising 2.9 % of all plastic litter. Gloves were the most abundant type of PPE (n = 142), and PPE was found at an average density of 0.03 items m−1 and 0.19 g m−1. Compared to other coastal surveys conducted during the pandemic, PPE litter was present at higher proportions in Charleston Harbor. These results establish baseline levels of pandemic-related PPE litter in Charleston Harbor, and future research is necessary to quantify the environmental risks associated with PPE litter exposure.