Deka Sangeeta, Rani Diksha, Mahanta Putul, Kalita Deepjyoti
Department of Microbiology, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Barpeta, Assam, India.
Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
J Family Med Prim Care. 2022 May;11(5):1604-1609. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_38_21. Epub 2022 May 14.
This critical narrative review is intended to emphasize the comprehensive ecological issues related to the evolution of the novel coronavirus, the environmental factors associated with the disease progress, and the impact the pandemic is having on the environment. Approximately 60% of the emerging infectious disease of the last century (including deadly viruses like HIV, Ebola, Influenza, coronavirus strains like SARS, MERS) are linked to zoonotic spillover. Therefore, to escape the emergence of newer cross-species infections, proper precautionary measures should be taken. Every country has specific rules to deal with the biomedical waste produced in hospitals. But the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a unique global challenge due to the overwhelming amount of biomedical waste generated from dedicated COVID hospitals, diagnostic facilities, quarantine centers, and home quarantine facilities. Moreover, inappropriate disposal of masks by the general public may contaminate the environment turning it into a potential health hazard. Therefore, strict adherence to Biomedical Waste Management Guidelines for proper disposal of masks and other medical waste by all concerned is a must. Lockdown has brought about tremendous improvement in conditions of the world's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Dramatic improvement in air quality index, decrease in water, and noise pollution are some of the positive aspects of lockdown. However, these effects are temporary. But these teach an important lesson to the world to take some permanent measures to bring down greenhouse gases and other toxic emissions. Some harmful effects of lockdown are illegal deforestation, wildlife trafficking, encroachment of reserved areas etc.
这篇批判性叙述性综述旨在强调与新型冠状病毒进化相关的综合生态问题、与疾病进展相关的环境因素以及该疫情对环境的影响。在上个世纪出现的传染病中（包括像艾滋病毒、埃博拉病毒、流感病毒等致命病毒，以及像非典、中东呼吸综合征等冠状病毒毒株），约60%与动物源性溢出有关。因此，为避免出现新的跨物种感染，应采取适当的预防措施。每个国家都有处理医院产生的生物医疗废物的具体规定。但由于专门的新冠医院、诊断设施、检疫中心和家庭隔离设施产生了大量生物医疗废物，新冠疫情带来了独特的全球挑战。此外，公众对口罩的不当处置可能会污染环境，使其成为潜在的健康危害。因此，所有相关方必须严格遵守生物医疗废物管理指南，以妥善处置口罩和其他医疗废物。封锁使世界的大气圈、水圈和生物圈状况有了巨大改善。空气质量指数大幅改善、水和噪音污染减少是封锁带来的一些积极方面。然而，这些影响是暂时的。但这些给世界上了重要的一课，即要采取一些永久性措施来降低温室气体和其他有毒排放。封锁也有一些有害影响，比如非法砍伐森林、野生动物贩运、侵占保护区等。
