2. Plastic Pollution
One of the primary problems with plastic bags is the
lack of complete disposal methods to completely get
rid of them. If they end up in the trash and then in the
landfills or incinerators, where they get burned, either
leaching of toxic chemicals or emissions of toxic gases
occur, which pollute the air. Most plastics are made
from petroleum or natural gas, both of which are non-
renewable resources, extracted and processed using
energy-intensive techniques that destroy fragile
ecosystems. Eight percent of world oil production
goes to manufacturing plastics!
3. ๏Plastic affect the environment as a whole. As plastic is
less expensive, it is one of the most widely available
and overused items in the world today. When
disposed, it does not decompose easily and pollutes
the land or air nearby when burned in the open air by
emitting toxic gases that harm the atmosphere.
๏Environmentally, plastic is a growing disaster. Most
plastics are made from petroleum or natural gas, both
non-renewable resources, which are extracted and
processed using energy-intensive techniques that
destroy fragile ecosystems.
๏The manufacturing of plastic, as well as its destruction by
incineration, pollutes air, land and water and exposes
workers to toxic chemicals.
4. Harmful Effects:
Paper, plastics and other materials that are
burned can contaminate the air when they
are burned because they contain harmful
chemicals such as bleach. Over time the
chemicals can build up in the ozone layer. If
they contain toxic chemicals like dioxin they
can reach the air that people breathe and
cause a public health risk.These gasses that
can destroy the earthโs ozone layer,
contribute to significant climate changes or
global warming.
Majority of the plastic that pollutes ocean
water, comes from ocean-based sources.
Merchant ships expel cargo, sewage, used
medical equipment, and other types of
waste that contain plastic into the ocean.
Naval and research vessels also eject
waste and military equipment that they
do not require anymore.These different
ships do not have enough storage space to
keep these pollutants on the ship, and
thus they are discarded.This is also poses
danger to the aquatic life of that water
body.
They get into soil and slowly release toxic
chemicals that eventually break down into
the soil, with the unfortunate consequence
being that animals eat them and often
choke and die.
5. Plastic pollution in marine
water bodies leads to
innumerable deaths of
aquatic animals, and also
affects aquatic plants.
During the rainy season, the
plastic rubbish that has fallen on
the road gets washed away into
the nearby water reservoirs,
canals, and drains, leading to
their choking up and overflowing.
Also, the water quality gets
spoiled due to the addition of
these synthetic materials.
The quality of drinking
water on our planet is
deteriorating, as plastic
releases some toxic
chemicals such
as BisphenolA.These
products are worsening
the drinking water
situation with every
passing day. Bisphenol
A is a harmful chemical
that damages the
reproductive system of
animals.
When dumped in landfills, plastic
materials interact with water
and form hazardous chemicals. If
these compounds seep down
towards groundwater aquifers,
they degrade the water quality,
leading to groundwater
pollution. Landfills located near
oceans often contribute to ocean
debris because content is easily
swept up and transported to the
sea by wind or small waterways
like rivers and streams.
6. โช Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies.
Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones
or have other potential human health effects.
โช Plastic debris, laced with chemicals and often ingested by
marine animals, can injure or poison wildlife. Once inside,
the plastic both clogs an animal's stomach and poisons
it with chemicals concentrated in the plastic.
โช Floating plastic waste, which can persist for thousands of years
in water, serves as mini transportation devices for invasive
species, disrupting habitats.
โช Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach hazardous chemicals
which contaminate groundwater.
7. ๏As plastic is less expensive, it is one of the most widely available and
overused items in the world today.
๏Even recycling doesnโt cut down on plastic, as it essentially uses the
existing plastic, just in a new form.
๏Plastic pollution may not even be visible to the naked eye as research
shows that microscopic plastic particles are present in the air at various
locations throughout the world and in all major oceans.
๏Plastic is everywhere, even on those items you may not expect it to be.
Milk cartons are lined with plastic, water bottles are handed out
everywhere, and some products may even contain tiny plastic beads.
Every time one of these items gets thrown away or washed down a
sink, the toxic pollutants have more of a chance to enter the
environment and do harm. Plastic is now present all over our
terrestrial, aquatic and airborne environments-that is, it's everywhere!
8. A plastic straw affects a turtleโs breathing by
blocking itโs nostril
Plastic bio accumulated in a sea bird
9. Major Long-Term Effects:
๏Generates an Imbalance in the Food Chain
Since plastic comes in all kinds of sizes, plastics even affect the worldโs smallest
organisms. When these organisms become poisoned due to plastic ingestion, this
causes problems for the larger animals that are dependent on them for food. This
problem becomes more detrimental as one goes further along the food chain. It
also means that plastic is present in the food that many people consume everyday
such as fish.This process is what we call biological magnification.
๏Groundwater Pollution
Leaking plastics and wastes are threatening the worldโs water resources.
Groundwater and reservoirs are susceptible to leaking environmental toxins and
most of the litter and pollution affecting the worldโs oceans can be traced back to
plastics. This has had a detrimental impact on several marine species, which can
lead to further consequences for those that eat fish and marine life for nutrients โ
including people.
10. ๏Air Pollution
Burning of plastic in the open air causes environmental pollution as hazardous
chemicals are released into the atmosphere.The polluted air, when inhaled by
humans and animals may cause respiratory problems.
๏It is Poisonous
Plastic is an artificial commodity produced by man using toxic chemicals.Therefore,
use of and exposure to plastics has been linked to a number of health concerns
affecting people around the world.The processes of making, storing, disposing of,
and just being around plastic can be extremely harmful to living things. People are
exposed to chemicals from plastic multiple times per day through the air, dust,
water, food and use of consumer products. Some studies also have linked these
chemicals with adverse effects in people, including reproductive abnormalities. So
the processes of making, storing, disposing of, and just being around plastic can be
extremely harmful to living things.
11. ๏Plastic is very often disposed of in water bodies, therefore it can
enter the human body and may not even be realized because of the
meagre size of the plastic pieces. When this plastic accumulates in
our bodies, it can cause suffocation.
๏ Coloured plastics are harmful as their pigment contains heavy
metals such as cobalt, lead, copper and selenium that are highly
toxic.
๏ Plastics also produce carcinogenic substances that damage the
reproductive system and its growth and cause cancers.
๏The piling up and burning of plastic where proper disposal facilities
are unavailable causes foul odours and respiratory problems.
๏It also attracts pests and insects, serving as breeding grounds for
diarrhoea, malaria, cholera and dengue.
12. E-Waste Pollution
Approximately 40 million metric tons of electronic waste are produced
every year, globally and less than 20 percent of the e-waste produced
is recycled annually. All this electronic waste constitutes televisions,
computers, smartphones and other electronic devices not in use
anymore. This e-waste is shredded and burnt in backyards, regardless
of taking environmental conservation precautions. Open air burning of
e-waste releases toxic materials into the air we breathe and causes
further complications to humans. Additionally, toxic chemicals from e-
waste enter the soil and persist in the environment for long periods of
time - posing an indirect risk to humans and a direct risk to the
vegetation of a region. Furthermore, when computer monitors are
burnt, they release cancer producing dioxins which are released into
the air we breathe. If electronic devices are thrown in fresh landfills,
the toxins leach into the groundwater reservoirs and destroys the
purity of these water resources.
13. ๏Combustion from e-waste causes respiratory and pulmonary
diseases in humans.
๏Furthermore, proper recycling of e-waste is not done in many
countries - which causes neurological, respiratory, digestive and
other problems within humans.
๏Certain chemicals in e-waste such as cyanides, mercury, and
polychlorinated biphenyls are highly toxic, and exposure can lead
to death.
๏Poisoning and chemical burns have also been found in certain
people from contact with small amounts of hazardous chemical
waste mixed with general waste.
๏Electronics contain heavy metals such as barium, lead and
mercury which are carcinogenic or have the power to cause
cancers in humans.
14. Paper Pollution
In todayโs electronic age, people may consider going paperless.
However, there is a long way to go before we lose our
dependence on this very important resource. From our
newspapers to our paper wrappings, paper is still everywhere
and most of them are ending up in our landfills creating a
staggering amount of paper waste. Once a precious and rare
commodity, it was initially invented as a tool for
communication, but today, paper is used more for packaging.
Producing paper uses twice the energy used to produce a plastic
bag and it also involves cutting down trees. Deforestation is one
of the main environmental problems in todayโs world and a
staggering 42% of all global wood harvest is used to make
paper! Conservation groups have made conscious efforts to
these protect ecologically rich forests which provide life-giving
oxygen by limiting commercial access, among other measures.
15. Paper pollution is another effect of paper waste and itโs
a serious problem.
๏It is estimated that by 2020, paper mills will be
producing 500,000,000 tons of paper and
paperboard each year!
๏Pulp and paper is the 3rd largest industrial polluter of
air, water and soil.
๏Chlorine-based bleaches are used during production
which results in toxic materials being released into
our water, air and soil.
๏When paper rots, it emits methane gas which is 25
times more toxic than CO2.
