EFFECTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

B. KALYANI S. NIHARIKA

INTRODUCTION Pollution changes the quality of air and the quantity of the gases present in the air which is harmful for plants, animals and human health.

POLLUTION When wastes exceed a limit, they damage the environment and pollute it There are different types of pollutions they are : AIR POLLUTION WATER POLLUTION SOIL POLLUTION THERMAL POLLUTION and SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL etc.

WHAT IS PLASTIC POLLUTION ? Plastic, the wonder material that we use for every thing, is perhaps the most harmful of this trash because it does not readily break down in nature. In fact, the plastic that goes over the side today may still be around in 100’s Of years to foul up the fishing gear, boat propellers, and beaches of future generations, not to mention what it will do to countless generations of marine life and seabirds that eat it or get tangled up in it.

CAUSES AND SOURCES Domestic and commercial wastes called garbage, plastics, fibers, street sweepings, dead animals etc. vegetable cuttings, food wastes from slaughter houses, markets and stables are dumped in the collection centers and get removed only one in a day. during rains the decomposed matter and leachates percolate in to the soil. This pollutes the soil, water and air.

AGRICULTURAL SOURCES Now a days we use modern agricultural practices. These practices are dependent on fertilizer, pesticides. Phosphatic and nitrogenous fertilizers are applied in an in discriminate manner.

BY DISCARDING PLASTIC THOUGHTLESSLY, ESPECIALLY FISHING GEAR AND PACKAGING, PEOPLE ARE ACCIDENTALLY CAUSING THE DEATHS OF MILLIONS OF MAMMALS, BIRDS, REPTILES AND FISHES EVERY YEAR.

The development of plastic earlier this century, it has become a popular material used in a wide variety of ways. Today plastic is used to make, or wrap around, many of the items we buy or used. The problem comes when we longer want these items and how we dispose of them particularly they throw away plastic material used in wrapping or packaging. Plastics are used because they are easy and cheap to make and they can last a long time. Unfortunately these same useful qualities can make plastic a huge pollution problem.

The cheapness means plastic gets discarded easily and its long life means it survives in the environment for long periods where it can do great harm. Because plastic does not decompose and requires high energy ultra violet light to break down, the amount of plastic waste in our oceans is steadily increasing. Plastic pollution has increased 190% more than 90% of the articles found on these beaches contained plastic. plastic is one of the major toxic pollutants of our time. Plastic causes serious damage to environment both during its production and disposal.

THE THREAT TO WILD LIFE Turtles get entangled in fishing nets, and many sea turtles have been found dead with plastic bags in their stomachs. It is believed they mistake these floating semi-transparent bags for jelly fish and eat them. The turtles die from choking or from being unable to eat. One dead turtle found of f Hawaii in the pacific was found to have more than 1000 pieces of plastic in its stomach including part of a comb, a toy truck wheel and nylon rope. TURTLES Turtles are particularly badly affected by plastic pollution, and all seven of the world’s turtle species are already either endangered or threatened for a number of reasons.

MARINE MAMMALS There is a great concern about the effect of plastic rubbish on marine mammals in particular, because many of these creatures are already under threat for a variety of other reasons eg. whale populations have been decimated by uncontrolled hunting.

A recent US reports concluded that 1lakh marine mammals die each year in the world’s oceans by eating or becoming entangled in plastic rubbish, the position is worsening. When a marine mammal such as a cape fur seal gets caught up in a large piece of plastic, it may simply drown, or become exhausted and die of starvation due to the greater effort needed to swim, or the plastic may kill slowly over a period of months or years as it bites into the animal causing wounds, loss of blood.

MARINE BIRDS World-wide, 75 marine bird species are known to eat plastic articles. This includes 36 species found off south Africa. A recent study of blue petrel chicks at South Africa’s remote Marion island showed that 90% of chicks examined had plastic in their stomachs. As particular species seem to be badly affected this may be a threat to whole population of these birds.

IF PLASTIC IS MANUFACTURED Once plastic is produced, the harm is done once and for all. When you recycle a hazard, you create a hazard recycling of a toxic wastes merely puts the hazardous material back in to the market place and eventually in to the environment.

The plastic wastes being dumped in to the rivers, streams and seas contaminate the water, soil, marine life and also the very air we breathe. Plastic through land fills is also dangerous.Apart from toxic seepage from the land fill, resulting in the contamination of precious water sources, the waste mass impedes the flow of ground water as well and obstructs the movement of roots thereby badly affecting the soils.

So the only way to reduce the hazards of plastic pollution is to reduce the use of plastic and thereby a reduction in its production. “INSTEAD OF PLASTIC – USE GUNNY BAGS”.

REDUCTION Avoid throwing away items such as disposable cameras, razors, lighters and plates. Buy long lasting cutlery and plates. Avoid excess packing when choosing products of buy in bulk.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES Reduction of the amount of plastic used in packaging which is usually immediately thrown away. Re-use of plastic should be encouraged Plastic wrapping and bags should carry a warning label stating the dangers of plastic pollution, and shoppers should be encouraged to use their own bags, or recycled paper bags.

WHAT WE CAN DO : Buy products with less plastic packaging and tell store personnel why you are doing so. shoppers should use their own bags or recycled paper bags. Support recycling schemes and promote support for one in your local area. Fisher men through out south Africa should not throw any waste line, net or plastic litter – this causes huge suffering and many deaths Practice and promote proper disposal of plastics in your home and at the beach.

Set an example to others and encourage them to help plastics are not themselves a problem.They are useful and popular materials which can be produced with relatively little damage to the environment. the problem is the excessive use of plastics in one-off applications together with careless disposal. The only way out of the dreadly and lasting danger of plastic is to cut down the use of plastic, if not avoid it together. “SAY NO TO POLYTHENE”

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