Document Type : Original Article
Author
Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran
Abstract
The COVID-19 started from Wuhan, China by the end of 2019 and spread rapidly
around the world. Since December 2019, COVID-19 disease has spread rapidly in
all regions of the world, from cold and dry to hot and humid climates. The virus
resulted in about 4.2 million infections and 280,000 deaths around the world (as of
10th May, 2020). But it has resulted in about 154.4 million infections and 3.3
million deaths around the world (as of 10th May, 2021). It means that infection
cases have grown about 37 time and death cases about 12 times during the said
interval. The virus resulted about 108,000 infections and 6,700 deaths in Iran (as of
10th May, 2020). But it has grown to about 2.6 million infections and about 73,300
deaths one year later (as of 10th May, 2021). It means that infection cases in Iran
are about 24 times and death cases are about 11 times as compared to the global
data. The ratios are relatively not far from to average data in the other parts of the
world. The world has not experienced such catastrophic phenomena after World
War I (1914-1918). The catastrophe is affecting not only our health, economy,
culture and life style but also our environment. After one year, ideas about role of
this crisis in ecosystem and environment are quite different. Optimists believe that
this crisis is the best opportunity to reduce pressure on natural resources and
provides time for self-reconstruction of the ecosystems and environment. The most
positive impacts of this crisis are reduced pressure on natural resources, decrease in
air pollution and climate change, deeper understanding of the ecosystems and
environment saving. The significant negative impacts of the COVID-19 are human
infection, economic losses, increase in household consumption, medicine, face
masks, medical gloves, challenge for burial of household and medical waste,
reduction in environmental diplomacy, reduction in accuracy of weather forecasts
and treat for wildlife infection. Several impacts have been reported on the human
and natural environment of Iran. The impacts on the ecosystems and environment
of Iran are similar to that reported in other parts of the world.
Keywords
Article Title [Persian]
Evaluation of environmental impacts of the Covid-19 on the Iran: an updated review
Author [Persian]
Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran