PLASTIC WASTE
Plastics, once hailed as a wonderful invention of the 20th century due to their low cost and convenience, are now a major environmental hazard because of the prevalent “throwaway culture.”
Sources of Plastic Waste
- Household
- Health and medicare
- Hotel and catering industry
- Air and rail travel
Effects of Plastic Waste
- Littering of land, making it ugly and unhygienic.
- Associated with reproductive issues in humans and wildlife.
- Emission of dioxin and furan (toxic and carcinogenic) during manufacture and burning.
- Contaminates foodstuffs through toxic dye leaching and pathogen transfer.
- Chokes drains, blocks soil porosity, and hinders groundwater recharge.
- Disturbs soil microbial activity.
- Consumed by animals mistaking it for food, often resulting in death.
- Reduces soil fertility when mixed with manure.
- Causes drainage blockages, unhygienic conditions, and waterborne diseases.
- Urgent need for eco-friendly, biodegradable plastics.
Plastic Pollution in the Marine Environment
The oceans, covering about 70% of Earth’s surface, host nearly 25% of known species and contribute about 50% of global primary production, forming a vital part of the food chain. Marine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by plastic pollution, which disrupts plankton — the base of the marine food web — and adversely impacts the ecosystem balance.
Key Issues:
- Plastics degrade very slowly in marine environments due to limited UV exposure and no retrieval mechanism.
- Plastics disintegrate into microparticles, which are ingested by zooplankton (e.g., Antarctic krill), impacting physiology and concentrating toxic chemicals like PCBs, DDT, and nonylphenols.
- Over 250 marine species are documented as distressed by plastic debris, including seabirds and benthic organisms.
- Little research has been done on the impact of negatively buoyant plastic (e.g., nets) on bottom-dwelling species.
Plastic Pollution on Land
Uncollected plastic waste on land creates several problems:
- Choking of drains, unhygienic conditions, and water-borne diseases.
- Animal deaths due to ingestion of plastic.
- Non-biodegradability hampers groundwater recharge and soil health.
- Additives in plastics can contaminate groundwater and pose health risks.
