Plastic Pollution
Plastic Pollution
Home:- Plastic is a synthetic or semi-synthetic organic material derived from petrochemicals. They are synthetic resinous substances and are typically made from a range of organic polymers. The work plastic orginates from the greek word “plasticos” meaning that which can be shaped or moulded. Plastic was invented in 1907 by Leo Hendrik in America, when he synthesized phenol and formaldehyde. Plastic never degrade and remain as it for all time to come, which make plastic pollution a major environmental concern.
• They are cheap.
• Plastics do not rot like wood.
• Plastic do not rust like iron.
• Plastics are light in weight.
• They can be moulded into any shape and any color.
• They do not conduct electricity.
• Some plastics are transparent.
• They can be drawn into fibres.
Definition of Plastic Pollution:-
The undesirable or unwanted change in the environment caused by the plastics is called plastic pollution.
Causes of Plastic Pollution:-
• Plastic is cheap and one can always get another bottle or bag. Added to this, a highly consumeristic lifestyle has led to the formation of a use and throw society where everything comes cheap.
• Plastic has become a part and parcel of human life. It has become an enevitable item. It is used in many fields.
• Plastics are very popular and convenient because of their durability. A plastic carry bag is handy and very cheap. We use and throw it recklessly. This leads to the accumulation of tremendous quantity of trash in the environment.
• Plastics are not decomposed easily. They remain for a long time in the environment. This leads to the ecological degradation and ill effects.
• High energy ultra violet rays are needed to break down plastic.
• The environment is severely impacted- both during the production of plastic as well as after it is disposed of.
Harmful effects of Plastic Pollution:-
(i) Dumping of Plastics or landfill waste-
• Reduced fertility of land- Indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste on land makes the land infertile due to its barrier properties that block the natural supply of air and water containing to the soil.
• Non-recyclable plastics- Non-recyclable plastic wastes such as multilayer, metalized pouches and other there most plastic poses disposal problems.
• Difficulty in Waste Processing- Garbage mixed with plastics interface in waste processing facilities and also cause problems in landfill operations.
(ii) Effect of Plastic on water bodies- fdfdkj
• Polluting the Oceans- The un-recycled plastics from several sources ultimately reach the oceans and they reach the cyclical gyres through the ocean currents. These gyres form as the plastic garbage dumps of oceans.
• Chocking of the water channels- Littered plastics gives a dirty look, chokes waterways and drains leading to flooding in monsoon.
(iii)Effect of plastic pollution on Human Health:-
• Burning of plastics- Burning of plastics cause severe air pollution as it generates toxic emission carbon monoxide, chlorine, hydro chlorine acid, dioxin, furans, amines, nitrides, styrene, etc. which causes diseases in human body.
• Heavy metals in plastics- Lead (damages brain) and cadmium pigments (damages heart), commonly used in low-density polyethylene (LDPE), High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) as additives, are toxic and are known to seep out and pollute underground water also.
• Effect of plastic pollution on Animals:-
• When animals consume plastic bags, alimentary canal gets blocked and the stomach is bloated. This animal stops eating and dies of starvation. It is ultimately a slow death.
A/c to the report of Nidhivan Foundation, “More than millions of marine animals are died due to plastic pollution.”
Measures to control plastic pollution:-
• Reduction in the use of Plastics- The foremost method of controlling this dangerous pollution it to create awareness among people and to ensure the minimum use of plastics that too recyclable plastics and also use of alternative materials such as paper and glass etc.
• Proper recovery- Used plastics should not be thrown at random and should be stored and addressed separately.
• Innovative plastic products- Efforts should be made for the development of bio-degradable plastic from vegetable oil and use of innovative safe chemicals, which are non-toxic or less toxic.
• Stringent Legislation- There are several rules and acts to contain the plastic pollution. But, when it comes to execution, it is failing. So, more vigilance is required in the implementation and penalisation.
Global Scenario of plastic pollution:-
• A/c to the rough estimates 8.3 to 9.0 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced globally since 1950 which is equal to the more than four mount everests of waste. About 6 to 7 billion tonnes of total plastic produced since 1950 is still present as garbage in the environment.
• 816 crore kg. plastic flows into the oceans every year from coastal regions. About 73% beech litter in plastic. Plastic remain in the environment for as many as 450 years.
• A/c to the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), 32 million tons of plastic waste were generated in 2012 in the united states, out of which 14 million tons of plastics were containers and used for packaging, about million tons were durable goods such as appliances, etc.
• China is the largest scrap plastics exporter and processor with werian province being the global scrap plastic destination. There are about 60,000 small scale, family, owned workshops spread over 50 villages, devoted to recycling plastic.
• About 88% of the open surface of oceans contain plastic debris, includes various plastic products of daily use. During the Malaspina Expedition 2010, it was observed that the micro plastics can last hundreds of years.
• On an average, one person uses about 90 kg of plastic in a year.
National Scenario of Plastic Pollution:-
• It is safe to estimate that approximately 5.6 million tons per annum (TPA) of plastic waste is generated in India, which is about 15,342 tons per day. Delhi occupies the first place with more than 700 tons of waste per day.
• A/c to CPCB, the recycling of the total plastic waste will be done to the tone of 60% only amounting to 9025 tons per day and 6137 tons of remaining plastic is not collected, littered or dumped.
• A study is conducted in 60 cities in 2010-11 by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology observed that 10 cities viz., Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmadabad, Hyderabad, Surat, Kanpur and Pune generate more plastic waste.
