Dear All,
About Plastic Pollution:
Plastic is one of the few new chemical materials which pose environmental problem. Polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene is largely used in the manufacture of plastics. Synthetic polymers are easily molded into complex shapes, have high chemical resistance, and are more or less elastic. Some can be formed into fibers or thin transparent films. These properties have made them popular in many durable or disposable goods and for packaging materials. These materials have molecular weight ranging from several thousands to 1,50,000. Excessive molecular size seems to be mainly responsible for the resistance of these chemicals to biodegradation and their persistence in soil environment for a long time.
Plastic in the environment is regarded to be more an aesthetic nuisance than a hazard, since the material is biologically quite inert. The plastic industry in the US alone is $ 50 billion per year and is obviously a tempting market for biotechnological enterprises. Biotechnological processes are being developed as an alternative to existing route or to get new biodegradable biopolymers. 20% of solid municipal wastes in US is plastic. Non-degradable plastics accumulate at the rate of 25 million tons per year. According to an estimate more than 100 million tones of plastic is produced every year all over the world. In India it is only 2 million tones. In India use of plastic is 2 kg per person per year while in European countries it is 60 kg per person per year while that in US it is 80 kg per person per year.
Reasons for Plastic Pollution:
Plastic is used very commonly in the world because they are cheap, easy to make and they will last long as well. But sorry to say, these useful qualities make plastic a real menace to the environment. As it is so cheap that people discards it soon especially carries bags and disposable bottles. As these materials are long lasting and difficult to decompose, it persists in the earth for many centuries resulting in enormous environment pollution. As a result of urbanization, most of the pollution is concentrated in cities.
Synthetic polymers can easily be moulded into different shapes, while some can be made into thin film like bits and pieces, which became very accepted in form of durable and disposable carry bags and packing materials. These materials when thrown out after use remains in the soil in the same form as it is non-biodegradable.
Causes of Plastic Pollution:
Plastic causes serious damage to environment both during its production and disposal. So the only way to reduce the hazards of plastic is to reduce the use of plastic and thereby force a reduction in its production. Plastic plays the villain right from the stage of its production. The major chemicals that go into the making of plastic are highly toxic and pose serious threat to living beings of all species on earth.
Some of the constituents of plastic such as benzene and vinyl chloride are known to cause cancer, while many others are gases and liquid hydrocarbons that vitiate earth and air. Plastic resins themselves are flammable and have contributed considerably to several accidents worldwide. Recycling of plastic is associated with skin and respiratory problems, resulting from exposure to and inhalation of toxic fumes, especially hydrocarbons and residues released during the process. What is worse, the recycled plastic degrades in quality and necessitates the production of more new plastic to make the original product.
Plastic wastes clog the drains and thus hit especially urban sewage systems. The plastic wastes being dumped into rivers, streams and seas contaminate the water, soil, marine life and also the very air we breathe. Choked drains provide excellent breeding grounds for disease-causing mosquitoes besides causing flooding during the monsoons.
Thanks & Regards
Pankaj M Urkudkar
9766572319
pankaj.urkudkar@aksofttech.com
www.aksofttech.com
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