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A recent study jointly conducted by researchers from the Central University of Kerala (CUK) and the Manipal Institute of Technology found a drastic increase in microplastics in the soil in Kasaragod town post the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted as part of a research project sanctioned by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE). It is significant as microplastics released from products such as face masks pose a severe environmental threat while their ecotoxicological impacts are unknown.  The study also suggested proper disposal and management of plastic materials, including surgical face masks and PPE kits, in the region. The study has been published in the scientific journal Marine Pollution Bulletin in its April issue.