But locals and tourists alike have found a disturbing new tide washing up on the pristine beaches in recent weeks – hundreds, if not thousands, of disposable face masks, plastic gloves and other detritus, all generated by Covid-19. Marine biologist Emily Stevenson, 23, (pictured) who runs the Beach Guardian charity, shows some of the plastic masks picked up on Cornwall’s coastline. In the past two months alone, Emily and her Beach Guardian charity volunteers have picked up 650 plastic gloves and more than 250 face masks from this short stretch of coast. There, among the seaweed and pebbles on a popular peach, are the tell-tale glimpses of pale blue – a plastic glove followed a few seconds later by a face mask. The elastic straps that secure disposable masks are particularly hazardous for wildlife, which can easily become tangled in the loops.

Source: Daily Mail October 10, 2020 23:52 UTC