IMPACT OF PLASTIC ON ENVIRONMENT

Abstract
Thousands of plastic factories are producing tons of plastic goods
which are popularly used by the people because of their ease,
cheapness and convenience. Due to non-biodegradable nature they
cause hazardous negative impact on the environment. Disposal of
plastic waste which are major cause of environment pollution
becomes carcinogenic to human, birth defects, impaired immunity,
endocrine disruption, development and reproductive effect. In
addition to dumping of plastic material into marine, a large number of
species are known to be harmed or killed which could jeopardize their
survival, especially since many are already endangered by other forms
of anthropogenic activities. Marine animals are mostly affected
through entanglement in and ingestion of plastic litter. Less
conspicuous forms, such as plastic pellets and scrubber are also
hazardous. Creating public awareness on the importance of healthy
environment, mechanism of controlling the generation of wastes at
the source, alternative disposal ways, establishing additional drop-off-
areas (land fills) and incineration mechanisms, plastic recycling
facilities are also recommended.

Introduction
The word plastic is derived from the greek (plastikos) meaning
capable of being shaped or molded. Plastic that are made up of
polymers having only aliphatic (linear) C atoms in their backbone
chains. e.g.: poly propylene. Plastics that are made up of heterochain
polymers contain O, N, S in their backbone chains, in addition to C.
e.g.: poly carbonate. Plastic behaviour of polymers is influenced by
their morphology (arrangement of molecules).they are either
amorphous or crystalline. Most thermosets are amorphous, while
thermoplastics may be amorphous or semi crystalline. Plastics are a
range of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymerization products that can
be molded into a permanent object having the property of plasticity.
Plastic are found extensive industrial applications. Plastics having a
variety of properties are available at present. They have low specific
gravities, ease of fabrication, resistance to low thermal and electrical
conductivities. Many plastics can take range of colour to enable them
useful for decorative purposes. Plastics are widely used in making
electical instruments, telephones, panelling for walls,instrument
boards, automoblile parts, lamps, googles, optical instruments,
household appliances, etc. Plastic materials dumped into the earth
prevent the production of nutrients in the soil. Because of this, the
fertility of the soil is reduced and affects the agriculture sector. When
its persistence in the environment can do great harm. It causes
immune and enzyme disorders, hormonal disruption leading to
endocrinal disorders and even infertility and is also considered as
carcinogenic (cancer). Not only human health, it dangerously effects
other animal life and alters the environment (air,water and soil)
sustainability causing hazardous pollution.

Classification
Plastics can devided into two general categories and they are
1.Thermoplastics and 2. Thermosetting plastics
2.1. Thermoplastics:
Thermoplastics have either linear or branched structure and can be
amorphous or semicrystalline materials. Polymeric chains are held
together by weak vander waal's forces or dipole-dipole forces or
hydrogen bonding and hence do not have cross-links. Thermoplastic
soften on heating and harden on cooling because of weak vander
waal's forces. These plastics can remoulded, reshaped and reused.
Thermoplastics can be reclaimed from waste .examples for
thermoplastic are cellulose derivatives, polyamides, polystyrene,
polyvinyls, polyethylenes,etc.
2.2. Thermosetting plastics:
Thermosetting plastics have three-dimensional, cross-linked,
networked structures in which the polymeric chains are held together
by cross-links(strong covalent bonds). These plastics donot soften on
heating and they are hard, strong and more brittle. Thermosetting
plastics cannot be remoulded and hence cannot be reused.examples
for thermosetting plastic are phenolic resins(bakelite),
polyesters(terylene), etc.

Disposal of Plastic
When plastics are used, recycled, or disposed of, or left in the
environment as litter, they break down and release harmful chemicals.
These pollutants include heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, and
chemicals such as benzene, dioxins, and other pollutants, which all
release harmful toxins into our air, water, and bodies. Right now,
most plastic is being wasted sent to landfills or, more likely,
incinerators. Burning plastic in incinerators releases toxic heavy
metals and chemicals. Incinerators produce a variety of toxic
discharges to the air, water, and ground that are significant sources of
powerful pollutants, including dioxin and other chlorinated organic
compounds that are well known for their toxic effects on human
health and the environment. In landfills, leachate is produced when
water picks up toxins as it seeps through the trash. This trash includes
plastics of all types, even older plastics that have been proven to be
toxic but are still in our landfills. Although landfills attempt to collect
this toxic leachate, it also leaks into ground and surface water,
releasing pollutants into the environment and causing health risks for
humans and wildlife.

Environmental impacts
Environmental impacts are wide ranging and can be both direct and
indirect. Direct impacts occur when marine life is physically harmed
by marine debris through ingestion or entanglement (e.g., a turtle
mistakes a plastic bag for food) or marine debris physically alters a
sensitive ecosystem (e.g., a fishing net is dragged along the ocean
floor by strong ocean currents and breaks and smothers a coral reef).
Environmental impacts can also be indirect, such as when a marine
debris cleanup results in ecological changes.
1. Direct Environmental Impacts
a. Ingestion:
Seabirds, sea turtles, fish, and marine mammals often ingest marine
debris that they mistake for food. Ingesting marine debris can
seriously harm marine life. For example, whales and sea turtles often
mistake plastic bags for squid, and birds often mistake plastic pellets
for fish eggs. At other times, animals accidentally eat the marine
debris while feeding on natural food. Ingestion can lead to starvation
or malnutrition when the marine debris collects in the animal's
stomach causing the animal to feel full. Starvation also occurs when
ingested marine debris in the animal's system prevents vital nutrients
from being absorbed. Internal injuries and infections may also result
from ingestion. Some marine debris, especially some plastics, contain
toxic substances that can cause death or reproductive failure in fish,
shellfish, or any marine life.

b. Entanglement:
Marine life can become entangled in marine debris causing serious
injury or death. Entanglement can lead to suffocation, starvation,
drowning, increased vulnerability to predators, or other injury. Marine
debris can constrict an entangled animal's movement which results in
exhaustion or development of an infection from deep wounds caused
by tightening material.

c. Ecosystem Alteration:
The direct impacts of marine debris are not limited to mobile animals.
Plants, other immobile living organisms, and sensitive ecosystems can
all be harmed by marine debris. Coral reefs can be damaged by
derelict fishing gear that breaks or suffocates coral. Plants can be
smothered by plastic bags and fishing nets. The ocean floor
ecosystems can be damaged and altered by the movement of an
abandoned vessel or other marine debris.
2. Indirect Environmental Impacts
a. Ecosystem Alteration:
Efforts to remove marine debris can harm ecosystems. Mechanical
beach raking uses a tractor or other mechanical device to remove
marine debris from beaches and marine shorelines and can adversely
impact shoreline habitats. This removal technique can be harmful to
aquatic vegetation, nesting birds, sea turtles, and other types of
aquatic life. Beach raking also can contribute to beach erosion and
disturbance of natural vegetation when the raking is conducted too
close to a dune.
b. Invasive Species:
Marine debris can contribute to the transfer and movement of invasive
species. Floating marine debris can carry invasive species from one
location to another. Invasive species use the marine debris as a type of
"raft" to move from one body of water to another. In a study
performed by the British Antarctic Survey in 2002, it was estimated
that man-made debris found in the oceans has approximately doubled
the number of different species found in the subtropics.

3. Economic Impacts
Marine debris can harm three important components of our economy:
tourism, fishing, and navigation. Economic impacts are felt through
loss in tourism dollars and catch revenue, as well as costly vessel
repairs.
a. Tourism:
Marine debris is unsightly and unwelcoming to beachgoers, which
can result in lost revenue from tourism. In severe cases, marine debris
can even cause beach closures. The costs to remove and dispose of the
marine debris can be high and the loss of tourism dollars can be even
higher.
b. Fishing:
Fisheries experience significant economic impacts from marine
debris. Commercial fisheries are impacted when commercial fish and
shellfish become bycatch in lost fishing nets or other fishing gear.
This type of bycatch can result in both immediate losses in the
standing stock of available seafood, and decreases in the long-term
sustainability of the stock due to negative impacts on its reproductive
ability.
c. Navigation:
Floating marine debris is a navigational hazard that entangles
propellers and clogs cooling water intake valves. Repairing boats
damaged by marine debris is both time consuming and expensive.

The Causes And Effects Of The Use Of Disposable Plastics

The durable, lightweight and easy to go of the non-biodegradable
plastic bags and water bottles are becoming unavoidable to use in
many day-to-day activities of the societies of developing countries
like Ethiopia, and of which is often reused many times and discarded
causing problems for human, animal and the environments where it
deposited. Some of the major sources of environmental problems like
Ethiopia include sewage and run-off related plastics, materials from
recreational/social gathering users, and materials disposed of at open
landfills from each household activity. Plastic materials originating
from each source is either transported by wind, flood and human
drains toward water bodies, or is mixed with the farm (agricultural)
lands. In developed countries, poor awareness of societies on plastic
materials, poor collection of waste materials and their treatments, high
run-off and floods due to rain are important pointed sources of plastic
materials, namely plastic bags and water bottles, from/to the
environment (agricultural farmlands, surface waters) which
undermines soil and water qualities and threatens human and
biodiversity.
Toxicity Impact Of Plastic Bags And Water Bottles
The major impact of plastic bags & Water Bottles on the environment
is that it takes many years to for them to decompose. In addition, toxic
substances are released into the soil when plastic bags perish under
sunlight and, if plastic bags are burned, they release a toxic substance
into the air causing ambient air pollution. Simons suggests that, owing
to the unregulated accumulation of carcinogenic compounds, the use
of plastic bags may allow inroads into cancerous diseases. Plastic
bags are dumped indiscriminately into landfills worldwide that
occupy tons of hectares of land and emit dangerous methane and
carbon dioxide gases as well as highly toxic leachates from these
landfills during their decomposition stage.

Waste from plastic bags poses serious environmental danger to human

and animal health. If plastic bags are not properly disposed of, they
can impact the environment by causing littering and stormwater drain
blockages.

Animals may also get tangled and drown in plastic bags. Animals
often confuse the bags for food and consume them, therefore blocking
their digestive processes. Animals becoming entanglement in marine
debris, including plastic bags, may cause starvation, choking,
laceration, infection, reduced reproductive success, and mortality.
There were instances where large endangered tortoises were found to
have suffocated because of the mistaken swallowing of plastic bags
combined with seaweed.

Plastics are now omnipresent in the marine environment and this

worsening trend needs urgent action. Plastics have been identified as a
problem in the marine environment since the 1970s, but the issue of
plastic pollution in marine and freshwater environments has only
recently been identified as a global problem. As a consequence,
marine plastic bag pollution has become noteworthy environmental
concern for governments, scientists, non-governmental
establishments, and the international community

Health Implications:
The Plastic We Use Can Harm Us The things that make plastic so
attractive to manufacturers and consumers are the same things that
make it so harmful to our health and the environment. You can make
plastic in any size, shape, texture, and color.
Some chemicals, like BPA and phthalates, can leach into food and
drinks to possibly affect human health. Polycarbonate, PVC, and
styrene have also been shown to leach toxic chemicals. Leaching
increases when plastic comes in contact with oily or fatty foods, when
the plastics are heated, and when plastics get old or scratched.
The triangle, in the recycle code of plastic, indicates that the plastic
material is recyclable, and each number inside the triangle indicates a
specific type of plastic as follows:
1. Polyethylene terephthalate: Safe and recyclable, plastic bottles and
containers made of it used for water, juice, soft drinks and peanut
butter
2. Polyethylene terephthalate: Safe and recyclable, plastic bottles and
containers made of it used for water, juice, soft drinks and peanut
butter packaging.
3. High-density polyethylene: Safe and recyclable,used for the
manufacturing of packages for shampoo, detergents and milk, as well
as plastic toys. It is safer than any other plastic material especially the
transparent type.
4. Polyvinyl chloride: Harmful and toxic if used for long time. It is
commonly abbreviated PVC and used in the manufacturing of
plumping pipes, bathroom curtains, toys, and transparent plastic
wraps for meat and cheese. It is widely used because of its cheap
price, so it is considered the most dangerous type of plastic.
5. Low-density polyethylene: Proportionally safe, recyclable, used for
the manufacture of CDs, bottles and grocery bags.
6. Polypropylene: One of the best and safest types of plastic, suitable
for cold and hot liquids and other products, unharmful, used in
manufacturing of food containers, plates, medicine bottles and all
food related products. It is recommended that all food containers
should be made of this substance, especially children's food
containers used for school meal packaging, and water bottles reused
for multiple times.
7. Polystyrene: Dangerous and unsafe, used for burger, hotdog and
teacups packaging.It looks like the cork and was being used in the
international fast food chains in our region until recently, although the
USA has prohibited the use of it for 20 years. MacDonald's also has
stopped using
8. it since 1980, so let us be cautious of this material that is still being
used here in fast food and popular restaurants. This material has
impact on the ozone layer because it is made of harmful Chloro Floro
Carbon gas (CFC).
9. Others:Such material does not come under any category of the
abovementioned
10. types of plastic. It can be mixture or compound of the six
international companies started to produce toys and babyfeeding
bottles made of it.
Recycling techniques:
This deals with the tonnes of plastic waste that is choking earth. So in
addition to developing smarter plastics that takes the place of
conventional plastics, we also need to deal with the immense
quantities of toxic wastes already out there and hurting humans and
the environment. Smarter sorting of Municipal Solid Wastes, more
energy efficient ways of getting rid of the plasticizers from these
items and increasing the scale of this entire process is very vital to
overcome this challenge. Recent reports of discovery of certain fungi
and bacteria that hasten degradation of conventional plastics has
received a lot of media and scientific attention. The research efforts
are rightly guided in determining that in this process, the byproducts
of this natural way of decomposition is safe for the environment and
the there are no hidden adverse consequences of this approach. It's
also heartening to note that, research studies have tried to utilize waste
plastics as additives to road building material because of the common
petrochemical origin of tar and plastics.

Alternatives To Curb The Wide Use Of Plastic

1. Use paper or cloth bags instead of plastic bags.
2. Reuse plastic bags for many times to reduce consumption, and
hence curbing the production of them.
3. Use glass containers such as Pyrex.
4. Use of plastic bags can be reduced through codification by
imposing heavy taxes or fees on the production of them.
5. Compliance with proper criteria and standards on the production of
plastic bags makes the bags thicker, more durable and biodegradable.
6. Reduce the use of plastic-wrapped products.
7. Mothers should be cautious not to use plastic bottles for feeding
their babies.
8. Do not buy plastic toys which children can chew, and replace them
with toys made of natural materials.
9. Do not buy or use plastic cups, plates or spoons, especially the
disposable single-use ones.
10. If you select between different plastic products, choose the
product that can be reused or recycled.
11. Do not take more plastic bags than you need when shopping.
12. In case you buy a product in a plastic can or bottle, reuse it for
other purposes instead of disposal
13. Avoid using plastic cups made of rigid polystyrene in drinking
tea, coffee and other hot drinks. Use paper or glass cups instead.

Conclusion
There is a need to minimise our plastic use to effectively minimise
plastic waste. This means modifying our everyday habits, not using
plastic when there is a good alternative and only using plastic when it
is strictly necessary. Plastic bags can be reused or used for different
purposes. It is necessary to think about how they can be reused before
disposing of them. To raise public awareness, the regional and
national different levels of educational curriculums must include the
waste management systems from the grass-roots as information
resources. In addition to creating public awareness on the importance
of a healthy environment, mechanisms of controlling the generation
of wastes at the source, alternative disposal ways, establishing
additional drop-off areas (landfills) and incineration mechanisms,
plastic recycling facilities are also recommended. Helping
communities to reduce their exposures to health toxicants will
increase the likelihood for a healthy society and clean environment for
the coming generations.