THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE ENVIRONMENT

William Sumner Bishop

In 2019, the world encountered a new coronavirus. The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the world. The virus has affected not only human health and economies but also the environment. Countries implemented lockdown measures to contain the spread of the virus, and the environment benefited in various ways from a slowing of human activity. Over the past three years, studies and research have been conducted to determine the effects on the environment, which focused on past and present toxic chemical levels as well as air quality levels. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on our environment, in both positive and negative ways, ranging from a decrease in air pollution to an increase in plastic waste.  As more research is conducted about the effects of COVID-19 on the environment, researchers need to focus on the levels of toxic chemicals, before, during, and after the pandemic to ensure research is accurate, while also determining ways to maintain these levels so that our environment is safe to reside in.

• William Sumner Bishop graduated in May 2023 with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies. His areas of focus were Environmental Science and Public Administration.