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Heavy Metal, Waste, COVID-19, and Rapid Industrialization in This Modern Era—Fit for Sustainable Future

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  • Muhammad Adnan

    (State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Baohua Xiao

    (State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China)

  • Peiwen Xiao

    (State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Peng Zhao

    (State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Shaheen Bibi

    (Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
    Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination, waste, and COVID-19 are hazardous to all living things in the environment. This review examined the effects of heavy metals, waste, and COVID-19 on the ecosystem. Scientists and researchers are currently working on ways to extract valuable metals from waste and wastewater. We prefer Tessier sequential extraction for future use for heavy metal pollution in soil. Results indicated that population growth is another source of pollution in the environment. Heavy metal pollution wreaks havoc on soil and groundwater, especially in China. COVID-19 has pros and cons. The COVID-19 epidemic has reduced air pollution in China and caused a significant reduction in CO 2 releases globally due to the lockdown but has a harmful effect on human health and the economy. Moreover, COVID-19 brings a huge amount of biomedical waste. COVID-19’s biomedical waste appears to be causing different health issues. On the other hand, it was discovered that recycling has become a new source of pollution in south China. Furthermore, heavy metal contamination is the most severe ecological effect. Likewise, every problem has a remedy to create new waste management and pollution monitoring policy. The construction of a modern recycling refinery is an important aspect of national waste disposal.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Adnan & Baohua Xiao & Peiwen Xiao & Peng Zhao & Shaheen Bibi, 2022. "Heavy Metal, Waste, COVID-19, and Rapid Industrialization in This Modern Era—Fit for Sustainable Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4746-:d:794673
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Halkos, George & Aslanidis, Panagiotis-Stavros, 2024. "Reviewing environmental aspects under the scope of ESG," MPRA Paper 120298, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Lara Al-Haddad & Shafiq Al Abed & RaEd Kamal QaQish & Zyad Marashdeh & Abd Al-Salam Ahmad Al-Hamad, 2023. "Does Volatility in Air Pollution Index Affect Firm Financing Pattern?," Advances in Decision Sciences, Asia University, Taiwan, vol. 27(4), pages 1-23, December.
    4. Huibing Cheng & Shanshui Zheng, 2022. "Incentive Compensation Mechanism for the Infrastructure Construction of Electric Vehicle Battery Swapping Station under Asymmetric Information," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.

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