The document provides an overview of plastics, including their properties, types, production, uses, and environmental impacts. It discusses how plastics are polymers made from petrochemicals and can be thermoplastics or thermosets. The major types of plastics like polyethylene, PVC, and polystyrene are described. The document also outlines the positive aspects of plastics but notes they are not biodegradable and can pollute land, water, and air when discarded. Plastic waste is a growing problem and poses health risks to both wildlife and humans. Ways to reduce plastic pollution through refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle strategies are suggested.

2. Introduction
Properties of plastics
Positive aspects of plastics
Negative aspects of plastics.
types, categories and
families of plastics.
Land plastic pollution
Air plastic pollution
Water plastic pollution.
Ocean plastic pollution
Human health hazards
Pollution prevention

3.  The word plastic was derived from the
words plasticus(Latin for ‘capable of
moulding’) and plastikos (Greek for ‘fit
for moulding’).
 Plastics are organic polymers (synthetic
or natural) of high molecular weight.
 The plastic is basically formless material
which can be moulded under heat and
pressure.

4.  Most of the plastics are made from three
raw materials
• Non-renewable
petroleum • Natural resource
• Non-renewable
Coal • Natural resource
• Renewable
cellulose • Natural resource

5.  Plastic is a long, chain like molecules
(polymers) made from petroleum capable
being molded, extruded or cast into various
shapes.
 The first plastic was invented in 1862 by
Alexander Parkes.
 At first plastics could only be made in brown
or black (Bakelite) color.
 In 1930’s, ‘Amino Plastics’ had been
invented which could be made in lots of
bright colours.

6.  Plastics are strong, light weight, flexible
and durable.
 Plastics show superior optical properties
( clarity, gloss and color).
 Plastics can be easily moulded into a
variety of shapes and sizes.
 Plastics have excellent mechanical
strength ( tensile properties, tear
resistance and impact resistance ).

7.  Plastics are relatively cheap compared
to tin, glass and steel.
 Plastics are reusable and recyclable.
 Plastics have long use life.

8.  Plastics are good electrical / heat
insulators.
 Plastics do not corrode or decay.
 Plastics are cheap and dispensable.
 Plastics are resistant to chemicals, water
or grease.

9.  Plastics can either be non-
biodegradable or degrade very slowly.
 Plastics are flammable and release toxic
fumes when burned.
 Plastics can contaminate foods with
dangerous chemical compounds.
 Plastics usually have low melting points
and therefore expand with heat.
 Plastics are not as strong as metals.

10.  plastics are made from fossil fuels.
 Fossil fuels contain hydrocarbons, which provide
small building blocks called monomer
polymerization.
 These hydrocarbon monomers are link together
to form long carbon chains called polymers.
 The process of forming long molecules is called
polymerization.
 The polymerization form viscous, sticky
substances known as resins, which are used to
make plastic products.
 For e.g., ethylene is a gaseous hydrocarbon.
When it is subjected to heat, pressure, and certain
polyethylene.

catalysts , the ethylene molecules join together
into long, repeating carbon chains.
 These joined molecules form a plastic resin known
as polyethylene.

11. Addition polymerization
-Joining identical monomers
• polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride,
and polystyrene.
Condensation polymerization
-Joining two or more different monomers
• nylon (polyamide), polyester, and polyurethane.

12. Groups of plastics
Thermoplastics
Thermosets
Thermoplastics can be
repeatedly softened Thermosetting plastics
by heating and harden permanently
hardened by cooling. after being heated
once.
e.g. polyethylene
e.g. bakelite

14. No. type Chemical name usage precautions
1 PET Polyethylene Single use bottles-water, soft drinks, Use with
terephthalate juice caution
High density Milk/detergentbottles Appears
2 HDPE polyethylene safe
3 PVC Poly vinyl chloride Meat wraps, shampoo Avoid
containers More
hazardous
4 LDPE Low density Bread bags, Appears
polyethylene Sandwich bags safe
5 PP polypropylene Medicine bottles, cereal liners Appears
safe
6 PS polystyrene Take-out containers, foam avoid
packaging
7 O others Baby bottles, sauce bottles Use with
caution

15.  Polyethylene (PE)  Polyester (PES)
 Poly vinyl chloride  Polyamides (PA)
(PVC) (Nylons).
 Polystyrene (PS)  Poly tetrafluoroethylene
 Polypropylene (PP) (PTEE) (Teflon)
 Polyurethane (PU)  Melamine formaldehyde
 polycarbonates (MF).
 Urea formaldehyde (UF).
There are more than 50 families of plastics

16. Plastic Plastic waste
production disposal
100 million 25 million
tonnes/ year tonnes/year
Plastics in municipal
Annual increase of
solid waste = 11.8 %
Production =9%
By weight

17. Polyethylene (PE) is a milky white, translucent
substance derived from ethylene.
Polyethylene (PE) is made in low- and high-density
forms.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is the most widely used
of all plastics, because it is
inexpensive, flexible, extremely tough, and chemical-
resistant.
LDPE is molded into bottles, garment bags, frozen food
packages, and plastic toys.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is stiffer,
stronger, and less translucent.
HDPE is formed into grocery bags, car fuel
tanks, packaging, and piping.

18. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is prepared from the
organic compound vinyl chloride.
PVC is the most widely used of the amorphous
plastics.
PVC is lightweight, durable, and waterproof.
Rigid PVC is moulded into clear
bottles, pipe, house siding, and gutters and is
used to form other consumer
products, including compact discs and
computer casings.
Soft form of PVC is used to make shrink-
wrap, food packaging, rainwear, shoe
soles, shampoo containers, floor
tile, gloves, upholstery, and other products.

19. Polypropylene is
polymerized from the
organic compound
propylene.
Polypropylene has the
properties of durability
and chemical
resistance.
Polypropylene made
into
rope, fiber, carpet, an
d packaging film.

20. Polystyrene is
produced from
styrene.
polystyrene is an
amorphous, transpare
nt, and somewhat
brittle plastic.
Polystyrene is made
into products such as
toys, utensils, display
boxes, model aircraft
kits, and ballpoint pen
barrels.

21.  Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is
formed from the reaction of terephthalic
acid and ethylene glycol.
 PET molecules are strong and abrasion-
resistant material that is used to produce
films and polyester fibers.
 PET is injection molded into windshield
wiper arms, sunroof
frames, gears, pulleys, and food trays.

22. 80% of
thermoplastics,
and 20% of thermoset
plastic wastes are
generated in India.
The use of plastics in
India is 3 kg per
person per year.
The total
consumption of
plastics in India is
about 4 million tonnes
and the waste
generated is about 2
million tonnes.
About 20% of solid
municipal wastes are
plastics in India.

23.  Plastic is one of the toxic non-biodegradable
pollutants, which pollutes land, air and water.
 Plastics cause serious damage to the
environment both during its manufacture and
disposal.
 The manufacture of plastics in industries
releases huge quantity of carbon
monoxide, dioxin, hydrogen cyanide and
VOCs.
 These gases pollute air seriously.
 Being a non-biodegradable material, land
filling with plastics preserves the poisons for
ever.

24.  Plastic is a part of our lives.
 People use plastics in a variety of ways
ranging from household appliances to
industrial and commercial products.
 The production of plastics is growing
about 9% annually.
 According to an estimate about 100
million tonnes of plastics is produced
every year all over the world.

25.  The major chemicals used in the manufacture
of plastics are highly toxic.
 Plastic which is made from petroleum, is a
material that the earth cannot digest.
 These toxic chemicals( benzene, vinyl
chloride, xylems and bisphenol A ) pose serious
threat to living beings of all species on earth.
 Benzene and vinyl chloride are confirmed
carcinogens.
 In the environment, plastic breaks down into
smaller and smaller particles, that absorb toxic
chemicals, are ingested by wildlife on land and
in the ocean and enter human food chain.

26. Toxic
By-products/
wastes
incineration
distribution End of life
Manufacture Use of Disposal of Land
plastics fills
Of plastics plastics
recycling
Leaching of chemicals&
Enter human Food chain

27.  Plastic resins are made by using non-
renewable natural resources.
 Approximately 8 % 0f world’s oil
production is used to make plastics.
 Over exploitation results in depletion of
natural resources

28. Plastic pollution on land is both physical and
chemical.
Plastic reduces soil fertility by forming the part
of manure for years.
Plastic spoils environmental aesthetics and
hygiene.
Plastics in landfills emit hazardous VOCs during
incineration.
Plastics in soil can lessen the growth of plants
and trees by blocking the absorption of
minerals, water and other nutrients.
Plastics can cause land slides.

29. Industries emit large amounts of carbon
monoxide, dioxin and hydrogen
cyanide.
These gaseous pollutants contaminate
air and cause respiratory
diseases, nervous system disorders and
immune suppression in human beings.

30.  Plastics wastes dumped in water courses
contaminate and poisons freshwater life.
 On leaching in water, plastic can easily
enter the human food chain and harm
human health.
 Plastic debrises clog the sewage drains and
create stagnant water which will be an
ideal habitat for mosquitoes and other
parasites.
 Chocked drains cause flooding during
monsoons.

31. Effects of plastics on
marine life include the
entanglement and
ingestion of plastic debris
by marine vertebrates .
Over a million sea birds
and mammals die
annually from ingestion
of plastics.
Plastic is mistaken for
food and is eaten up by
birds, turtles, seals, and
whales. This may choke
them, poison them or
impede digestion and
causing starvation.

32. Marine turtles become
entangled in discarded
nets and were found
dead with plastic
garbage bags in the
stomach.
Some marine mammals
swallow plastic
bags, which resemble
jelly fish in sea water.
About 44% of sea birds
eat plastics mistaken for
food leading to
suffocation or blockage
of digestive tracts and
eventually death.

33. Toxic chemicals contained in plastics cause
neurological problems, cancer, birth defects, hormonal
changes gastric ulcer, thyroid problems and
cardiovascular disease.
The endocrine disrupting chemicals(EDCs) in plastics
have been contributing to obesity and diabetes.
The plastic bottles may leach cancer-causing
chemicals such as phthalates (a component makes
plastic pliable) and Bis-phenol A ( a component harden
plastic).
Bis-phenol A(BPA) a synthetic estrogen, can affect the
hearts of women and can permanently damage DNA
of mice.

34. The raw material for plastic bags are petroleum
and natural gas (manufacture take 4% of world’s
oil production).
The plastic grocery bags are made from ethylene,
a non-renewable resource.
The plastic bags take 100s of years to break down.
HDPE Chemical barrels
polyethylene LDPE Thin filmy bags
LLDPE Thick glossy bags

35. Prevention strategies
REFUSE – REDUCE – RECYCLE –
refuse REUSE –
Choose Recycling is
plastic carry
products Reuse non- not a
bags at the
with toxic sustainable
grocer’s
minimum containers solution.
shop. Use
natural fiber plastic and goods. -can be last
bags. packaging option.

36.  Dr.B.Victor is a highly experienced postgraduate
biology teacher, recently retired from the reputed
educational institution - St. Xavier’ s
College, Palayamkottai, India-627001.
 He was the dean of sciences and assistant controller
of examinations.
 He has more than 32 years of teaching and research
experience
 He has taught a diversity of courses ranging from
pre- university to post graduate classes.
 Send your comments to : bonfiliusvictor@gmail.com

37. Thanks a lot