scholarly journals The impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayse Lisa Allison ◽  
Esther Ambrose-Dempster ◽  
Teresa Domenech Aparsi ◽  
Maria Bawn ◽  
Miguel Casas Arredondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Cost Comparison ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Behavioural Research ◽  
Single Use ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK government has mandated the use of face masks in various public settings and recommends the use of reusable masks to combat shortages of medically graded single-use masks in healthcare. To assist decision-making on the choice of masks for future pandemics, where shortages may not be a contributing factor, the UCL Plastic Waste Innovation Hub has carried out a multidisciplinary comparison between single-use and reusable masks based on their anatomy, standalone effectiveness, behavioural considerations, environmental impacts and costs. Although current single-use masks have a higher standalone effectiveness against bacteria and viruses, studies show that reusable masks have adequate performance in slowing infection rates of respiratory viruses. Material Flow Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment and cost comparison show that reusable masks have a lower environmental and economic impact than single-use masks. If every person in the UK uses one single-use mask each day for a year, it will create a total of 124,000 tonnes of waste, 66,000 tonnes of which would be unrecyclable contaminated plastic waste (the masks), with the rest being the recyclable packaging typically used for transportation and distribution of masks.Using reusable masks creates >85% less waste, generates 3.5 times lower impact on climate change and incurs 3.7 times lower costs. Further behavioural research is necessary to understand the extent and current practices of mask use; and how these practices affect mask effectiveness in reducing infection rates. Wearing single-use masks may be preferred over reusable masks due to perceptions of increased hygiene and convenience. Understanding behaviour towards the regular machine-washing of reusable masks for their effective reuse is key to maximise their public health benefits and minimise environmental and economic costs.

scholarly journals The impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayse Lisa Allison ◽  
Esther Ambrose-Dempster ◽  
Teresa Domenech Aparsi ◽  
Maria Bawn ◽  
Miguel Casas Arredondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Cost Comparison ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Behavioural Research ◽  
Single Use ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK government has mandated the use of face masks in various public settings and recommends the use of reusable masks to combat shortages of medically graded single-use masks in healthcare. To assist decision-making on the choice of masks for future pandemics, where shortages may not be a contributing factor, the UCL Plastic Waste Innovation Hub has carried out a multidisciplinary comparison between single-use and reusable masks based on their anatomy, standalone effectiveness, behavioural considerations, environmental impacts and costs. Although current single-use masks have a higher standalone effectiveness against bacteria and viruses, studies show that reusable masks have adequate performance in slowing infection rates of respiratory viruses. Material Flow Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment and cost comparison show that reusable masks have a lower environmental and economic impact than single-use masks. If every person in the UK uses one single-use mask each day for a year, it will create a total waste of 124,000 tonnes, 66,000 tonnes of which would be unrecyclable contaminated plastic waste. Using reusable masks creates >85% less waste, generates 3.5 times lower impact on climate change and incurs 3.7 times lower costs. Further behavioural research is necessary to understand the extent and current practices of mask use, and its effectiveness in reducing infection rates. Wearing single-use masks may be preferred over reusable masks due to perceptions of increased hygiene and convenience. Understanding behaviour towards the regular machine-washing of reusable masks for their effective reuse is key to maximise their public health benefits and minimise environmental and economic costs.

scholarly journals The impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayşe Lisa Allison ◽  
Esther Ambrose-Dempster ◽  
Maria Bawn ◽  
Miguel Casas Arredondo ◽  
Charnett Chau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Cost Comparison ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
University College London ◽  
Single Use ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the UK government mandated the use of face masks in various public settings and recommended the use of reusable masks to combat shortages of medically graded single-use masks in healthcare. To assist decision-making on the choice of masks for future pandemics, where shortages may not be a contributing factor, the University College London (UCL) Plastic Waste Innovation Hub has carried out a multidisciplinary comparison between single-use and reusable masks based on their anatomy, standalone effectiveness, behavioural considerations, environmental impact and costs. Although current single-use masks have a higher standalone effectiveness against bacteria and viruses, studies show that reusable masks have adequate performance in slowing infection rates of respiratory viruses. Material flow analysis (MFA), life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost comparison show that reusable masks have a lower environmental and economic impact than single-use masks. If every person in the UK uses one single-use mask each day for a year, it will create a total of 124,000 tonnes of waste, 66,000 tonnes of which would be unrecyclable contaminated plastic waste (the masks), with the rest being the recyclable packaging typically used for transportation and distribution of masks. Using reusable masks creates >85% less waste, generates 3.5 times lower impact on climate change and incurs 3.7 times lower costs. Further behavioural research is necessary to understand the extent and current practices of mask use; and how these practices affect mask effectiveness in reducing infection rates. Wearing single-use masks may be preferred over reusable masks due to perceptions of increased hygiene and convenience. Understanding behaviour towards the regular machine-washing of reusable masks for their effective reuse is key to maximise their public health benefits and minimise environmental and economic costs.

Material flow analysis as a tool for sustainable sanitation planning in developing countries: case study of Arba Minch, Ethiopia

2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 1911-1920 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Meinzinger ◽  
K. Kröger ◽  
R. Otterpohl
Keyword(s):  
Technology Implementation ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Urine Diversion ◽  
Sanitation Systems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Faecal Sludge

Material Flow Analysis is a method that can be used to assess sanitation systems with regard to their environmental impacts. Modelling water and nutrients flows of the urban water, wastewater and waste system can highlight risks for environmental pollution and can help evaluating the potential for linking sanitation with resource recovery and agricultural production. This study presents the results of an analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus flows of Arba Minch town in South Ethiopia. The current situation is modelled and possible scenarios for upgrading the town's sanitation system are assessed. Two different scenarios for nutrient recovery are analysed. Scenario one includes co-composting municipal organic waste with faecal sludge from pit latrines and septic tanks as well as the use of compost in agriculture. The second scenario based on urine-diversion toilets includes application of urine as fertiliser and composting of faecal matter. In order to allow for variations in the rate of adoption, the model can simulate varying degrees of technology implementation. Thus, the impact of a step-wise or successive approach can be illustrated. The results show that significant amounts of plant nutrients can be provided by both options, co-composting and urine diversion.

scholarly journals Material stocks and flows of extensive cattle production

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 101-107
Author(s):  
Szilárd Kádár
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resource ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Co2 Emission ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Adult Cattle ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Impact

The current climate change and population boom is the result of the technical developments that aroused by the industrial revolution and the Second Word War. The food shortage arising from that steadily increase poses several problem for agriculture which is exacerbated by the ineffectual operation of the food processing industry. To cover the required amount of food leads higher greenhouse gas emission than CO2 like CH4 and N2O. Considering this fact I kept it important to find a solution that can be inserted in our countries facility and which is independent from soil usage. The importance of the cattle breeding sector is that it doesn’t require those agricultural lands which could also serve human’s need. I will examine the impact of the extensive cattle with material flow analysis, which is able to show the flows of the specific materials in a given place and in a given time. This calculation is not used count with the pollution and economic factors of the materials. According to my survey the results show that the examined farms needs 4,72; 4,64; 0,24 kg of material stock per one kg of meat to maintain the production. This production needs average 10-13 kg of dry matter input, of which major content is grass. As an unintended emission CO2 emission is also generated: The generated amount of CO2 depends on the Farm structure: in average 11,32; 16,02; 16,76 kg CO2 / meat kg. To make comparable results it demands weighted averages. That means to make material flow analysis result like feed intake and CO2 emission needs to be weighted with the time which is needed for the production. It can be claimed that the total CO2 emission of an adult cattle is over 30 kg per one kg of meat, and there are no methods to decrease it. But on the other hand the usage of stocks can be reduced by different methods. The first is the number of the livestock could be increased because it will also increase the efficiency of natural resource usage. On the other hand we can help the farms to co-operate with each other. It allows them to share their stocks. And the last solution is to make multifunctional farms which can produce plants and animals at the same time. Despite of the high rate of productions’ CO2 emission it is still competitive against intensive cattle, owing to the low rate of natural resource requirements

scholarly journals Quantity of plastic waste input into the ocean from China based on a material flow analysis model

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengyu Bai ◽  
Daoji Li
Keyword(s):  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Government Control ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Global Environmental Issue ◽  
Global Environmental

Marine plastic waste has been an important global environmental issue in recent years, and quantifying the amount of global marine plastic waste input is vital for control and mitigation. However, determining an accurate quantity of oceanic plastics is challenging because comprehensive monitoring data are difficult to obtain on national and global scales. To understand the contribution of China in global marine plastic waste input, we used a material flow analysis (MFA) method, which is included in lifecycle assessment and combines statistical data from China’s official statistics, reports, and NPO (nonprofit organization) to establish an MFA model. The model assesses the lifecycle of plastics, which starts with primary plastic, passes the stage of plastic product, and eventually becomes plastic waste. With the MFA model, the annual amount of plastic waste entering the ocean from China from 2011 to 2020 can be calculated. In 2011, 0.65 million tonnes of plastic waste entered the ocean from China, and the quantity rose slowly until 2016. A rapid decline appeared in 2018 because of China’s governmental managements and the quantity will continue to decrease until 2020. Our results indicate the amount of oceanic plastics has a strong correlation with government control measures.

Time-dependent material flow analysis of iron and steel in the UK

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Geyer ◽  
J. Davis ◽  
J. Ley ◽  
J. He ◽  
R. Clift ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Iron And Steel ◽  
The Uk
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