Question

Write the harmful effects of using plastic bags on environment.suggest alternative to plastic bags

Answer 1

(i) Plastic bags are non-biodegradable and, therefore, require dumping sites.

(ii) Plastic bags when dumped into ground damage soil.  

Alternatives : Use jute bag or bag made-up of cotton.....

Answer 2

Answer:

Plastics are things made of polymers. Plastic was once thought to be a boon for mankind. It is readily available. It is cheap. It can be used easily to manufacture different products in different shapes, sizes and for many purposes. A product of plastic doing the most harm is the plastic bag. The excessive use of plastic bags has become a major global pollution problem. The harmful effects of plastics bags are:

Plastics 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 has created an unhygienic condition to our environment. In fact we are running out of space to dump the plastic litters.

Plastics and plastic bags 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.

When eaten by animals or birds it cannot be digested and lead to death.

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 do not degrade, they accumulate in drainage and sewerage systems and block the flow causing waterlogging.

Plastic bags are often disposed off by burning and this releases poisonous gases into the atmosphere and pollutes the air we breathe.

The solutions to the problem of plastic bags are recycling, avoiding single use plastic products, replacement with alternative materials like jute, rejection of plastic bags, and cleanup drive to remove plastic bags from our surrounding, our rivers, lakes and seas.

Explanation: