Essay on plastic and its harmful effects and how it could be avoided
Answers
As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the amount of garbage that people produce. On-the-go lifestyles require easily disposable products, such as soda cans or bottles of water, but the accumulation of these products has led to increasing amounts of plastic pollution around the world. As plastic is composed of major toxic pollutants, it has the potential to cause great harm to the environment in the form of air, water and land pollution.
Put simply, plastic pollution is when plastic has gathered in an area and has begun to negatively impact the natural environment and create problems for plants, wildlife and even human population. Often this includes killing plant life and posing dangers to local animals. Plastic is an incredibly useful material, but it is also made from toxic compounds known to cause illness, and because it is meant for durability, it is not biodegradable.
Next time you go for a shopping, don’t forget to carry a paper or cloth bag. Also, try to avoid bringing plastic bags at home and purchasing items with too much of packaging. This way you can help in contributing towards the environment in the form of reducing plastic pollution whose ill effects are irreversible
Answer:
Plastics products including plastic bags are a health hazard. Exposure to toxic chemicals emitted by plastics causes cancer, decreases the effectiveness of the immune system, and are responsible for many other diseases.
Dumping of plastic bags, plastic bottles, etc. has created an unhygienic condition to our environment. Plastic litters has become a major pollution to our surrounding.
Plastics are not bio-degradable and can remain unchanged for many years. This adversely affects the fertility and the quality of the soil.
Our freshwater sources like rivers and lakes are becoming dumpsters for plastic bags, plastic bottles, etc.
Plastic products, especially plastic bags find their way into rivers and oceans. They are swallowed by fish, seabirds, and other marine creatures leading to death by suffocation.
Since plastic bags, plastic bottles and other discarded plastic products do not degrade, they accumulate in drainage and sewerage systems and block the flow causing waterlogging.
Plastic products including plastic bags are often disposed off by burning and this releases poisonous gases into the atmosphere and pollutes the air we breathe.
Some ways to reduce the use of plastic bags:
Say "No" to plastic bags given by shopkeepers. Carry your own shopping bag.
Carefully separate plastic products from other garbages for recycling.
Stop buying plastic products. When there is less demand, the manufacturing will decrease.
Replace plastic bags with bags made of biodegradable materials like cotton and jute.
Don't buy bottled water. Carry your own nonplastic water bottle.