Plastics And Their Environmental Impact

Plastics And Their Environmental Impact
Plastics and their Environmental Impact – Issues Investigation
1. Describe what plastics are.
Plastics are materials that can be moulded into any shape by applying heat and/or pressure while
soft but obtain a hard a rigid structure when hardened. Plastics are mainly carbon based and can be
made out of materials such as crude oil, plants, minerals, natural gas and coal. Plastics are made up
of large molecules called polymers which are made up of shorter compounds called monomers. To
make various types of plastics, chemists use different types of monomers in different arrangements
to change the chemical and physical properties.
2. State the two main types of plastics and describe their physical and chemical properties.
The two main ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
3. Research how one of the main types of plastics is manufactured.
To make Thermoplastics, chemists have to create the polymers by arranging different monomers in
a specific structure depending on what the plastic is going to be used for. The Thermoplastics'
polymers are not linked and have no chemical bonds to ensure that in can be remoulded once
hardened. This is combined in a heated pot which is then cooled. While cooling, the mixture is
separated into a bead or pellet form for easy distribution. This is then shipped to companies which
reheat the mixture and use different methods to make the plastic product. The different methods
include injection moulding (used for containers), blow moulding (used for plastic bottles), extrusion
(used for plastic films) and rotational moulding (used for toys, furniture, etc.).
4. Find out two other uses for the plastic chosen in number 3.
Two other uses for Thermoplastics other than film and packaging include to make acrylic and to
make plastic bottles.
5. Choose and collect 3 different everyday plastic items/packaging.
a. Find their identification code (usually on the bottom of the packaging is a number in a triangle)
Mineral Water Bottle – 1
Takeaway Container – 5
Cream Container – 6

b. Research what the identification code for each item stands for.
Identification number 1 stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate and is commonly used for soft drink
bottles, water bottles and packaging household cleaners.
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Environmental Effects Of Plastics
Plastic never leaves. Also, it's inexorably discovering its way into our seas and onto our shorelines.
Huge amounts of plastics are drifting around the sea today – like grocery plastic bags, straws and
bottles – are conveyed into the Pacific Sea consistently. Today billions of pounds of plastic can be
found in twirling convergences on the world's sea surfaces. Plastics contamination has an immediate
and fatal impact on wildlife. A vast amount of seabirds and ocean turtles, seals and other marine
animals are killed every year subsequent to ingesting plastic or getting snared in it. Plastics are
detrimental to aquatic ecosystems for a number of different reasons: they may entangle animals, be
ingested by aquatic organisms and cause their death. Plastic causes pollution in the ocean and
endangers the inhabitants of many sea creatures. Plastic comes in many different kinds and variety,
some are largely noticeable and some are micro–particles. Tiny plastic objects are the most
dangerous to the sea creatures especially to the marine mammals. These micro or tiny bits and
pieces of plastics tend to get consumed accidentally by many marine animals. "Plastic is the great
pretender, conceived in mimicry and dedicated to the simulation of everything else in art and nature
(208, Ebbesmeyer)." Ebbesmeyer claims that plastics can be any sort of form(s). Just like any other
object in the world has some plastic incorporated into it such as toys, appliances/electronics, and
people's daily

Disadvantages Of Plastic Recycling
Another approach to plastic recycling is to actively collect plastic from a large region, and to either
recycle or resell the scrap. Vikoz Enterprises Inc. sends collection and transport vehicles to plants
and areas across the U.S. and Canada. Because of their active effort to collect plastic, Vikoz is the
largest plastic recycler in the U.S. and Canada (12)
Biggest types of recycled plastic
There are 7 standard recycling codes for plastic, shown with a triangular 'chasing arrow' symbol
with a number inside as pictured in figure 2, in the appendix. The first plastic is PET/PETE,
Polyethylene Terephthalate. PET is used in most water and soda bottles and also in some packaging.
PET is susceptible to leaching and bacterial growth, so it should not be reused, but it is easily be
recycled.
High–Density Polyethylene, HDPE, is a stiff plastic that is often used to make products such as milk
jugs, oil bottles, toys, and plastic bags. HDPE is also very durable, and often used for outdoor
furniture and other products that require weather resistance and durability. HDPE is a very safe
plastic, and is easily recycled for secondary uses or reused.
PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride is a soft flexible plastic that is used for pipes, computer cable sheaths,
children and pet toys and packaging. PVC is also resistant to outdoor exposer and is used to make
numerous outdoor products. Only about 1% of PVC is recycled. PVC leaches numerous toxins
during its lifetime, and therefore should not be reused. Additionally, burning PVC releases many
hazardous chemicals including chlorine, which is deadly.
Low–Density Polyethylene, LDPE, is commonly used to make packaging, bottles and grocery bags.
LDPE is generally safe to reuse, but it is not commonly recycled. Few places recycle LDPE, and
recycled LDPE is used for secondary uses, such as plastic lumber, landscaping boards, and floor
tiles.
Polypropylene, PP, is a lightweight plastic that is both tough and heat resistant. PP is used for food
packaging, disposable diapers, bottle caps, and packing tape. PP is safe to reuse, and is recycled in
some areas. Currently, only 3% of PP is recycled, but more programs are beginning to accept PP
products.
Polystyrene, PS, is a lightweight material

Plastic And Its Effects On The Marine Ecosystem
Plastic has become a staple, and the use of plastic products is abundant in everyday life even if it is
not apparent. The production and use of plastics has increased dramatically over the last sixty years,
and a vast majority of plastic being produced is not recovered after it is used. It is clear that much of
what we have today would not be possible without plastics, but the fact that it is not biodegradable
and toxic creates a product that just takes up a vast amount of space and poisons animals. The
overflow of plastic eventually makes its way into the ocean and is affecting marine life at an
alarming rate. Plastic debris pollutes oceans all over the world as it breaks down into smaller pieces
and are ingested by a large range of species. Animals exposed eat the plastic products and it causes
health problems throughout the marine ecosystem. Some humans rely on these animals for food
without knowing that they have been exposed to toxic products. The smallest organisms or exposure
to chemicals can wreak havoc on the human body causing serious illness. It is clear that much of
what we have today would not be possible without plastics, but the fact that plastic is not
biodegradable and toxic creates a product that takes up a vast amount of space and poisons animals.
Plastics contain chemicals that can interfere with the bodies natural functions and can cause adverse
health issues if left untreated. Plastic pollution is rampant all over the globe exposing everyone

Film Analysis : Plastic Planet
The film Plastic Planet takes an in– depth look of our modern world and it's major production and
consumption of plastic. Released in the year 2010, director Werner Boote reminisces on the time
spent with his most memorable childhood figure, his grandfather. Whose fascination at the time was
focused toward the production of plastic and what it held for the future to come. This fascination
carried on into Boote's adult life and after considerable research formed from around the world
spurred him to ask the question, Is plastic dangerous? In completion, of this film analysis it is my
goal to properly convey what was discussed within the hour and thirty– five minute film, and my
analysis of the directors finished product.
Plastic Planet film ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Encouraged by the global economy of supply and demand plastic production has taken a major hold
of our entire lifestyles. To the extent that as stated multiple times within the film that there is no part
of the modern world left untouched by plastic. However, the problem lies not with plastic as a
whole, but with the individual chemical compounds that make up plastic. Klaus Rhomberg an
environmental physician, states "Plastic decays over time through heat,abrasion, use, or through
natural processes". This decay overtime has been shown to have adverse effects as depicted in the
film. Director Werner Bootes undergoes a long journey collecting and documenting evidence of just
how harmful plastic has become after it has served its initial use and even before depending on the
plastics' chemical composition.
Beginning, in Europe the plastic industry has approx. a 800 billion euro turnover per year and
employs over 1 million people in Europe alone(10:58–11:00). That being stated plastic
manufacturing has become a major industry, and as a result it has been shown many of the major
concerns were often ignored or disproven through biased research results. As witnessed, in Venice,
Italy in the case of Gabriel Bortolozzo .vs. his employer. Mr. Bortolozzo claimed the environment in
which he was to perform his duties as an employee contain harmful chemical fumes which lead to
serious

Persuasive Speech On Plastics
Currently, it is estimated that there are 100 million tons of plastic in oceans around the world. It is
expected that another 60 billion pounds will be produced this year alone. In some areas, the buildup
of plastics is estimated to span 5 million square miles. I think seventh graders should never pollute
and always pick up after themselves and others to help the world and its marine life. I also we've
made a mess that we need to clean–up. If you walk along the street on the sidewalk or at the beach,
you are pretty much guaranteed to see at least one piece of trash, maybe two. Even at your school,
you can find trash and plastic pretty much everywhere where kids often eat. This is one of the
reasons that some people do beach clean–ups. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
We shouldn't have to clean their mess. Also, I don't like to clean–up. Why should I clean–up
something like that when the world and the marine life that could already be dying anyway. After
all, all living things die eventually. If the animals eat plastic and die, it's not my fault they couldn't
find real food. " If someone disagreed with me, to change their mind I would say, "Currently, it is
estimated that there are 100 million tons of plastic in oceans around the world. We have to try and
clean–up this mess and we can only do that if we all work together and if we all clean–up. As for not
liking to clean–up, everyone has something they don't like to do. I don't like to do the litter box or
clean–up, but I do it anyway and it always helps. I don't like to do homework all that much, but I do
it anyway and it improves my knowledge as well as my grade. Even though everything dies
eventually, we should try to make sure the marine life lives as long as it can and as for the world, we
should do all that we can to help even though it could already be dying

The Importance Of Plastic Pollution
When the discussion about pollution rises, the first thought that comes to people's minds is the long–
debated topic of air pollution from greenhouse gases. Certainly, this type of pollution will have a
critical impact on the future of Earth's ability to sustain life, but the widespread discussion on this
one specific type of pollution has also masked necessary discussions on some seldom mentioned
types of pollution which will be detrimental to the future of some of Earth's life. One example of the
various other forms of pollution is a kind which has existed for less than a century, yet it now
greatly plagues a significant portion of the Earth: plastic pollution in the oceans. Although it may
seem that this issue only endangers the health of marine life, plastic pollution is also harmful to all
the species higher up in the food chain including humans. If not properly addressed, then plastic
pollution will lead to a rise of significant health issues for both ocean life and humans as the issue
escalates in the coming decades.
In order to fully understand the intensity of the issue, it is necessary to see how the prevalence of
plastic has increased within modern society. The era of modern–day plastics began in the early
1930s with the creation of synthetic plastics such as polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
and polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These types of plastics can be used in
a wide range of fields such as clothing, construction, packaging, and plumbing and as a result these
are some of the most widely produced plastics globally. The growth of the plastic industry began
during World War II, when countries such as the United States attempted to conserve precious
resources such as metals by using other materials wherever possible. This led to a significant rise in
plastic production due to companies using the inexpensive material to create parts for military
vehicles and equipment and to provide metallic products with alternative products, for example
using plastic wrap instead of aluminum foil. Once the war ended, chemical companies sought to
earn the profit that was awaiting to be made from selling new plastic goods to consumers. As time
went on, plastic became increasingly

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Plastic
People could get more benefits from plastic but every time people used it, they contribute in the
destruction of the environment. Plastic material was made up of synthetic organic solids that are
moldable. Due to plastic material relatively low cost, many manufacturers patronizing it because of
expanding range of their products. Manufacturers displaced many materials that are used in the
development of their products such as paper, wood, glass and water. Plastic was also used in
packaging which is highly contributes in the development of the country. Even though people get
benefits from plastic it has also many disadvantage. Plastic material is very harmful to health of
humans and animals, it contributes in water pollution that can affect ... Show more content on
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In addition to plastic disadvantage, plastic contributes to the garbages, and others that are not
properly disposed affect the soil which trees and plants absorbs water. Lastly, plastic that are not
properly disposed grabs the houses of living organism in the body of water especially

Thesis Statement For Plastic Pollution
Plastic Pollution Outline
Thesis Statement: Plastic pollution is an ongoing issue that is quickly growing as time passes by,
and if humans don't try to put an end to it, it will affect them in the long term. It is a serious issue
that needs to be addressed because it is affecting humans, animals, and the environment.
Plastic pollution affects humans even if they don't realize it.
Plastic pollution harms people's endocrine system.
Chemicals like BPA and phthalates causes development problems.
Other diseases have chemical connections to plastic.
Women are affected more by plastic pollution.
Pregnant women who were exposed to plastic chemicals gave birth to kids with genital defects.
As people reproduce, these defects become worse.
Plastic ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Unfortunately, most of mankind decides to run away from the problem instead of facing the difficult
truth. Because of their reckless actions, many animals are suffering when they should not have to.
As a matter of fact, plastic pollution kills millions of birds, fish, and 100,000 sea turtles every year
(D., G.). With the increasing amount of this plastic trash, the death toll of these animals will
continue to rise and will not fall until humans decide to take action. While many of these animals
are dying because they do not know any better, that still doesn't mean humans should still turn away
from the problem. Simple things like plastic rings, fishing nets, and fishing line snare and drown
thousands of seals, sea lions, and dolphins each year, and while humans don't notice, it seriously
affects these marine animals (Hayden). Even though animals don't die when they first ingest plastic,
it makes it harder for them to consume other food that they need. In actuality, scientists found that,
"Once plastics have been consumed, laboratory tests show that chemical additives and adsorbed
pollutants and metals on their surface can desorb (leach out) and transfer into the guts and tissues of
marine organisms" (Seltenrich). This just makes it harder for animals to eat, especially for the
animals who need to feed their babies. Some of these animals starve to death; other ones that are
nursing babies transfer

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Plastics
Normally polymers do not conduct electricity. It is the same insulating property made them
attractive in many industrial applications. The vast development in the electrical field would not
have been possible in the absences of plastic. One can not imagine of electrical cables without
polymer insulations. Even the fitting devices like switches, holders, pin, double pole (DP) boxes etc.
are all made from plastic.
In these entire applications polymer played important but supportive role and the main work of
electrical conduction was done by metals. However attempts were made to impart electrical
conductivity to polymer films and fibers by several different methods, with the aim of developing
flexible conductive materials.
In this regard conducting plastics have been prepared by mixing metallic powders with non–
conducting plastics for a long time [6, 7]. Graphite powders mixed with natural as well as artificial
rubber gave conductive rubber. Similarly conducting polyvinylchlorides were prepared by adding
finely powdered copper and aluminum [8]. It is also possible to prepare conductive paints or resins
of these plastic by mixing it with platinum, gold, silver or graphite. Such paints can be used for
electrical measurements and also for antistatic coating, electromagnetic shielding etc. Advantages of
making such conductive plastic ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The further researches in this area lead to the invention of conductive polymers like polyaniline,
polypyrrole, polythiophene etc. All this research work has provided the fundamental understanding
of the chemistry, physics and material science and the industrial development of conducting
polymer products. The impact of the field on science in general was recognized in 2000 by the
awarding of the Noble Prize for Chemistry to the three discoverers of conducting polymers: Alan
MacDiarmid, Alan Heeger and Hideki

Advantages Of Recycling Plastic
Science Fair Research Paper
Zachariah Alzubi and Yosef Ismael
Best Methods of Recycling Plastics
Recycling has grown rapidly over these past few decades. Almost every single household in
America has a recycling bin. You can find recycling bins anywhere like in your school or at a
dumpster nearby and I'm sure there are plenty at home. You can almost recycle anything from glass,
to Styrofoam, and especially plastic. There are many things around your house that are probably
made of plastic, if you're just drinking a water bottle and you finish it toss it in the recycling bin
instead of wasting it in the garbage. You never know, you might end up using that same water bottle
again in the future. Recycling plastics doesn't only benefit the wellbeing of earth itself it also
benefits consumers so they can have a wide range of products made from plastic recycling like the
utensils you eat with or any kitchen gadgets or even your dinner table at home. Recycling plastic
began in 1972 in Conshohocken, Pa. They had the first mill to accept residential plastics and began
their operations there. Then in the 1980s many U.S citizens began curbside collection programs in
which they recycled plastics and other materials that could be recycled. In 1984 is where recycling
really started to expand they had topped over 100 million pounds in recycled plastic for the first
time in US history and from their they continued to expand and the number in recycled plastic
increased and is still increasing

Persuasive Essay On Plastic Pollution
The significance of this image is for people to become aware of the harmful impacts of plastic
pollution in the oceans. Over the years, plastic pollution has emerged as a serious threat to marine
life. This visual combines skilfull use of color and persuasive text for the purpose of encouraging
plastic waste reduction.
When looking at the visual, the viewer is immediately drawn to the plastic sushi rolls. The use of the
plastic sushi emphasizes that plastic pollution affects the food we consume. This urges consumers to
help reduce plastic waste in order to prevent the ingestion of contaminated seafood. The portrayal of
sushi as plastic effectively demonstrates the severity of the overlooked problem and appeals to the
crowd of those unaware

Plastics And The Plastic Age
The current period in human history is referred to as the plastic age (Cózar et al 2014). Plastic is
synthetic polymers derived from petroleum (Vikas & Dwarakish 2015), it is lightweight,
inexpensive to produce and hailed as an industrial achievement (Detloff & Istel 2016). Moreover,
plastic does not decompose, the durable material simply breaks into smaller particles, pervading the
water and marine life (Detloff & Istel 2016). Our current society has established a constant consume
and discard rhythm, fuelling the 'plastic economy'. Marine plastic pollution mainly occurs from land
based plastic debris, comprised of: littering, incessant plastic bag use and inappropriate disposal
(Derriak 2002). Microplastics are pieces of plastic less than five millimetres in size (Detloff & Istel
2016). These particles account for 92% of the plastics in the ocean (Shim & Thomposon 2015).
Microplastics have become ubiquitous in the ocean, found as far as the Arctic and Antarctic seas
(Obbard et al 2014 as cited in Shim & Thomposon 2015; Law & Thompson 2014 as cited in Shim &
Thomposon 2015). Plastic pollution is also significantly damaging the fragile marine ecosystem, as
well as massacring innocent marine creatures (Deltoff & Istell 2016; Avio, Gorbi & Regoli 2017).
Overall, preventing ocean plastic pollution is difficult, due to the large volume of production and
contamination, particularly microplastics, coupled with inadequate disposal practices of plastic.
In 2014, 311 million tonnes of plastic were produced (Detloff & Istel 2016), and half was disposed
of within the year (Singh & Sharma 2016). The most commonly used and plentiful polymers are:
high–density polyethylene, low–density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene,
polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate (Andray & Neal 2009 as cited in Li, Tse and Fok
2016). These polymers account for 90% of total plastic production, and as a result are the most
common plastics found in aquatic environments (Andray 2011 and Engel 2012 as cited in Li, Tse
and Fok 2016). Plastic debris often migrates to form five subtropical gyres, large garbage patches
colloquially dubbed 'marine soup' (Eriksen et al 2013; Weinstein 2009). It is estimated five to
thirteen tonnes of

Plastic Uses : The Dangers Of Plastics Pollution
Plastic bags tend to disrupt the environment in a significant but humans are mainly to blame for this.
We as humans do not see the destruction that we caused to the environment every time we toss
plastic bags onto the bare streets. The plastic bags that we throw away and are not being recycled
tend to end up in the oceans or landfills where poor animals happen to eat them. Charging ten cents
for plastic bags to decrease CO2 emissions and environmental waste can in fact help the planet by
helping stop pollution in the ocean, increasing landfill magnitude and also by diminishing plastic
bags production.
To begin with, water is a major aspect for all living organisms. Nearly about 96.5 percent of all
earth's water is from in the ocean. With water being every important to all organisms, we as humans
is our duty to keep the environment of the ocean clean but that is not the case. Approximately
46,000 pieces of plastic are found throughout every square mile of the ocean. In addition to the
ocean almost completely covered in plastic, practically 100,000 marine animals are killed each year
by plastic bag pollution. Ocean Plastics Pollution stated that, "Plastics pollution has a direct and
deadly effect on wildlife. Thousands of seabirds and sea turtles, seals and other marine mammals are
killed each year after ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it." With having to pay ten cents for
every plastic bag we use, we can indeed help reduce pollution in the oceans and have a clean water
supply not only for the animals but for humans too.
By charging ten cents for plastic bags can effectively increase landfill magnitude, due to the fact that
many humans won't want to purchase the bags. This can also decrease the usage of plastic bags
which will then successfully create more space in landfills. According to Greener Ideals, they state
that one ton of recycled plastic can save up to thirty cubic yards of landfill space. Plastic bags are
viewed as a wasteful utilization in society due to the fact that there isn't many uses for them.
Nevertheless, plastic bags can have a negative impact in landfills as it replaces space that can be
used for other major wastes since many of these plastic bags aren't

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Recycling Plastic
Introduction
Plastic in its various forms is the most useful but cheap invention that mankind has ever made .
Having widespread applications from industries to minute household stuff, its utility cannot be
expressed in a few sentences.
But, at the same time, plastics possess a property which makes nature quite vulnerable to their
misuse. This property namely is NON–BIODEGRADABILITY. By closely observing the structure
of plastic, we come to know that plastic is made of extremely strong carbon–carbon bonds, which
cannot be easily broken down into small units by any natural processes. This property of non–
biodegradability poses a serious threat to the environment.
So what is the solution to this problem? This problem has a simple, yet effective ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
* It has a better Particle compression ratio of 3/1 to 5/1.[6]
* Most importantly, this works on the principle of continuous compressions, wherein plastics are not
physically damaged due to plastic's less deformable nature. This can be explained with the data [6]
that fracture point in the stress strain graph for plastic material such as Polypropylene may be as
high as 80 Mpa, whereas that of organic material such as wood is 40 Mpa. Other organic things are
easier to break. So, if we apply a stress between these two critical pressures we can break the
organic matter keeping the plastic intact. The exact value should be optimised experimentally.
(a) (b)
Fig.(a ) Animation and (b) Details of Jaw Crusher[2]
Only organic wastes entering the jaw crusher are crushed into finer particles. Plastics remain intact.
This will help in better biodegradation of the organic wastes as it will increase the surface area of
the particles so that microbes can attack the organic wastes easily.
Biodegradation of organic wastes
Different microorganisms transform the organic compounds into simpler compounds ultimately
releasing CO2, CH4, water as the main products, reducing the volume and weight of the organic
wastes and increasing proportion of plastic in waste, making the separation of plastic

Reusing Plastic Bottles Research
Introduction:
Enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the earth four times and 50% of the plastic we
use, we only use once and is thrown away. There is initiate ways for plastic bottles to be reused in a
scientific way. We are investigating how the air pressure we can create in a bottle will affect how
high or low it travels. In the process we will be reusing plastic bottles. Will the product inside of the
bottle be significant to the explosion it will make? If a certain amount of alcohol is inserted in the
bottle will the rocket malfunction?
Materials:
Description and Properties
Plastic is a material composed of a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic compounds that
are malleable and be molded into solid objects. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Although heavy and brittle, hardened clay and glass were used for storage. Some natural substances
were sticky and moldable. Rubber wasn't very useful for storage because it eventually lost its ability
to leap back into shape and became sticky when heated. The way plastics are manufactured has
evolved from the use of natural plastic materials to the use of chemically modified, natural materials
and finally to completely synthetic molecules. Early plastics were bio–derived materials, which are
organic polymers. In 1600 BC, Mesoamericans used natural rubber for balls, bands, and figurines.
In 1839, Charles Goodyear discovered a process in which sulfur reacted with crude rubber when
heated and then cooled. The rubber became resilient upon cooling, it could stretch, but it snapped
back to its original shape. It also retained its flexibility when heated. We now know that the sulfur
forms chemical bonds between adjacent rubber polymer strands. The bonds cross–link the polymer
strands, allowing them to go back to normal when stretched. Goodyear had discovered the process
now known as vulcanization, which made rubber more

The Dangers Of Plastics And Its Effects Of Plastics
The destruction of the earth is becoming a more and more prevalent issue. Between water, air,
radioactive, and even light pollution, the more advanced humans become, the worse we seem to
treat our planet. One of the most commonly used products that contributes greatly to the
mistreatment of our earth is plastic. Most plastics are made from petroleum or natural gas; non–
renewable resources extracted and processed using energy–intensive techniques that destroy fragile
ecosystems. The manufacture of plastic, as well as its destruction by incineration, pollutes air, land
and water, and exposes workers to toxic chemicals, including carcinogens. It's not news that plastic
is harmful to the environment, but how much damage is it really causing? Plastic is everywhere
around us and a huge part of our lives. Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies.
Some of these chemicals have been found to alter hormones or have other potential human health
effects. Along with effects on humans, plastic also very negatively affects wildlife. Plastic debris,
laced with the same chemicals that affect humans, are regularly ingested by marine animals. When
plastic is "disposed of" in landfills the chemicals spread underground and eventually find their way
into our water sources. "One of the most ubiquitous and long–lasting recent changes to the surface
of our planet is the accumulation and fragmentation of plastics," wrote David Barnes, a lead author
and researcher for the British Antarctic Survey. Considering how detrimental plastic is to our world,
one would expect that an alternative material would be utilized, and we could be one step closer to
having a cleaner earth. But unfortunately, like everything else in this world, it's all about money.
Many alternative materials that could replace plastic would be more expensive to produce and
utilize, which isn't worth it for plastic producers. Despite there being many more expensive
replacements, there is one substitute that is efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly:
industrial hemp plastic.
Hemp has been grouped in with marijuana as the same thing and demonized as a drug. But, there is
actually less than 0.5% THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) in hemp, which is the

Plastic Pollution On The Marine Environment
Effects of Plastic Pollution on the Marine Environment Concern over increasing quantities of
marine microplastic pollution has increased substantially in the last decade, becoming a focus for
many local and national governments, intergovernmental organizations, environmental advocacy
groups, and the private sector. In financial terms, conservative estimates place the harm to marine
ecosystems at $13 billion annually. While the available literature on microplastic pollution impacts
has grown due to this increased interest, research into the subject is at an early stage relative to other
areas of inquiry. Further, research into the effects and sources of microplastic uptake in marine
environments have been largely dependent on laboratory experimental studies, due the technical
difficulties in analyzing microplastics in the field. This paper sets out to describe the ecological
impacts of marine microplastic pollution as they are currently known: the various types of
microplastics and their distinct potentials for environmental harm; the sources of and vectors for
microplastic contamination; known effects on marine organisms; and concludes with a discussion of
legislative/regulatory solutions to date and potential next steps. Overall, neither the direct nor long–
term effects of microplastic pollution in the field are thoroughly understood. The quantity of
microplastics in the ocean is set to continue to increase, largely due to three factors; 1) the large
volume of

Green Unknown Plastics
Based off of my data I have concluded that the green unknown plastic is PETE, the clear unknown
plastic is also PETE, the blue unknown plastic is PP, the white unknown plastic is PS, and the
cloudy white unknown plastic is HDPE. Figuring out the known plastics' densities benefitted our lab
by confirming us the densities of the plastics, PETE, HDPE, PP, and PS. Then, by being given the
densities of 30% (5 M) sodium chloride, water, and ethanol, we were able to use these solutions to
help differentiate the unknown plastics. Placing all 5 of the unknown substances in 20mL of water,
we observed that the green, white, and clear unknown plastics sunk, and the blue and cloudy white
unknown plastics floated. Therefore, the green, white, and clear unknown ... Show more content on
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We observed that the green and clear unknown plastics sunk and the white unknown plastics floated.
Therefore, the green and clear unknown plastics have a higher density than 1. 2g/mL (the density of
30% (5 M) sodium chloride), so they are the substance PETE with a density of 1.3–1.4 g/mL. The
white unknown plastics have a lower density than 1.2 g/mL (30% (5 M) sodium chloride), but
higher density then 1.0 g/mL (the density of water), so the white unknown plastics are the substance
PS with a density of 1.04–1.05 g/mL. Now back to the unknown blue and cloudy white plastics that
floated in 20mL of water (density of 1.0 g/mL), we know that the unknown plastics are either the
substances, HDPE or PP. To determine the difference between the two substances we need a
solution that has a density between 0.91 g/mL and 0.95 g/mL, so we played with combining water
and ethanol until we got a density of about 0.911 g/mL (calculated the mass and volume of the
solution then divided to get density). Once getting the solution of 48% water and 52% ethanol, we
placed the blue and clear white unknown plastics in the

Plastic Pollution And Its Effects
There are many forms of pollution that occur from oil spills, radioactive wastes, urban air pollution,
the release of greenhouse gases, or agricultural pollution, and one of the most preventable, plastic
pollution. Plastic pollution is an accumulation in the environment of man–made plastic products to
the point that they become problematic and harmful to wildlife, wildlife habitats, or human
populations. This accumulation is due to the excessive use of plastics, which has become a
worldwide issue, and is accountable for approximately 10% of discarded waste. It has been
calculated that 275 million metric tons (MT) of plastic waste was produced in 192 coastal countries
in 2010, with as much as 12.7 million MT entering the ocean (Jambeck et al., 2015). Plastic
pollution can be classified based on the overall size and thickness, as microdebris (2 µm),
mesodebris (1–5 mm), or macrodebris (>20 mm). Plastic can be very harmful to the land,
waterways, and the ocean due to its extremely slow biodegrading process, which can exceed
hundreds of years. Plastic debris can also be harmful to marine life causing, entanglement, ingestion
of plastic waste, and exposure to the chemicals within plastics, which ultimately affect humans as
well.
There are many types of plastics that exist. These varieties are classified based on the method of
their polymerization. Some of these classifications are as follows: polyethylene terephthalate (PET
or PETE), high–density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl

Environmental Impact Of Plastics
In order to comprehend the environmental impact of plastic, it is important to understand the
journey plastic takes from the time one throws it away, to the time it ends up in the vast unknown.
The first place most plastic travels to after being disposed of is a landfill. It can sit in these ever
expanding landfills for up to 1,000 years before it's able to decompose. During the time plastic lives
there, rain water periodically floods through the waste, getting absorbed by the plastic's water–
soluble compounds. Some of these compounds are highly toxic, and when combined together, they
create a more harmful compound called leachate. This liquid is often times absorbed by the ground
below, draining through and into other soil, into groundwater, and into streams. As a consequence,
the ecosystems and wildlife touched by leachate are polluted and poisoned. Other plastic that doesn't
end up in landfills after use is instead sent through our waterways into our ocean. A 2015 study by
the journal Science reported that 8 million tons of plastic ends up in our oceans each year. After
arriving to the ocean, plastic spends its first few months floating around until it is carried into a
massive vortex of accumulated trash. There are five of these plastic–debris vortexes, called gyres,
located around the world: The North Atlantic Gyre, The South Atlantic Gyre, The Indian Ocean
Gyre, The Great North Pacific Gyre, and The South Pacific Gyre. Plastic is trapped in the currents
of these gyres,

Research: Plastic Pollution in Water
Solutions to Plastic Pollution in our Oceans
The Basics
We 're treating the oceans like a trash bin: around 80 percent of marine litter originates on land, and
most of that is plastic. Plastic that pollutes our oceans and waterways has severe impacts on our
environment and our economy. Seabirds, whales, sea turtles and other marine life are eating marine
plastic pollution and dying from choking, intestinal blockage and starvation. Scientists are
investigating the long–term impacts of toxic pollutants absorbed, transported, and consumed by fish
and other marine life, including the potential effects on human health.
What it means to you
Plastic pollution affects every waterway, sea and ocean in the world. When we damage our water ...
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Seabirds that feed on the ocean surface are especially prone to ingesting plastic debris that floats.
Adults feed these items to their chicks resulting in detrimental effects on chick growth and
survival.8 One study found that approximately 98% of chicks sampled contained plastic and the
quantity of plastic being ingested was increasing over time.9
Because persistent organic pollutants in the marine environment attach to the surface of plastic
debris, floating plastics in the oceans have been found to accumulate pollutants and transport them
through ocean currents.10 Floating and migrating plastic debris has also been found to transport
invasive marine species.11 Increasingly, research shows that marine life that ingests plastics coated
with pollutants can absorb these pollutants their bodies.
Plastic debris is polluting the human food chain. In a 2008 Pacific Gyre voyage, Algalita researchers
began finding that fish are ingesting plastic fragments and debris. Of the 672 fish caught during that
voyage, 35% had ingested plastic pieces.
The plastics industry, through the leadership of the American Chemical Council (ACC), spends
millions of dollars each year to convince policy makers and Californians that solutions to plastic
pollution lie in anti–litter campaigns that attribute the responsibility for marine debris on individual
behavior. Yet they have devoted little funding to public education and much more on promoting

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Plastic Pipe
PLASTIC MATERIAL PIPES:
The appearance of plastic in the field of construction, as in other areas of daily life, has been a real
revolution for the materials used by the vast majority of professionals. Their lightness allows them
to be handled by a single person, in most cases, with the consequent saving of time and money that
this means in most processes. In addition, its properties are really good when we want to use a
plastic tube for the conduction of a fluid through it.
These pipes can be used in homes, and serve to supply or drain fluids, such as wastes of all types
and water, also as a ventilation pipe.
Among the different types of plastic pipe, there are those that have been manufactured with PVC,
and are used to supply and drain water.
Plastic pipes can be used in all types of sanitary installations. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Like PE pipes, PP pipes weigh very little and have a lower density than water, so they float.
Applications:
Sanitation piping.
Evacuation of rainwater.
Pipes without pressure.
Unions:
The PP pipe joining system is by melting, so that the product is welded as a single piece, without
joints.
6. Multi–layer pipes:
According to the UNE 53960 EX and 53961 EX standards, the applications for multi–layer pipes
(MC) will be hot and cold water installations inside the building structure (for drinking water or not
for human consumption) and Heating systems, to the appropriate design pressures and temperatures
for the corresponding application class (see classes in the PE–X box).
Advantage:
Minimal dilation. The aluminum intermediate layer allows the dilations to be minimal, reducing the
number of supports.
Applications:
Sanitation.
Driving hot and cold water.
Conventional heating systems.
Air conditioning ducts.
Industrial applications.

Unions:
They are made by the technique of 'press–fitting' with elastic joint, which guarantees a perfect
tightness and allows to turn the accessory after the union to facilitate its

The Negative Impacts Of Plastic Uses And Plastics
A Cuvier's beaked whale was put down after finding four kilograms of plastic bags in every part of
its stomach. The internal damage caused by the bags included an inflamed stomach and intestinal
walls ("Plastic Bags Found"). Tragically, this is not the only story of plastic bags harming wildlife.
Another story like this occurred less than two months later. Wildlife is suffering daily because
plastic bags are interfering with their habitat. Because they are harmful to the environment, plastic
bags should be banned. Plastic bags cannot be recycled, so they end up decomposing in landfills for
hundreds of years. A great alternative is reusable bags that can also be recycled. The plastic bag's
single use does not outweigh the negative impact that they have on the environment and wildlife.
Every year, Americans use 70 to 100 million plastic bags according to Patricia Smith. To put it into
perspective, each family in America uses an average of 1,700 plastic bags a year. Each of these
plastic bags is used once, and then unfortunately, tossed into the trash. From the trash, the plastic
bags eventually end up in a landfill, where it takes hundreds of years to decompose. Otherwise,
plastic bags end up as litter. Littered plastic bags are everywhere, from corn fields to the ocean.
Animals all over the world often mistake these plastic bags as food. They consume the bags and die
from complications as a result. Recycling plastic bags is not an option either. Plastic bags are one of
the

Plastic Planet Documentary Analysis
Plastic Planet is a documentary on the plastic cycle directed by Werner Boote who's grandfather was
the managing director of the German interplastic, Werke. Boote was raised around plastic and is
truly fascinated with it, he sets out on a journey to learn the truth about the affects it has on the
environment, human, and animal health. Boote grew up being influenced by his grandfathers love
for plastic, as a child it intrigued him to play with all the toys his grandfather brought to him, made
out of plastic. These moments of nostalgia were the stepping stones for the journey he took to 28
countries to talk to scientists, politicians, and employees of the plastic industry.
Ethos
The first speaker he interviews is John Taylor president of Plastics ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Gabriele worked with 5 colleagues, out of the five, four developed cancers eventually causing death.
Gabriele considered that plastic chemical reactions were the link between them, developing his own
disease caused by the chemical vinyl fluoride in plastic he further investigated is theory. Compiling
evidence from company diseases, injuries, and fatalities presenting it to courts. Eventually it found
its way to the supreme courts for an appeal, then they acknowledge that Bortolozzo was right.
Workers were being exposed to harmful chemicals in the air, and the company knew about it
completely ignoring their responsibility for their employee's health. Boote conducts his own study
on himself having a blood sample taken and anaylized for plastic chemicals. The results were that he
had high enough amounts of the chemicals to cause him to not be infertile, but to harm his sperm
count in such a way that if he were to have a child the possibility of birth defects were high.
Continuing his independent study on infertile couples, analyzing the amount of plastic they have in
their blood, and if that has any connection to

Plastic Waste Of Plastics
Plastic waste Americans are generating more plastic trash than ever, and very little of it gets
recycled. Plastics and their byproducts are littering our cities, oceans, and waterways, and
contributing to health problems in humans and animals.Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats
to ocean health worldwide. In spite of society's many efforts to properly dispose of plastic waste,
between 4 and 12 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year enough to cover
every foot of coastline on the planet. And that amount is expected to more than double in the next 10
years Stop using plastic straws, even in restaurants. If a straw is a must, purchase a reusable
stainless steel or glass straw.
How can you stop plastic waste
One of the easiest ways to keep plastic out of the landfill is to refuse plastic straws. Simply inform
your waiter or waitress that you don't need one, and make sure to specify this when ordering at a
drive–thru. Can't fathom giving up the convenience of straws? Purchase a reusable stainless steel or
glass drinking straw. Restaurants are less likely to bring you a plastic one if they see that you've
brought your own.The things about plastic bags that there are 1 million plastic bags are used every
minute, and a single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to degrade. If you're already bringing reusable
bags to the grocery store, you're on the right track, but if you're still using plastic produce bags, it's
time to make a change. Purchase some

A Research On Plastic Pollution
Throughout my research on Plastic Pollution I learned that plastic is a material that our planet
cannot digest but it has become the lubricant growth of globalization. Thus, Plastic is made from oil
that contains many chemicals harmful to humans and animals. Humans are barely aware that Plastic
is so part of our lives that it can be found in everyday products that we consume and even the food
we eat. Humanity plastic foot print in the oceans has caused a major garbage path located thousands
of miles off the coast of California, called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is caused due to
humans that throw their waste into the sea and went those plastics are in the water, it breaks down
into smaller particles; then pushed by winds, tides and currents, plastic particles form with other
debris into large swirling glutinous accumulation zones. For instance, The World Economic Forum
(WEF) report stated that if we keep producing plastic and improperly dispose of it, there will be
more pound of plastic debris than fish by 2050 because we have been made three times more plastic
stuff since we did in 2014. The dangers of over–produced plastic, is that much of it escapes from
collection systems that end up floating in the ocean than into the stomachs of marine birds and sea
turtles. This is very alarming to me because we are killing thousands of marine's lives and its
ecosystem by over producing plastic.
However, I learned that it's never too late to decrease the amount of

Plastic Pollution Essay
With the ceaseless consumption of plastics, problems arise affecting the current state of the planet
along with the existing life that depends on it, negatively impacting the future to come. As Leighton
Kille and Rachael Stephens state in their Journalist's Resource article "Plastics, Human Health and
Environmental Impacts: The Road Ahead," the readily usable products made of plastic create a
hazard to people and the environment. Plastics, found in many products and made simple to dispose
of, contain harmful chemicals that can endanger the human body as well as any animals that may
encounter it. From Kille and Stephens's research, the impacts of plastics are understood to be an
expanding threat to the world. Acknowledging the influence of plastic in the modern world and
plastic's menace on society, I believe in the change of cities' recycling processes, encouragement of
the refusal of purchasing single–use plastic products, and the education on the dangers of plastics on
human health and the environment. The world that we live in has run on plastic consumption, which
continues to increase as we support the companies that manufacture these items by buying their
products. Millennials of the UTA community, the people that can make a difference in the world,
will be the ones greatly impacted by the growing production of manufactured plastic goods. Simple,
yet greatly influential, differences in an individual's life can better the world of tomorrow by finding
alternatives to

Plastic Pollution Essay
The Hawaiian Archipelago, for example, is among the longest and most remote island chains in the
world. The 19 islands of the archipelago, including Midway atolls, receive massive quantities of
plastic debris, shot out from the Pacific gyres (Smith, 2011). Some beaches are buried under 5 to 10
feet of plastic, while other beaches are riddled with "plastic sand". One of the reasons marine debris
accumulates in these islands is the movement of debris within the North Pacific Subtropical
Convergence Zone (STCZ) (Steiner and Helgesen, 2016).
Images of wounded and tangled marine wildlife have engulfed the media for many years and
attempts are being made around the world to curb the increasing levels of macro–plastic pollution
(large, visible pieces of plastic debris). Marine plastic pollution has a global impact on marine
wildlife, habitat and human health and economy in various ways. The most publicized of which is
through entanglement and ingestion (refer to graph 1 in appendices) (Allsopp et al., n.d.). However,
once the human–made polymers are ingested, they can lead to physical blockages, gut impaction
and perforation, choking, the transfer of toxic compounds, reduced food intake that leads to
malnutrition and eventually starvation (Plastic Waste: Ecological and Human Health Impacts, 2011).
While macro–plastic debris, such as fishing lines and plastic bags, is the main contributor to
entanglement, both micro– and macro–debris are ingested across a wide range of marine

Speech On Plastics
Year 10 English
Language Analysis Essay
In a response to a recent rise in the number of plastic bags, debate has resurfaced in the media
regarding the extensive use and deposition of plastic bags. Stakeholders which include the
Australian Retailers Association, governments of different states and various legislations have
implemented measures to reduce the total number of plastic bags that are being consumed and
eternally contaminated. The wider implications include, soaring death rates of a number of marine
animals and the exponential cost on recycling plastic bags. In the opinion piece titled, "Forget, reuse
and recycle. Let's flat out reject plastic bags," which appeared on 31 August 2017 in the Courier
Mail, author Jane Fynes Clinton contends in a controlled and authoritative tone that the use of
plastic bags are an ongoing concern and change that is necessary is disregarded. Dr Clinton has put
forward this article to citizens of Australia, local supermarkets, governments and institutes.
Establishing with outrage and melancholy, Clinton argues that plastic bags do not just contaminate
the oceans, but also violate the environmental terms and affect many marine organisms. The author's
convincing use of active voice, highlighting that, "change is coming, but we are hastening
frustratingly," not only asserts a sense of guilt in the reader, but also seeks to reinforce that we as
humans continue to oscillate on whether we should protect marine life that we need for the future. It
is now becoming "ubiquitous." In a frustrated manner, the author employs the reader's sense of fear
that, "the changes are going to bite hard some creatures." This phrase embeds a a frank sentiment in
the audience who are stubborn to change and incline to their negative opinions, while also urging
our support the contention by creating an appeal to authority. Moreover, the context is heightened by
her reference to supermarkets chains announcing a bag ban. Moreover, in the following sentence, "It
is frightening, " appeals to the audience's sense of fear. This encourages the reader to think about the
consequences of the millions of plastic bags floating in our precious oceans. The inclusion of the
image of a person carrying

Plastic Surgery
Plastic Surgery: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
More than ever, millions of young adolescents are seeking out plastic surgery because the influence
of the media. Teenagers are finding more imperfections with their body and are less and less
satisfied with their appearance. President Scott Spear, MD, chief of plastic surgery says, "There's a
common belief among the public that a large percentage of young adults and teens are having
cosmetic surgery" (Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week). Despite the low percentage, young adults
are considering getting face–lifts, breast implants, nose jobs, and liposuction. Advancements in
technology have made it possible to receive these kinds of cosmetic procedures. Studies have shown
that the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After the surgery, "she liked the results so much that she decided to have her neck and stomach
done, too" (Shute 53). Bradshaw stated, "I'm not trying to look gorgeous, I'm just trying to get rid of
the things that are hanging" (Shute 54). Bradshaw became addicted to cosmetic surgery and even
borrowed twenty thousand dollars from the bank. Bradshaw says, "I never thought much about
plastic surgery before, but it is amazing how many people are doing it now" (Shute 54). It is
astonishing that Americans are in a hurry to get plastic surgery.
With more and more people wanting plastic surgery, there are still many risks to consider. Rod
Rohrich, a plastic surgeon states, "The public is being lulled into the sense that there are no real
risks or complications. We're already seeing the impact. I have patients saying they want all these
things done in one operation, and you can't safely do it. It's not like buying groceries or shoes. You
can take those back. You can't take your face back" (Shute 54). Even though the media does not
always show the negative aspects of plastic surgery, it does not mean it is not out there.
Plastic surgery has killed a few people, for instance, "on May 14 2004, the state of New York fined
Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital twenty thousand dollars for "egregious violations" in
safety procedures that led to the death of two women following plastic surgery, including Olivia
Goldsmith, author

Plastic Surgery
October 1, 2013
Plastikos
"Despite the popular misconception, the word 'plastic' in 'plastic surgery' does not mean 'artificial,'
but is derived from the ancient Greek word 'plastikos,' which means to mold or give form" (Schnur
and Hait). What was once used to help reconstruct the faces and bodies of wounded soldiers is now
used to aesthetically create new faces and bodies around the world. The motive for surgery is
changing. Statistics show that plastic surgery is becoming increasingly more popular among men,
women, and teens. Not only is the number of surgeries performed growing, but new types of
procedures are also appearing. Many people around the world are undergoing several different types
of plastic and cosmetic surgeries. The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This shows how outrageously common surgery has become there. A writer for CNN Travel named
Violet Kim goes so far as to call South Korea "the plastic surgery capital of the world." Plastic
surgery is such a big component in South Korea, that
"Hotels, such as the Ritz–Carlton Seoul, have partnered with hospitals and have US$88,000 'anti–
aging beauty packages' available. In addition to predictable spa treatments such as skin care and
health checkups, the packages include stem cell treatment and plastic surgery." (Kim) The Koreans
take beauty and longevity to a whole new level with their extreme surgeries and treatments.
Surgical procedures are becoming more increasingly more dramatic and progressively more
common in South Korea:
"Double–jaw surgery – which was originally developed to repair facial deformities, involves cutting
and rearranging the upper and lower jaws – has become a favorite procedure for South Korean
women who are no longer satisfied with mere nose jobs or with paring down cheekbones to achieve
a smoother facial line" says Choe Sang–Hun in his article "In South Korea, Plastic Surgery Comes
Out of the Closet" (nytimes.com). "What we do in double–jaw surgery is to reassemble the face,"
said Dr. Park, whose clinic has performed 3,000 such procedures in the past six years. "Normal
people become, sort of, super–normal, and pretty people prettier"

Disadvantages Of Plastics
Picture this; over one trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide. Plastic is not
biodegradable so for each bag it takes one thousand years to degrade or totally break down. Since
plastic was first produced in 1907, humans have generated 8.3 billion metric tons plastic products,
that is equivalent to 25,000 empire state buildings or 80 billion blue whales. Plastics have outlasted
most man–made materials and have been under environmental scrutiny for quite some time.
Although plastic was once regarded as convenient and versatile, it has become one of the biggest
environmental problems of our time; different types of plastic can take anywhere from one to one
thousand years to decompose, it is time for this generation to put the work in on biodegradable
alternatives to plastic.
Why won't plastic break down? Sid Perkins, a ten–year vet with Science News Magazine reports,
"Plastics are a type of polymer, a class of materials that gets its name from the Greek words for
"many parts." Researchers create polymers by chemically stringing together large numbers of
simple carbon–based units called monomers ("single parts"). The near–endless variety of plastics
stems from the diversity of monomers, esters, amides and imides, to name a few, and the degree of
linkage that exists between polymer chains: In general, the more bonds there are, the stiffer the
plastic (Perkins 34–37).". Products that are easily biodegradable generally will dissolve in water, or
soak it up. If something

Plastic Pollution
What is Plastic Pollution?
Plastics are synthetic materials that are made from synthetic resins or organic polymers. Examples
of these polymers include nylon, PVC, and polyethylene. Plastic pollution involves the
accumulation of plastic products in the environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat,
and humans. The prominence of plastic pollution is correlated with plastics being inexpensive and
durable, which lends to high levels of plastics used by humans. However, it is slow to degrade.
Plastic pollution can unfavorably affect lands, waterways and oceans
Data related to Plastic Pollution
According to a recent article in The Guardian, a million plastic bottles are bought across the world
every minute. However, plastic ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
 For example: Plastic bottles and disposable diapers take up to 450 years to decompose whereas
plastic fishing lines take more than 600 years according to the marine conservation reports.
Plastics are Cheap and Affordable to Manufacture:  Because of this quality, plastic has been used
to make almost every single utility.  Plastics may be cheap and affordable to manufacture, but in a
similar manner, it leads to a heavy toll on environmental pollution.
Overuse:  As plastic is less expensive, it is one of the most widely available and overused item in
the world today.  When disposed, it does not decompose easily and pollutes the land or air nearby
when burned in the open air.
Urbanization and Population Growth:  With the increase of population and urban growth, the
demand for cheaper and readily available materials increases.  In most urban areas, plastics form
the greater part of the landfills and constitute about 80% of all the municipal waste.
Disposing of Plastic and Garbage:  Burning plastic is incredibly toxic, and can lead to harmful
atmospheric conditions and deadly illness
Marine Shipping and Fishing Industry:  Remote rural beaches tend to have plastic rubbish washed
to the shores which come from the ships, sea accidents, and from the nets used for fishing which is
usually made of plastic. These plastics leak toxins into the water which affects marine wildlife in
various ways and can also be

The Discovery Of Polymer And Plastic Demand
When many units of repeating molecules react together, monomers, the reaction will yield a product
in the form of a polymer (Chemistryexplained.com, 2016). The 'discovery' of polymers began in
1920, with the belief of Hermann Staudinger, that there existed a molecule consisting of many
smaller repeating molecules, under the name 'macromolecule' (Chemistryexplained.com, 2016).
Nowadays, polymer and plastic demand is even higher than that of copper, aluminium, and even
steel, due to their versatile applications in many different industries (Matse1.matse.illinois.edu,
2016). Polymer synthesis can be either synthetic or natural, and can produce many forms of
polymers, depending on the involved monomers, and the intended purpose for said polymers
(Essentialchemicalindustry.org, 2016). This process involves three main steps, initiation or
separating of the double bonds of the to–be–monomer, propagation or the joining of these
monomers, and termination, when the desired chain length has been reached
(Chemistryexplained.com, 2016). History is brimful with scientific discoveries both intentional, and
completely accidental, however, it can be seen that the majority of polymers were crafted due to
societal demand, although the method of actual synthesis initially may have been serendipitous. Two
of the polymers scientifically researched and synthesised due to demand of the times were synthetic
rubber, and Bakelite (Chemistryexplained.com, 2016).
Many polymers were researched and

Disadvantages Of Plastic Vs Plastic
In modern times, there are numerous materials used to make the everyday necessities we need in life
such as our phones, clothes, shoes, plastic bags, and many more. However we could narrow the
materials down to metal–based products, polymer–based products/ plastics, and cellulose–based
products/paper. To narrow things even down further so that we could have an argument, plastic and
cellulose could both be used to make the same type of material such as containers for juice,
containers for food, chairs, tables and many more. With this, we could now compare if plastic or
paper is the better material to make our basic necessities. I would say that plastic would be better
because of its durability, energy efficiency in making plastics, and the ability to mold plastic.
First of all, plastic materials are more durable because of their physical property. The perfect
example for this would be the paper ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
People would say that plastic in landfills would just stay there and if we keep on using plastic the
waste problem would just worsen. I think that the problem here is why do people put plastics in
landfills mixed with biodegradable materials. There are ways to properly recycle plastic. This comes
to my third argument for why plastic beats paper. It is better because we could change its physical
shape to things we really need. Richard Stein, from the University of Massachusetts, stated that
plastics could be melted and formed into different structures such as propellers for wind turbines,
food containers and many more [3]. Imagine being able to reuse plastic as long as the quality of it
can still be recyclable, but if it isn't anymore, Richard Stein also suggested that plastic could be
converted to energy by burning it since it is made of petroleum [3].
To conclude, plastic is better than paper because it saves energy in production, is durable, can be
recycled, and can be transformed into energy. I rest my

Plastic Pollution
Hinton 1
Bridgette Hinton
Professor Ouwehand
English 110/120 MW 2:20
Research Paper
16 April 2012
Essay III
How Plastic Pollution is Out of Control Many individuals underestimate the amount of plastic we
use each day. According to the article "Plastic Bags Wars", "the world consumes 1 million plastic
shopping bags every minute". Plastic bags, along with many other types of plastics, have become a
leading source of pollution worldwide (Doucette). Captain Charles Moore, founder of the Algalita
foundation states that we use two million plastic bottles in the United States every five minutes.
Discovered by Charles Moore in 1997, the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is a prime example of the
amount of plastic pollution that enters the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(Amaral). The lack of proper disposal of trash is contributing to the existing problem of plastic
pollution. Without changing our habits, the garbage patch will only continue to grow (Kostigen).
In "Better Planet Garbage Patch", Thomas Kostigen tells his experience of traveling to the Eastern
Garbage Patch to witness this growing problem first–hand. Kostigen describes this area to be one
and a half times the United States with a depth of 100 feet or more (Krostigen). The size of this
garbage patch is so massive, encompassing around ten million square miles of the North Pacific
Gyre. On the other hand, according to "An Ocean of Plastic", Doucette claims that nobody knows
its exact size or if it has any boundaries at all. (Doucette). Although there have been many
estimations on the size
Hinton 4 of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the exact size remains unknown. In addition, Doucette
warns us that this patch contains more than ten million tons of waste. She describes the area to be a
"fetid swamp of debris where tiny bits of decaying plastic outweigh zooplankton– one of the most
prolific and abundant organisms on the planet– by a ration of six–to–one"(Doucette). It is now
apparent that the amount of plastic particles residing in our oceans is damaging the natural habit and
this trash is not going anywhere. Due to the currents in the ocean, plastic particles are

Persuasive Essay On Plastic Straws
Americans use over 500 million plastic straws every single day–that's enough to circle the earth's
circumference 2.5 times (Ives et al 2017). By 2050, there will be more plastic debris in the ocean
than fish (Kaplan 2016). These staggering statistics are unacceptable and it is our duty to find a
realistic, sustainable solution to the issue. Plastic pollution is one of today's most pressing problems,
and minimizing the use of straws is a feasible and realistic step in the right direction. Although the
problem of pollution is widely understood, the extent of the damage by plastic straws is not as
known or acknowledged. Education of children and adults is an integral component of shifting
cultural norms and mindsets. With a more informed population, people will be more likely to refuse
and forgo plastic utensils. Furthermore, businesses and influential icons play a vital role in this
opportunity. Some restaurants give out both a cup and straw as a mere convenience and a no–straw
policy implementation in such businesses can make a big difference. By initially targeting coastal
areas of the United States to adopt eco–friendly methods, eventually this transition could inspire a
nation–wide law to ban plastic straws to globally shift society–environment interactions to
sustainability. While eliminating plastic straws entirely is ideal, it is difficult to make an abrupt shift;
an attainable solution is to gradually switch to bio–degradable and eco–friendly straws like glass,
metal,

Are Plastic Bags And The United Kingdom?
Everyone is a murderer. Yes, everyone–parents, brothers, sisters, that one girl in math class named
Jenny, the sweet old lady who lives next door–are all murderers. However, the major culprits are the
makers and producers of those toxic and foul things they call plastic bags. Don't believe it? That's
understandable. Not many people know the consequences of their actions; even the ones that killed
thousands of sea animals and destroyed the marine environment. Anthony L. Andrady, author of q,
has even stated that according to numerous surveys taken around the world consistently
demonstrated that plastic materials make up 60–80% of marine debris. That little dolphin or penguin
who accidently ingests that one plastic bag will die a slow death because they didn't know better.
One of the sites that have a density of 700 plastic debris is the North Sea in Europe. Currently, only
Ireland has banned plastic bags and the United Kingdom put a 5–pound tax on plastic bags. All the
other states surrounding has done anything about it yet. This is not okay because plastic debris is
estimated to keep contaminating the ocean for another thousands years due to its extremely slow
biodegradability rate. There are criminals that are put on death row each year for killing people, why
can't we do the same for sea animals? I propose these plastic factory owners surrounding the North
Sea shall be tied up, and suffocated with their creations and be left to drown. As to put an end to
plastic bag

Plastics And Their Environmental Impact

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