Tag: Plastic Free world

PRESENCE OF MICROPLASTICS IN ENVIRONMENT; A RISING CONCERN

Microplastics have become one of the greatest threats to the entire planet. Their presence has been identified from arctic snow to alpine soil in the deepest trenches of oceans. Scientists are yet to find out the impacts of microplastics in the human body but have recognized their intake by people both directly and indirectly through the food they have, the water they drink and the air they breathe.

Instead of biodegradation, plastic undergoes physical breakdown resulting in the formation of particles smaller than 5mm in size known as microplastics and particles having a diameter less than 0.001mm known as nanoplastics. Microplastics are usually discarded while washing synthetic clothes, vehicle tyres and emissions of plastic pellets from industries.

The existence of microplastics in the marine sediments and bottom-living creatures of the sea is a serious indication of the potential environmental hazards due to pollution. Once ingested by small creatures, the microplastics move through the food chain affecting the entire biodiversity and the exposure of wildlife to tiny particles of plastics can lead to infertility, inflammation, cancer etc. Studies on marine animals have reported an increasingly alarming rate of microplastics in every one of 50 marine mammals washed up on the shores. They have also been found in insects and birds. Apart from the identified health impacts on animals and marine life, very little is known about its health effects on humans.

The omnipresence of plastic in our environment is equally treacherous to humans even though its consequences are yet to be identified. Analysis of bottled drinking water across the globe conducted by WHO in 2018 has detected the potential risks of microplastic in 90% of the world’s most popular bottled water brands.

The studies conducted by WWF in 2019 shows that the average human eats around 2000 microplastics weakly and 90% of rainwater samples collected from various regions contain a considerable amount of microplastic in it. 

Reports on recent research conducted on deceased human organs have discovered the traces of numerous types of plastic in almost all major organs including kidney, lungs, liver etc and it also suggests that microplastics can persist in the human body. These harmful chemicals in plastic materials can cause adverse health imbalances including cancer, birth defects, developmental and reproductive issues, endocrine disruption, and compromised immunity.

The most shocking fact is that the microplastics have made their way into the human body, even in the placenta of several unborn children. Long term health hazards caused by extremely small particles of plastic in the placenta of the babies and their mothers is a serious concern. These particles are likely to have been consumed or breathed in by mothers that could carry chemicals that may upset the foetus’s developing immune system.

The inventions humans have made through the overexploitation of nature without taking the harmful effects into consideration now seems to bite back at them one by one as the maker of plastic seems to be made of plastic. It’s high time for us to respect nature and live within its bounds.

Human Life and Environment

The environment is the most valuable component of human life because it has an efficacious interconnectedness of life on both the living and non-living things. What we do to our planet is what we do to ourselves. Human life is dependent on the environment for survival on earth. The environment is a vast trove of resources such as air, shelter, food, and water. The ecosystem that includes all the plants, animals, birds, reptiles, insects, water bodies, fishes, human beings, trees, microorganisms and many more altogether constitute the environment. Besides the basic three divisions such as the physical, social, and cultural environment, Today, we are surrounded by the artificial environment created for ourselves such as buildings, air-conditioned rooms, streets, shopping complexes, vehicles emitting poisonous gases, dust, etc. All these assets, on one hand, signify our luxurious life whereas on the other, baneful and human-centred nature of man. 

Over the years, innumerable environmentalists and philosophers have shifted and encouraged others to shift towards a nature centred approach. This brings the anthropocentrism and non-anthropocentrism approaches to light. Whilst anthropocentric approach sees man as the centre of the universe and all other animals and components in terms of their instrumental values, non-anthropocentrism sees the natural components, biotic as well as abiotic in terms of intrinsic values. The work of Aldo Leopold, “A Sandy County Almanac”, especially see ‘land’ as a ‘community and not as a commodity. Rachel Carson is another thinker who has extended her thoughts to the world by asserting the importance of being friendly with animals rather than killing them for their flesh and skin. 

Franklin D. Roosevelt opines that “A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” However, the environment is not given the respect it deserves. Man has become a poacher of nature to satisfy his economic and physical needs. The pollution of the environment has choked all the resources required to sustain the life of living things and therefore affecting negatively.

The environment always gives us countless benefits that we can’t repay our entire life. The forest and trees filter the air and absorb harmful gases. Plants purify water, reduce the chances of a flood, and maintain natural balance and many others. Moreover, the environment regulates the vital systems that are essential for the ecosystem. Every being in the environment is so significant for human life. It is well captured in the words of Maurice Maeterlinck, a Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist who says, “If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.”

The environment regulates various natural cycles that happen daily. These cycles help in maintaining the natural balance between living things and the environment. Disturbance of these things can ultimately affect the life cycle of humans and other living beings. The environment has always helped us and other living beings to flourish and grow from thousands of years. The environment provides us fertile land, water, air, livestock and many essential things for survival. Saving the environment is one of the responsibilities of all humans. It begins only by identifying the pollutants and by trying to mitigate them drastically. Human activities are the major cause of environmental degradation because most of the activities of humans do harm the environment in some way. The activities of humans that cause environmental degradation are pollution, defective environmental policies, chemicals, greenhouse gases, global warming, ozone depletion, etc. All these affect the environment badly. Besides, these the overuse of natural resources will create a situation in the future there will be no resources for consumption. And the most basic necessity of living air is getting so polluted that humans are forced to use bottled oxygen for breathing as witnessed in our capital city called Delhi.

The increasing human activity is exerting more pressure on the surface of the earth which is causing many disasters in an unnatural form. Also, we are using natural resources at a pace that within a few years they will vanish from the earth. A clean environment is very important for the health and prosperity of a society and a nation as a whole. It is one of the basic requirements for the presence of life on Earth. Living species including plants, animals, humans and aquatic life cannot survive amid waste; they all need a healthy and clean environment to live; an unclean environment gives way to diseases and an unbalanced ecosystem much more. A society that consumes polluted water or breathes in polluted air cannot be healthy and prosperous. Necessary steps must be taken to clean the environment and prevent any further damage to it. To preserve a clean environment, the Environment-friendly policies are to be in a lay man’s term. The guidelines for industrial or infrastructural development are essential to claim reduced or minimal effect on the environment. The usage of renewable energy sources like wind and water instead of conventional sources would result in the reduction of environmental pollution. Vehicles with zero emissions such as vehicles running on electricity or solar energy could be encouraged. Steps should be taken for the accumulation and conservation of rainwater to meet everyday water requirements. People must be made aware of the hazards of the population explosion and its effects on the environment and depletion of natural resources. The use of Organic pesticides which are made up of minerals or other plant materials that keep pests at bay and break down quickly in the soil would certainly help prevent pollution due to hazardous chemicals.

One of the commendable initiatives taken by the U.N to curb environmental pollution is “The World Environment Day”, celebrated on 5th June every year, to raise awareness and urge the governments, individuals, and societies of the world to come together and take steps to eradicate the use of plastics in our day to day life and other factors contributing to the environmental pollution in our daily life and taking necessary steps to prevent them. India recently hosted the World Environment Day on 5th June 2018 with the theme of “Beat Plastic Pollution”. India introduced Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign) on 2nd Oct 2014 to clean its roads and cities. We as an individual must take a pledge to keep our society clean, free from any littering waste and to inform the concerned authorities when we encounter such littering or garbage.

Eventually, we should understand that it is the environment that is keeping us alive. Without the blanket of the environment, we won’t be able to survive. It is high time we wake up and heal the natural world. It is never too late to give up our prejudices and overt dependence on technology. Let’s coexist with our environment and be human(e) in a true sense. Moreover, the environment’s contribution to life cannot be repaid. Besides, still what the environment has done for us, in return we have only damaged and degraded it.

Plastic Ban

Waste plastic bags are polluting the land and water immensely. Plastic bags have become a threat to the life of animals living on earth as well as in water. Chemicals released by waste plastic bags enter the soil and make it infertile. … Plastic bags lead to the drainage problem.
Plastic bags are crude oil products .They are derived from petroleum and natural gas .Since ,crude oil is a non renewable source of energy using polhythin bags mens we are washing oil .One of the maindrawbacks of the bag is that the are non-biodegrable . It takes eons to breakdown plastic.Plastic is also responsible for global warming.The burning of plastic bags release carbon monoxide which adversely affects the ozone layer of the earth.The thinning of this layer has been a major cause of global warming . Recycling of plastic bags is very long process and not vaiable option.
many states like Delhi and etc ,have imposed a ban on plastic bags .While we cannot think of totally aliminating its use but we can significiantly reduce using them.We can swith over to recycled paper instead.As plastic bags choke drains and cow stomach .Every one should take resonsible ,in making this world a more beautiful and greener place to live in …..
Poly bags appeared for the first time in the 1970s in this country but soon they became very popular. Today, they seem to have become an integral part of our life. They are very convenient indeed. We go to the market without a care in the world. All our shopping go into our poly-bags-so light and so strong. However, this is high time, we looked to the other aspects of poly bags. They harm our environment greatly. If we throw them on the road, they choke the drains. Worse, a cow or some other animal may eat them. In that case, these poly bags ultimately kill the cattle. They are banned by law in many cities. Yet, the people keep on using them. They should be now banned in the whole country and this ban should be strictly implemented.

Plastic bags have a wide range of usability in our day to day lives. For instance, we use them to carry our foodstuffs from groceries shops, we also use them as gloves to do dirty chores or as knee pads while gardening. We also cover our plants with plastic bags to prevent them from frosting at night.

Basically, plastic bags can be improvised to do so many things and are therefore very handy at home. The reason why plastic bags are so popular is because they are cheaper than eco-friendly bags. Furthermore, plastic bags are waterproof and very convenient during rainy days. Whilst, there are many advantages we can accrue from using plastic bags, the reality of the matter is that they pose serious threats to us and the environment.
One of the reasons why plastic bags are bad for the environment is that they practically take forever to decay. Plastics have a very low rate of degradation that it may take thousands of years for a small piece to disintegrate. It goes without saying therefore that since the first modern plastic bags were designed in 1965 by the Swedish company, Celloplast, virtually all the plastic bags are still in existence today. Manufactured from polyethylene- a high density plastic, these bags can withstand all weather conditions.

Secondly, they contribute to climate change. All the polymers and compounds used in the creation of plastic bags such as polypropylene and polyethylene are derived from petroleum and natural gas. The process of extracting fossil fuel and then processing it to produce plastics releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This has resulted to the degradation of the ozone layer, which has subsequently led to global warming. It is also not economically viable to use nonrenewable resources like petroleum and natural gas to produce a commodity that has a very short lifespan.

Moreover, plastic bags pollute the environment. They pollute our lands making them look ugly and untidy. And since they are very light, they are easily carried by wind and water to various places on earth. They litter our pathways, fences, houses and trees and make them look ugly. They also pollute water bodies. All the plastic bags eventually end up in the oceans and other water bodies. Look at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is located between Hawaii and California.

The place has the world’s largest accumulation of plastic waste on a water body. With so much plastic floating on water, the marine life is put into too much risk. The situation is even worse if the plastic waste finds its way to the bottom of the ocean, where many sea creatures live and lay eggs. Apart from eating the plastic bags, the sea creatures may also get entangled or trapped by them.

Marine animals often mistake plastic pieces and bags for food. For instance, sea turtles cannot differentiate plastic bags from jelly fish and they therefore consume them. Since they are not biologically designed to digest plastics, the consumed plastic gets trapped into their digestive tracts. The marine animals eventually die from suffocation, infections or inability to feed and excrete waste.

Creatures that prey on fish, such as humans, birds, terrestrial animals and other marine animals also get sucked into the equation through the ocean food web when they feed on contaminated fish meat. When humans consume contaminated fish, they are at a higher risk of getting serious health complications. For example, if they were to ingest PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), then they have a higher chance of getting cancer.

Plastics have no better method of disposal. Even if they were to be burned, then the people within the vicinity will be exposed to harmful plastic fumes. For instance, when polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics are burned they produce dioxins. These chemicals are very harmful to humans. Now, imagine the risks that people would be exposed to if a building full of PVCs would go up in flames. Furthermore, a lot of energy is used during their production processes. The amount of energy used to manufacture nine plastic bags is approximated to be the same as energy used to drive a vehicle for at least half a mile.

It is also worth noting that we do not receive them for free at our retail stores, we pay for them one way or another. Their costs are usually hidden in the prices of commodities we buy. Obviously most people are familiar with that. However, the catch is that our taxpayer money ends up being used to clean up plastic bag wastes. Imagine the cost of a plastic bag ranges between 3 to 5 cents, while the cost of cleaning it up is almost 17 cents.

This is a clear case of cheap is expensive. Apart from that, they also affect our infrastructure. Plastic bags penetrate through drainage and sewer systems and clog them. This results to water blockages, burst pipes and water overflow. The situation is dire during rainy seasons, which in most cases results to flooding.

Furthermore, it is not possible to recycle them. The waste is just too much to be contained. And if we decided to recycle them, then people will be encouraged to continue using them. As it stands now, plastic bags are not the only ones that we should be worried about. There are other forms of plastics that have not yet been banned, but still pose the same risks as plastic bags.

The main issue with plastic bags is that they are very light and can fit anywhere, which means that they spread much faster than their heavier counterparts. Even if recycling was an option, there are no facilities on this earth that can keep up with the rate at which these bags are being made.

Plastic ban is a move towards the right direction. Most of the biggest economies on earth, such as China, USA and European nations have banned plastic bags. The nations that have not done it yet should also follow suit. Some of the concerns raised are that people will lose their sources of livelihood and that plastic bags are cheaper to produce. While these notions are far from false, the fact remains that plastic bags will destroy our environment and everything in it if we do not act now. When plastic bags are banned everywhere, innovators will come up with other alternatives. They will create companies and people will get employment as a result.

When we consider production costs, the plastic bag is cheaper and easier to produce than eco-friendly bags. However, plastic bags are not durable and undergo wear and tear very easily. In fact, we quickly discard them into our garbage bins as soon as we reach home. Eco-friendly bags, such as cotton bags are actually very durable and can washed and reused over and over again. They are actually cheaper in the long run, because they do not require government intervention to clear them from the streets. They easily decay and disappear from the face of the earth. It is actually absurd to spend money to produce something that will cost you more than three times its value to try and get rid of it.

Banning is probably the surest way of securing the future for the coming generations. All nations should have one voice and agree unanimously to stop plastic bag production. It is worth noting that plastic bags from one nation are enough to pollute the whole world. So, if the developed nations have banned plastic bags, but developing nations are still producing them, then that changes nothing. Still all the toxic waste will find its way to the oceans and eventually, to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Educating or sensitizing people about the hazards of plastic will not help deal with the problem in developing nations. They will most definitely use them still. And it is not an issue of ignorance or arrogance, because they can see and smell the garbage heaps next to their homesteads. The issue is cost. Most people in developed nations live below poverty line. They cannot afford to spend any more money on environmental friendly bags.

So, the best approach is banning. It should be illegal to own or even carry plastic bags. Heavy penalties should be imposed on anyone found with plastic bags. Even though they will still exist in the black markets, they should be so expensive to the point that people will prefer eco-friendly bags to plastic bags. The governments should also step ahead and offer subsidies and incentives to companies creating eco-friendly bags.

The governments should also fund extensive experimentation and researches on better alternatives to all plastic forms and not just plastic bags to end the manufacture of all plastics completely. There should also be extensive researches on the best method of dealing with the heaps of plastic wastes piled all over the world. We cannot just assume that there is no elephant in the room. The waste has to be dealt with pronto or its toxicity will become airborne. We need to get rid of all plastic wastes forever.