The Interaction Effects between COVID-19 Pandemic and Human Ecological Footprint: A Narrative Review

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, first recognized in China and quickly became a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has been found to have positive and negative environmental impacts. Air, wastewater, and solid waste are some examples that show this pandemic’s consequences. The current review summarizes the interactions between the COVID-19 pandemic with air, water, wastewater, and solid waste. During the COVID-19 outbreak, air pollution, ambient noise, fuel, and energy consumption, have been reduced. On the other hand, air pollution has been shown to increase the risk of COVID-19; thus, there is a positive correlation between air pollution and the number of COVID- 19 cases. Moreover, the researchers have detected the SARSCOV- 2 in feces and wastewater. Therefore, exposure to SARSCoV- 2 is possible by utilizing untreated effluent and wastewater in irrigation or aerosol generation during specific wastewater treatment processes. Furthermore, monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater allows us to detect the virus before it spreads in the community take the necessary measures, and implement effective policies. Changes in the composition and quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) are typical results of the COVID-19 pandemic, as plastic waste generation has increased globally due to the higher use of disposable single-use plastic bags and packaging. Mixing infectious virus-infected waste with domestic waste has led to the terminus of waste recycling in many parts of the world due to its hazardous potential. Developing effective strategies based on the sustainable development approach may reduce the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and similar outbreaks in the future.