KVS Social Science Exhibition.docx
Transcript of KVS Social Science Exhibition.docx
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KVS Social Science Exhibition
Project Report
On
Plastics A New & Powerful Enemy of the
Environment.
Prepared by!
"aspreet #in$h
%lass
Roll No. ! ''
(endriya )idyalaya *Reona +cha,-ateh$arh #ahib Punjab.
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Acknowledgement
/ e0press my sincere $ratitude to all those
people who have been associated with this
project and shared their valuable opinions and
e0periences to ma1e the report even better.
/ would li1e to e0press my deep sense of
$ratitude to ()# #an$athan and our worthy
Principal 2rs.Paramjeet (aur who $ave me theopportunity to participate in social science
e0hibition.
/ sincerely e0press my deep sense of $ratitudeand immense respect to my $uide 2r.Narender
(umar for their valuable su$$estions and
opinions re$ardin$ the project report.
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CERTIFICATE
3his is to certify that this entitled4 5Project
Report on Plastics a new & powerful enemy
of the environment6 prepared by "aspreet #in$hfor ()# #ocial #cience E0hibition is an authentic
wor1 carried out by him under our supervision and$uidance.
3o the best of our 1nowled$e the matter embodied
in this Project report has not duplicated7copied from
any other student of other (.) or any other #chool.
2rs. Paramjeet (aur
2r.Narender (umar
Principal
383 #ocial #tudies
(endriya )idyalaya
(endriya )idyalaya
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Reona +cha *-.8.#.,.
Reona +cha *-.8.#.,.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE No.
1. Introdction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.!!..!!!
9.9:hat is Plastic;9.ects on environment and :ildlife
@.< Powerful enemy for environment
,. -a$te )ana'e)ent o( la$tic$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.9 Recyclin$
.< Biode$radability
/. Ftre o( la$tic$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
0. Precation$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..
. Concl$ion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
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Biblio'rah2
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Abstract
Plastics have transformed everyday life; usage is increasing and annual production is likely
to exceed 300 million tonnes by 2010. In this concluding paper to the heme Issue on
Plastics! the "nvironment and #uman #ealth! $e synthesi%e current understanding of the
benefits and concerns surrounding the use of plastics and look to future priorities!
challenges and opportunities. It is evident that plastics bring many societal benefits and offer
future technological and medical advances. #o$ever! concerns about usage and disposal
are diverse and include accumulation of $aste in landfills and in natural habitats! physical
problems for $ildlife resulting from ingestion or entanglement in plastic! the leaching of
chemicals from plastic products and the potential for plastics to transfer chemicals to $ildlife
and humans. #o$ever! perhaps the most important overriding concern! $hich is implicit
throughout this volume! is that our current usage is not sustainable. &round ' per cent of
$orld oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics and a similar amount is used as
energy in the process. (et over a third of current production is used to make items of
packaging! $hich are then rapidly discarded. )iven our declining reserves of fossil fuels!
and finite capacity for disposal of $aste to landfill! this linear use of hydrocarbons! via
packaging and other short*lived applications of plastic! is simply not sustainable. here are
solutions! including material reduction! design for end*of*life recyclability! increased recycling
capacity! development of bio*based feedstocks! strategies to reduce littering! the application
of green chemistry life*cycle analyses and revised risk assessment approaches. +uch
measures $ill be most effective through the combined actions of the public! industry!
scientists and policymakers. here is some urgency! as the ,uantity of plastics produced in
the first 10 years of the current century is likely to approach the ,uantity produced in the
entire century that preceded.
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1 3 Introdction
1.1 Introdction
Plasticis a material consisting of any of a $ide range of syntheticor semi*
synthetic organicsthat aremalleableand can be moldedinto solid ob-ects of
diverse shapes. Plastics are typically organic polymersof high molecular mass!
but they often contain other substances. hey are usually synthetic! most
commonly derived from petrochemicals! but many are partially natural.2/Plasticityis the general property of all materials that are able to irreversibly
deform $ithout breaking! but this occurs to such a degree $ith this class of
moldable polymersthat their name is an emphasis on this ability.
According to science
Plastics are synthetic chemicals extracted mainly from petroleum and composed
ofhydrocarbons(compounds made from chains of hydrogen and
carbonatoms). Most plastics arepolymers, long molecules made up of many
repetitions of a basic molecule called a monomer; in effect, the monomers are
like identical railroad cars coupled together to form a very long train. Thus, as
many as 50,000 molecules of ethylene (which has two carbon atoms bonded tofour hydrogen atoms) can be joined end to end into a familiar polymer called
polyethylene (or polythene). The process of building polymers by adding together
monomers is calledadditive polymerization. Another process called
condensation polymerization(or polycondensation) builds up polymers by
removing some atoms from each monomer so they can join together in a
different way. Polyesters such as Dacron and Terylene (two different brand
names for similar materials) are made by polycondensation. Whichever process
is used, the chemical properties of the monomer normally govern those of the
polymer that is eventually formed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_polymershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_chemistryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molding_(process)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molding_(process)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_polymerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_polymerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_masshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochemicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticity_(physics)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerhttp://www.explainthatstuff.com/atoms.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_chemistryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molding_(process)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_polymerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_masshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochemicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticity_(physics)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerhttp://www.explainthatstuff.com/atoms.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_polymers -
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Artwork: Polymers are made from long chains of a basic unit called a monomer.
Polyethylene (polythene) is made by repeating the ethane monomer over and
over again.
Polymerization produces two different kinds of plastics. Sometimes, polymers
form very long straight or branched chains. These are present in so-
calledthermoplastics, which always soften when heated and harden when
cooled down. Examples include polyethylene and polystyrene. Polymers can
also form more complex three-dimensional structures, which give plastics very
different physical properties.Thermosetting plastics, as these are called,
harden the first time they are heated when cross-links form between different
plastic molecules. Thermosetting plastics never soften again no matter how
many times they are heated and this makes them particularly suitable for objects
that need to operate in hot environments. Epoxy resins and Bakelite are
examples of thermosetting plastics.
1.2 History of plastics
he development of plastics has evolved from the use of natural plastic
materials e.g.! che$ing gum! shellac to the use of chemically modified! natural
materials
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellachttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellac -
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e.g.! rubber! nitrocellulose! collagen! galalite and finally to completely synthetic
molecules e.g.! bakelite! epoxy!Polyvinyl chloride. "arly plastics $ere bio*
derived materials such as egg and blood proteins! $hich are organic polymers.
In 100 4! 5esoamericansused natural rubber for balls! bands! and figurines.3/reated cattle horns $ere used as $indo$s for lanterns in the 5iddle &ges.
5aterials that mimicked the properties of horns $ere developed by treating milk*proteins casein $ith lye.
In the 1600s! as industrial chemistrydeveloped during the Industrial 7evolution!
many materials $ere reported. he development of plastics also accelerated
$ith 4harles )oodyear8s discovery of vulcani%ationto thermoset materials
derived from natural rubber.
Parkesineis considered the first man*made plastic. he plastic material $as
patented by&lexander Parkes! Inirmingham! 9:in 16.
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&fter >orld >ar I! improvements in chemical technology led to an explosion in
ne$ forms of plastics! $ith mass production beginning in the 1
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)eneric term used in the case of polymeric materialthat may contain other substances
to improve performance andor reduce costs.
Note 1Q he use of this term instead ofpolymeris a source of confusion and thus is
not recommended.
Note 2Q his term is used in polymer engineering for materials often compounded that
can be processed by flo$.1/
" 4 #$e$
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& chair made $ith a polypropylene seat and #ousehold items made of various types of plastic.
PolyesterP"+ A@ibers!textiles.
Polyethylene terephthalateP" A 4arbonated drinks bottles! peanut butter -ars!
plastic film! micro$avable packaging.
PolyethyleneP" A >ide range of inexpensive uses including supermarket bags!
plastic bottles.
#igh*density polyethylene#CP" A Cetergent bottles! milk -ugs! and molded plastic
cases.
Polyvinyl chloridePB4 A Plumbing pipes and guttering! sho$er curtains! $indo$
frames! flooring.
Polyvinylidene chloridePBC4 +aran A @ood packaging.
=o$*density polyethylene=CP" A Rutdoor furniture!siding! floor tiles! sho$er
curtains! clamshell packaging.
PolypropylenePP A ottle caps! drinking stra$s! yogurt containers! appliances! car
fenders bumpers! plastic pressure pipe systems.
PolystyreneP+ A Packaging foamNpeanutsN! food containers! plastic table$are!
disposable cups! plates! cutlery! 4C and cassette boxes.
#igh impact polystyrene#IP+ *Q 7efrigerator liners! food packaging! vending cups.
PolyamidesP& Dylons A @ibers! toothbrush bristles! tubing! fishing line! lo$
strength machine partsQ under*the*hood car engine parts or gun frames.
&crylonitrile butadiene styrene&+ A "lectronic e,uipment cases e.g.! computer
monitors! printers! keyboards! drainage pipe.
Polyethylene&crylonitrile utadiene +tyrene P"&+ A & slippery blend of P" and
&+ used in lo$*duty dry bearings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyesterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinylidene_chloridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saran_(plastic)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_furniturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_furniturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pressure_pipe_systemshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_impact_polystyrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_linehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyesterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinylidene_chloridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saran_(plastic)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_furniturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pressure_pipe_systemshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_impact_polystyrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_linehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene -
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PolycarbonateP4 A 4ompact discs!eyeglasses!riot shields! security $indo$s!
traffic lights! lenses.
Polycarbonate&crylonitrile utadiene +tyrene P4&+ A & blend of P4 and &+
that creates a stronger plastic. 9sed in car interior and exterior parts! and mobile phonebodies.
PolyurethanesP9 A 4ushioning foams! thermal insulation foams! surface coatings!
printing rollers 4urrently th or ?th most commonly used plastic material! for instance
the most commonly used plastic in cars.
Special purpose plastics
5aleimideismaleimide9sed in high temperature composite materials.
5elamine formaldehyde5@ A Rne of the aminoplasts! and used as a multi*
colorable alternative to phenolics! for instance in moldings e.g.! break*resistance
alternatives to ceramic cups! plates and bo$ls for children and the decorated top
surface layer of the paper laminates e.g.! @ormica.
Plastarch materialA iodegradable and heat resistant! thermoplastic composed
of modified corn starch.
PhenolicsP@ or phenol formaldehydes A #ighmodulus!relatively heat resistant!
and excellent fire resistant polymer. 9sed for insulating parts in electrical fixtures! paper
laminated products e.g.! @ormica! thermally insulation foams. It is a thermosetting
plastic! $ith the familiar trade name akelite! that can be molded by heat and pressure
$hen mixed $ith a filler*like $ood flour or can be cast in its unfilled li,uid form or cast as
foam e.g.! Rasis. Problems include the probability of moldings naturally being dark
colors red! green! bro$n! and as thermoset it is difficult to recycle.
Polyepoxide"poxy 9sed as an adhesive! potting agent for electrical components!
and matrix for composite materials $ith hardeners including amine!amide! and oron
rifluoride.
PolyetheretherketoneP"": A +trong! chemical* and heat*resistant
thermoplastic!biocompatibilityallo$s for use inmedical implantapplications! aerospace
moldings. Rne of the most expensive commercial polymers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeglasseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_shieldhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_shieldhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyurethaneshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleimidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleimidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine_resinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastarch_materialhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modified_starchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenolic_resinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol_formaldehydeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young's_modulushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young's_modulushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young's_modulushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formica_(plastic)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recyclehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recyclehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_trifluoridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_trifluoridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyetheretherketonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocompatibilityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocompatibilityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocompatibilityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_(medicine)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_(medicine)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_(medicine)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeglasseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_shieldhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyurethaneshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleimidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine_resinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastarch_materialhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modified_starchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenolic_resinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol_formaldehydeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young's_modulushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formica_(plastic)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recyclehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_trifluoridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_trifluoridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyetheretherketonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocompatibilityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_(medicine) -
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PolyetherimideP"I 9ltem A & high temperature! chemically stable polymer that
does not crystalli%e.
PolyimideO& #igh temperature plastic used in materials such as:aptontape.
Polylactic acidP=& A & biodegradable! thermoplastic found converted into a variety
of aliphatic polyesters derived fromlactic acid$hich in turn can be made by
fermentation of various agricultural products such ascorn starch! once made from dairy
products.
Polymethyl methacrylateP55& &crylic A 4ontact lenses of the original NhardN
variety! gla%ing best kno$n in this form by its various trade names around the $orld;
e.g.! Perspex! Rroglas! Plexiglas! aglets! fluorescent light diffusers! rear light covers for
vehicles. It forms the basis of artistic and commercial acrylic paints$hen suspended in
$ater $ith the use of other agents.
PolytetrafluoroethyleneP@" A #eat*resistant! lo$*friction coatings! used in things
like non*stick surfaces for frying pans! plumber8s tape and $ater slides. It is more
commonly kno$n as eflon.
9rea*formaldehyde9@ A Rne of the aminoplasts and used as a multi*colorable
alternative to phenolics. 9sed as a $ood adhesive for ply$ood! chipboard! hardboard
and electrical s$itch housings.
@uranO7esin based on @urfuryl &lcohol used in foundry sands and biologically
derived composites.
+iliconeO#eat resistant resin used mainly as a sealant but also used for high
temperature cooking utensils and as a base resin for industrial paints.
PolysulfoneO#igh temperature melt processable resin used in membranes! filtration
media! $ater heater dip tubes and other high temperature applications.
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Cue to their relatively lo$ cost! ease of manufacture! versatility! and imperviousness to
$ater! plastics are used in an enormous and expanding range of products! from paper clips
to spaceships.
>hether you are a$are of it or not! plastics play an important part in your life. Plastics8 versatility
allo$ it to be used in everything from car parts to doll parts! from soft drink bottles to the
refrigerators they are stored in. @rom the car you drive to $ork in to the television you $atch$hen you get home! plastics help make your life easier and better. +o ho$ it is that plastics have
become so $idely usedT #o$ did plastics become the material of choice for so many varied
applicationsT
he simple ans$er is that plastics are the material that can provide the things consumers $ant
and need. Plastics have the uni,ue capability to be manufactured to meet very specific functional
needs for consumers. +o maybe there8s another ,uestion that8s relevantQ >hat do I $antT
7egardless of ho$ you ans$er this ,uestion! plastics can probably satisfy your needs.
If a product is made of plastic! there8s a reason. &nd chances are the reason has everything to
do $ith helping you! the consumer! get $hat you $antQ #ealth. +afety. Performance. Balue.
Plastics help make these things possible.
@or example
In Shopping
Uust consider the changes $e8ve seen in the grocery store in recent years. Plastic $rap helps
keep meat fresh $hile protecting it from the poking and prodding fingers of your fello$ shoppers.
Plastic bottles mean you can actually lift an economy*si%e bottle of -uice. &nd should you
accidentally drop that bottle! it8s shatter*resistant. In each case! plastics help make your life
easier! healthier and safer.
Grocery Cart vs. Dent-Resistant Body Panel
Plastics also help you get maximum value from some of the big*ticket items you buy. Plastics
help make portable phones and computers that really are portable. hey help make ma-or
appliances * such as refrigerators or dish$ashers * resist corrosion! last longer and operate more
efficiently. Plastic carfenders and body panels resist dings! so you can cruise the grocery store
parking lot $ith confidence.
Packaging
5odern packaging ** such as heat*sealed plastic pouches and $raps ** helps keep food fresh
and free of contamination. hat means the resources that $ent into producing the food aren8t
$asted. It8s the same thing once you get the food home ** plastic $raps and resealablecontainers keep your leftovers protected. In fact! packaging experts have estimated that each
pound of plastic packaging can reduce food $aste by up to 1.? pounds.
Plastics can also help you bring home more product $ith less packaging. @or example! -ust 2
pounds of plastic can deliver 1!000 ounces ** roughly 6 gallons ** of a beverage such as -uice!
soda or $ater. (ou8d need 3 pounds of aluminum to bring home the same amount! 6 pounds of
steel or 2? pounds of glass. Dot only do plastic bags re,uire less total energy to produce than
http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869E/CHEM869ELinks/plastic-car.comhttp://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869E/CHEM869ELinks/plastic-car.comhttp://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869E/CHEM869ELinks/plastic-car.com -
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paper bags! they conserve fuel in shipping. Plastics make packaging more efficient! $hich
ultimately conserves resources.
ight !eighting
Plastics engineers are al$ays $orking to do even more $ith less material. +ince 1
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% 3 &an'er (ro) Pla$tic
'.9 E>ects on health
In addition to creating safety problems during production, many chemical additives that give
plastic products desirable performance properties also have negative environmental and human
health effects. These effects include
?irect to0icity as in the cases of lead cadmium and mercury
%arcino$ens as in the case of diethylhe0yl phthalate *?E=P,
Endocrine disruption which can lead to cancers birth defects immune
system supression and developmental problems in children.
Chemical Migration from Plastic Packaging into Contents
People are exposed to these chemicals not only during manufacturing, but also by using plastic
packages, because some chemicals migrate from the plastic packaging to the foods they
contain. Examples of plastics contaminating food have been reported with most plastic types,
including Styrene from polystyrene, plasticizers from PVC, antioxidants from polyethylene, and
Acetaldehyde from PET.Among the factors controlling migration are the chemical structure of the
migrants and the nature of the packaged food. In studies cited in Food Additives and
Contaminants, LDPE, HDPE, and polypropylene bottles released measurable levels of BHT,
Chimassorb 81, Irganox PS 800, Irganix 1076, and Irganox 1010 into their contents of vegetable
oil and ethanol. Evidence was also found that acetaldehyde migrated out of PET and into water.
'.< ?iseases caused by plastics
V& chemical found in food tins and babyWs bottles has been linked to an increased risk of
developing heart problems!X The Daily Telegraph reported. It said that scientists have
found that people $ith high levels of bisphenol & P& in their bodies $ere a third more
likely to develop heart disease than those $ith lo$ levels.
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his study found some associations bet$een P& levels in the urine and the likelihood
of having certain diseases. #o$ever! it has several limitations! and cannot prove that
P& caused these diseases.
P& is commonly found in many household items! and there is likely to be little thatindividuals can do to reduce their exposure. he 9+ Cepartment of #ealth and #uman
+ervices has information for parentson reducing their childWs exposure.
o date! researchers have found no conclusive evidence that P& is harmful to humans.
Cespite this! some countries have taken precautions and 4anada has introduced
legislation to ban the use of polycarbonate in baby feeding bottles. he "uropean @ood
+afety &uthority "@+& stated in 2006that it considers levels of P& exposure to be
safe! saying Nafter exposure to P& the human body rapidly metabolises and eliminates
the substanceN. It continues to monitor the situation and is currently evaluating the study
that led to the ban in 4anada.
>hat is polyethylene terephthalate P"! P""T
Polyethylene terephthalate P" is clear! tough! and shatterproof. It provides a barrier to
oxygen! $ater! and carbon dioxide and is identified $ith the number 1. P"8s ability to
contain carbon dioxide carbonation makes it ideal for use in carbonated soft drink bottles.
ake a look at the bottom of your soft drink bottle and you $ill most likely find a number 1
there. P" is also used to make bottles for $ater! -uice! sportsdrinks! beer! mouth$ash!catsup! and salad dressing. (ou can also find it on your food -ars for peanut butter! -am! -elly!
and pickles as $ell as in micro$avable food trays.
&ccording to the &merican 4hemistry 4ouncil! P" has been approved as safe by the @C&
and the International =ife +ciences Institute I=+I. In 1
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* 3 Pla$tic$ and En+iron)ent
@.9 E>ects on environment and wildlife
4limate change
he effect of plastics on global $arming is mixed. Plastics are generally made from
petroleum. If the plastic is incinerated! it increases carbon emissions; if it is placed in a
landfill! it becomes a carbon sink/although biodegradable plastics have caused methane
emissions./Cue to the lightness of plastic versus glass or metal! plastic may reduce energy
consumption. @or example! packaging beverages in P" plastic rather than glass or metal is
estimated to save 2S in transportation energy.3/
5ain
here are some accounts of effects of debris from terrestrial habitats! for example ingestion
by the endangered 4alifornia condor! Gymnogyps californianusee et al. 2!!".
#o$ever! the vast ma-ority of $ork describing environmental conse,uences of plastic debris
is from marine settings and more $ork on terrestrial and fresh$ater habitats is needed.
Plastic debris causes aesthetic problems! and it also presents a ha%ard to maritime activities
including fishing and tourism oore 2!!#; $regory 2!!%. Ciscarded fishing nets
result in ghost fishing that may result in losses to commercial fisheries oore
2!!#;&rown ' acfadyen 2!!". @loating plastic debris can rapidly become
coloni%ed by marine organisms and since it can persist at the sea surface for substantial
periods! it may subse,uently facilitate the transport of non*native or YalienW species &arnes
2!!2;&arnes et al. 2!!%;$regory 2!!%. #o$ever! the problems attracting most
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-65https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-66https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-66https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-Applications-3http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-40http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-40http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-40http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-29http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-16http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-65https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-66https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-Applications-3http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-40http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-29http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-16http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-29 -
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public and media attention are those resulting in ingestion and entanglement by $ildlife.
Rver 20 species! including invertebrates! turtles! fish! seabirds and mammals! have been
reported to ingest or become entangled in plastic debris! resulting in impaired movement
and feeding! reduced reproductive output! lacerations! ulcers and death (aist
1%%";)erraik 2!!2;$regory 2!!%. he limited monitoring data $e have suggest
rates of entanglement have increased over time Ryan et al. 2!!%. & $ide range of
species $ith different modes of feeding including filter feeders! deposit feeders and
detritivores are kno$n to ingest plastics. #o$ever! ingestion is likely to be particularly
problematic for species that specifically select plastic items because they mistake them for
their food. &s a conse,uence! the incidence of ingestion can be extremely high in some
populations. @or example!
-
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\10S by $eight of strandline material; &arnes et al. 2!!%. =aboratory experiments
have sho$n that small pieces such as these can be ingested by small marine invertebrates
including filter feeders! deposit feeders and detritivores T,ompson et al.2!!! $hile
mussels $ere sho$n to retain plastic for over '6 days &rowne et al. 2!!#. #o$ever!
the extent and conse,uences of ingestion of microplastics by natural populations are not
kno$n.
In addition to the physical problems associated $ith plastic debris! there has been much
speculation that! if ingested! plastic has the potential to transfer toxic substances to the food
chain seeTe-ten et al. 2!!%. In the marine environment! plastic debris such as
pellets! fragments and microplastics have been sho$n to contain organic contaminants
including polychlorinated biphenyls P4s! polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons! petroleum
hydrocarbons! organochlorine pesticides 2!2]*bisp*chlorophenyl*1!1!1 trichloroethane
CC and its metabolites; together $ith hexachlorinated hexane #4#! polybrominated
diphenylethers PC"s! alkylphenols and P& at concentrations ranging from ng g9to Zg
g9. +ome of these compounds are added to plastics during manufacture $hile others
adsorb to plastic debris from the environment. >ork in Uapan has sho$n that plastics can
accumulate and concentrate persistent organic pollutants that have arisen in the
environment from other sources. hese contaminants can become orders of magnitude
more concentrated on the surface of plastic debris than in the surrounding sea $ater
ato et al. 2!!1.Te-ten et al. /2!!%0describe experiments to examine the
transfer of these contaminants from plastics to seabirds and other animals. he potential for
transport varies among contaminants! polymers and possibly also according to the state of
environmental $eathering of the debris. 7ecent mathematical modelling studies have sho$n
that even very small ,uantities of plastics could facilitate transport of contaminants from
plastic to organisms upon ingestion. his could present a direct and important route for the
transport of chemicals to higher animals such as seabirds Te-ten et al. 2!!"!2!!%!
but $ill depend upon the nature of the habitat and the amount and type of plastics present.@or instance! the extent to $hich the presence of plastic particles might contribute to the
total burden of contaminants transferred from the environment to organisms $ill depend
upon competitive sorption and transport by other particulates Art,-r et al. 2!!%. he
abundance of fragments of plastic is increasing in the environment; these particles!
especially truly microscopic fragments less than the 333 Zm proposed by DR&& see
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earlier! have a relatively large surface area to volume ratio that is likely to facilitate the
transport of contaminants! and because of their si%e such fragments can be ingested by a
$ide range of organisms. #ence! the potential for plastics to transport and release
chemicals to $ildlife is an emerging area of concern.
5ore $ork $ill be needed to establish the full environmental relevance of plastics in the
transport of contaminants to organisms living in the natural environment! and the extent to
$hich these chemicals could then be transported along food chains. #o$ever! there is
already clear evidence that chemicals associated $ith plastic are potentially harmful to
$ildlife. Cata that have principally been collected using laboratory exposures are
summari%ed by e,lmann et al. /2!!%0. hese sho$ that phthalates and P& affect
reproduction in all studied animal groups and impair development in crustaceans and
amphibians. 5olluscs and amphibians appear to be particularly sensitive to these
compounds and biological effects have been observed in the lo$ ng l9to Zg l9range. In
contrast! most effects in fish tend to occur at higher concentrations. 5ost plastici%ers appear
to act by interfering $ith hormone function! although they can do this by several
mechanisms H- et al. 2!!%. "ffects observed in the laboratory coincide $ith measured
environmental concentrations! thus there is a very real probability that these chemicals are
affecting natural populations e,lmann et al. 2!!%. P& concentrations in a,uatic
environments vary considerably! but can reach 21 Zg l9in fresh$ater systems and
concentrations in sediments are generally several orders of magnitude higher than in the
$ater column. @or example! in the 7iver "lbe! )ermany! P& $as measured at 0.?? Zg l9in
$ater compared $ith 3'3 Zg kg9in sediment dry $eight. hese findings are in stark
contrast $ith the "uropean 9nion environmental risk assessment predicted environmental
concentrations of 0.12 Zg l9for $ater and 1. Zg kg9dry $eight for sediments.
Phthalates and P& can bioaccumulate in organisms! but there is much variability bet$een
species and individuals according to the type of plastici%er and experimental protocol.
#o$ever! concentration factors are generally higher for invertebrates than vertebrates! and
can be especially high in some species of molluscs and crustaceans. >hile there is clear
evidence that these chemicals have adverse effects at environmentally relevant
concentrations in laboratory studies! there is a need for further research to establish
population*level effects in the natural environment see discussion in e,lmann et
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al. 2!!%! to establish the long*term effects of exposures particularly due to exposure of
embryos! to determine effects of exposure to contaminant mixtures and to establish the role
of plastics as sources albeit not exclusive sources of these contaminants
seeeeker et al. /2!!%0for discussion of sources and routes of exposure.
@.< Powerful enemy for environment
The global war against plastic
Kerala hasbanned plastic bags from this month. Its not a blanket ban, as only bags
below 30 microns are banned in hotels, hospitals and all retail stores. erala howe!er
is not the first state in India to ban plastic bags.Sikkimdid it "uite some time ago and
what is admirable is that the ban isworking. Sikkim did it e!en though the
state never had as bad a problem as the rest of the
country.
The re$t o( India
5ahara$htra6$experience is indicative of the situation in the
rest of the country. After the7l2 "88,
(lood$in 5)bai(drains had got choked which led to
flooding during heavy rains) it was decided tobanplastic bags.
Did this last? Oh no the plastic lobby worked overti!e and got the ban re+o9ed. And soon the
blanket ban was con+erted to a ban on bags below "# !icrons and a di!ension not less than $ x
%& inches.
'ven this has not been i!posed $trictl2 eno'h although the govern!ent in$i$t$ that they are
doing all they can. hecking i!posing fines and confiscating illegal bags. he proble! is with
the people apparently. *o one listens and there is +ust this !uch that the police can do,Prax has
described his first hand exerienceon his blog. As he says-
The whole route through the jungle was spewn with plastic waste of casual thrill seekers and
locals alike with plastic from biscuit packets, balaji wafers, Lays packs and mostly with gutka
and zarda packs like the Goa1000 !orse, at a few places there were broken beer bottles "people
ha#e gotten drunk and drowned there$
he-e$t Ben'al govern!ent i)o$eda ban on the !anufacture sale and use of plastic bags
less than # !icrons in thickness in /une this year but the bags are already back on the streets0
Ta)il Nadplans to ban plastic bags too (a blanket ban isroo$ed:.he blanket ban idea
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-47http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-47http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://in.news.yahoo.com/070901/32/6k7qk.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkimhttp://northeast.nic.in/storiesdetails.asp?sid=10http://www.myholidayreport.com/accommodation/India/Sikkimhttp://www.destoop.com/trip/3%20DAYBYDAY/010710%20Calcutta/Sikkim.htmhttp://www.answers.com/topic/maharashtra?nafid=22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Maharashtra_floodshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Maharashtra_floodshttp://www.answers.com/topic/mumbai?nafid=22http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4180980.stmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1094107http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1094109http://techntrek.wordpress.com/about/http://techntrek.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/plastic-waste-in-national-parks/http://techntrek.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/plastic-waste-in-national-parks/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1071003/asp/calcutta/story_8382773.asphttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1071003/asp/calcutta/story_8382773.asphttp://www.answers.com/topic/tamil-nadu?nafid=22http://www.answers.com/topic/tamil-nadu?nafid=22http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1911/19110380.htmhttp://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1911/19110380.htmhttp://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1911/19110380.htmhttp://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-47http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://in.news.yahoo.com/070901/32/6k7qk.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkimhttp://northeast.nic.in/storiesdetails.asp?sid=10http://www.myholidayreport.com/accommodation/India/Sikkimhttp://www.destoop.com/trip/3%20DAYBYDAY/010710%20Calcutta/Sikkim.htmhttp://www.answers.com/topic/maharashtra?nafid=22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Maharashtra_floodshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Maharashtra_floodshttp://www.answers.com/topic/mumbai?nafid=22http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4180980.stmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1094107http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1094109http://techntrek.wordpress.com/about/http://techntrek.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/plastic-waste-in-national-parks/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1071003/asp/calcutta/story_8382773.asphttp://www.answers.com/topic/tamil-nadu?nafid=22http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1911/19110380.htm -
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!akes perfect sense as it isea$2 to 'et rond a thickness ban,!anufacturers si!ply !ake
slightly thicker plastic bags. he Indian govern!ent for exa!ple has banned shopping bags
!ade of a thickness of less than !icrons and !anufacturers get away by !aking plastic bags
of &%)icron$0 It doesn1t solve the proble!,that of plastic proliferation.
India rec2cle$
And in any case thick bags are not doing any good to the environ!ent. he only argu!ent in
their favour is that in India recycling is a ;ell entrenched acti+it2 and thick bags are recycled.
2ag3pickers don1t care about thin bags and they find their way into the drains,and the water
bodies. 4eing thin they also have a tendency to fly away,
he econo!ic angle is very i!portant here. In India recycling
isall abot econo!ics while in the west plastics recycling has
everything to do with saving the environ!ent. 5erhaps that is
why recycling works better here than in the #S< where le$$
than " percent of the %## billion bags used each year are
recycled. InLondon out of the %.6 billion plastic bags that are
used annuallyonl2 one in # is recycled.
In Francehardl2 percent of the three !illion tonnes of
plastics discarded annually is recycled.
Indiarecycles about #3$# per cent of all plastics
produced. 2agpickers (the !a+ority are wo!en and
children) do the +ob by digging into the wastebins
with their bare hands. hey sell the stuff they have
sorted out to eke out a living.
-hat the ;orld i$ doin' abot la$tic
San Franci$cohas bannedplastic bags the first
A!erican city to do so. Apparently the plastic3bag lobby 7fought hard to stop a ban in 8an
9rancisco precisely because it feared that defeat there would start a nationwide trend.:
It1s too late. he trend is well on it1s way0 A!it has described ho; in the #S
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In Ireland one has to pay for a plastic bag and this extra charge has led to a hat about us?? >ell it1s ti!e to got back to our roots. A!it exlained thi$ in his post. =e
talked about the good old days in India when cloth and=tebags were the nor!. Abhorrence of
waste is ingrained in the Indian psyche,and that1s explained here>
%ll o#er the country, material objects like bottles are cleaned out and reused many times in many
different ways and if they break, they will be mended en plastic is often recycled so'called
(plastic mechanics) #isit people)s houses to repair broken plastics by the simple process of heat
fusion %nd when the material is threadbare, and completely beyond repair, it is often picked up
by ragpickers*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_9-8-2004_pg6_14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://www.answers.com/topic/bangladesh?nafid=22http://www.answers.com/topic/bangladesh?nafid=22http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7024395.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7024395.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6994751.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6994751.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6994751.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_bag#United_Kingdomhttp://www4.cnn.com/2007/TECH/09/07/allabout.plastic/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_323/ai_30324208http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_323/ai_30324208http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0721-04.htmhttp://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.htmlhttp://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.htmlhttp://www.alive.com/4295a12a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=182http://lotusnova.blogspot.com/2007/10/paper-or-plastic.htmlhttp://www.answers.com/topic/corchorus-olitorius?nafid=22http://www.answers.com/topic/corchorus-olitorius?nafid=22http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Recycling/India-Plastic-BagsNov00.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_9-8-2004_pg6_14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://www.answers.com/topic/bangladesh?nafid=22http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7024395.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6994751.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_bag#United_Kingdomhttp://www4.cnn.com/2007/TECH/09/07/allabout.plastic/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_323/ai_30324208http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0721-04.htmhttp://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.htmlhttp://www.alive.com/4295a12a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=182http://lotusnova.blogspot.com/2007/10/paper-or-plastic.htmlhttp://www.answers.com/topic/corchorus-olitorius?nafid=22http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Recycling/India-Plastic-BagsNov00.htm -
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;nfortunately the urban rich are changing their frugal habits and e!bracing a brand new
throwaway culture. It1s sad because the west has realised it1s !istake and they will be fixing
things while we in India could get fro! bad to worse.
/he only thing that will work in India is if
customers ha!e to pay hea!ily for plastic bags.
s '01+ e2tra wont work with the new richI
think a minimum of s )01+ for *ust one big
thick plastic bag should do the *ob. 4s for the
smaller ones, s #)1+ should be the minimum. If
the demand drops there is hope. 5inally, its
what the people want. If they want the bags
there will always be unscrupulous people willing
to pro!ide them. /he fines for companies are
*ust s )0001+ and if a small bribe is gi!en e!en this amount need not be paid.
, 3 -a$te )ana'e)ent o( la$tic$
.9 Recyclin$
hermoplastics can be remelted and reused! and thermoset plastics can be ground up and
used as filler! although the purity of the material tends to degrade $ith each reuse cycle.
here are methods by $hich plastics can be broken back do$n to a feedstock state.
he greatest challenge to the recycling of plastics is the difficulty of automating the sorting of
plastic $astes! making it labor*intensive. ypically! $orkers sort the plastic by looking at the
resin identification code! although common containers like soda bottles can be sorted from
memory. ypically! the caps for P"" bottles are made from a different kind of plastic $hich
is not recyclable! $hich presents additional problems to the automated sorting process.
Rther recyclable materials such as metals are easier to process mechanically. #o$ever!ne$ processes of mechanical sorting are being developed to increase capacity and
efficiency of plastic recycling.
>hile containers are usually made from a single type and color of plastic! making them
relatively easy to be sorted! a consumer product like a cellular phone may have many small
parts consisting of over a do%en different types and colors of plastics. In such cases! the
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resources it $ould take to separate the plastics far exceed their value and the item is
discarded. #o$ever! developments are taking place in the field of active disassembly! $hich
may result in more consumer product components being re*used or recycled. 7ecycling
certain types of plastics can be unprofitable! as $ell. @or example! polystyrene is rarely
recycled because it is usually not cost effective. hese unrecycled $astes are typicallydisposed of in landfills!incineratedor used to produce electricity at $aste*to*energyplants.
& first success in recycling of plastics isBinyloop! a recycling process and an approach of
the industry to separate PB4 from other materials through a process of dissolution! filtration
and separation of contaminations. & solvent is used in a closed loop to elute PB4 from the
$aste. his makes it possible to recycle composite structure PB4 $aste $hich normally is
being incinerated or put in a landfill. Binyloop*based recycled PB48s primary energy demand
is ' percent lo$er than conventional produced PB4. he global $arming potential is 3ater Polo &renaor the7oyal &rtillery arracks$ere recycled.
his $ay! the PB4 Policy could be fulfilled $hich says that no PB4 $aste should be left after
the games.?3/
In 1
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?. Rther types of plastics see list! belo$
.< Biode$radability
Biodegrada"le plasticsare plasticsthat decompose by the action of living organisms!usually bacteria.$o basic classes of biodegradable plastics existQ 1/ioplastics! $hose
components are derived from rene$able ra$ materials and plastics made
from petrochemicalscontaining biodegradable additives$hich enhance biodegradation.
62amples of biodegradable plasticsedit/
Cevelopment of biodegradable containers
>hile aromatic polyestersare almost totally resistant to microbial attack!
most aliphatic polyestersare biodegradable due to their potentially
hydrolysable esterbondsQ
Daturally ProducedQ PolyhydroxyalkanoatesP#&s like the poly*3*
hydroxybutyrateP#! polyhydroxyvalerate P#B and polyhydroxyhexanoate
P##;
7ene$able 7esourceQ Polylactic acidP=&;
+yntheticQ Polybutylene succinateP+! polycaprolactoneP4=...
Polyanhydrides
Polyvinyl alcohol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#Common_plastics_and_useshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_plastic#cite_note-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochemicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_additiveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_additiveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biodegradable_plastic&action=edit§ion=1https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biodegradable_plastic&action=edit§ion=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromaticityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromaticityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliphatic_compoundhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliphatic_compoundhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhydroxyalkanoatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhydroxyalkanoatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly-3-hydroxybutyratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly-3-hydroxybutyratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybutylene_succinatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycaprolactonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyanhydrideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_alcoholhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#Common_plastics_and_useshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_plastic#cite_note-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochemicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_additiveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biodegradable_plastic&action=edit§ion=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromaticityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliphatic_compoundhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhydroxyalkanoatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly-3-hydroxybutyratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly-3-hydroxybutyratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybutylene_succinatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycaprolactonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyanhydrideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_alcohol -
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5ost of the starchderivatives
4ellulose esterslike cellulose acetateand nitrocelluloseand their derivatives
celluloid.
"nhanced biodegradable plastic $ith additives. 2/
Advanta$es and ?isadvanta$es
9nder proper conditions! some biodegradable plastics can degrade to the point $here
microorganisms can completely metabolisethem to carbon dioxideand $ater. @orexample!starch*based bioplasticsproduced from sustainable farmingmethods could be
almost carbon neutral.
here are allegations that NRxo iodegradableRCN plastic bags can release metals! and
re,uires a great deal of time to degrade in certain circumstances/and that RC plastics
may produce tiny fragments of plastic that do not continue to degrade at any appreciable
rate regardless of the environment. ?/6/he response of the Rxo*biodegradable Plastics
&ssociation $$$.biodeg.org is that RC plastics do not contain metals. hey contain salts
of metals! $hich are not prohibited by legislation and are in fact necessary as trace*
elements in the human diet. Rxo*biodegradation of polymer material has been studied in
depth at the echnical 7esearch Institute of +$eden and the +$edish 9niversity of
&gricultural +ciences. & peer*revie$ed report of the $ork $as published in Bol
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Plastics offer considerable benefits for the future! but it is evident that our current
approaches to production! use and disposal are not sustainable and present concerns for
$ildlife and human health. >e have considerable kno$ledge about many of the
environmental ha%ards! and information on human health effects is gro$ing! but many
concerns and uncertainties remain. here are solutions! but these can only be achieved by
combined actions see summarytale 1. here is a role for individuals! via appropriate
use and disposal! particularly recycling; for industry by adopting green chemistry! material
reduction and by designing products for reuse andor end*of*life recyclability and for
governments and policymakers by setting standards and targets! by defining appropriate
product labelling to inform and incentivi%e change and by funding relevant academic
research and technological developments. hese measures must be considered $ithin a
frame$ork of lifecycle analysis and this should incorporate all of the key stages in plasticproduction! including synthesis of the chemicals that are used in production! together $ith
usage and disposal. 7elevant examples of lifecycle analysis are provided byT,ornton
/2!!20and RA4 /2!!50and this topic is discussed! and advocated! in more detail
in6,a7son /2!!%0. In our opinion! these actions are overdue and are no$ re,uired $ith
urgent effect; there are diverse environmental ha%ards associated $ith the accumulation of
plastic $aste and there are gro$ing concerns about effects on human health! yet plastic
production continues to gro$ at approximately < per cent per annum 4lasticsE-rope
2!!#. &s a conse,uence! the ,uantity of plastics produced in the first 10 years of the
current century $ill approach the total that $as produced in the entire century that preceded.
0 4 Precation$
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#T1http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-67http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-67http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-73http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-73http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-57http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-51http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-51http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#T1http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-67http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-67http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-73http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-57http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-51http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-51 -
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Safeg#ards for the plastic-!ary
_ Don$t %icro!ave&use glass or micro$avable ceramic.
_ Avoid fatty and acidic foods and hot foodsdrink.
_ Don$t !ash in dish!asher or in extremely hot $ater.
_ Don$t clean !ith "leaches or harsh detergents.
_ Don$t re#se single*use plastic products i.e.! Do. 1 $ater bottles! plastic $are.
_ Discard prod#cts $ith visible $ear i.e.! scratches! cracks! opa,ue tint.
_ Don$t #se plastic !rap in the micro$ave.
Sippy c#ps
_ 'hy polycar"onate( ecause the main attribute of polycarbonate plastic is itstoughness! it8s a perfect option for a sippy cup that must $ithstand $ear and tearfrom an active toddler.
_ Dangers) If the plastic bond begins to break do$n! the P& in the cup can leach into the tot8s -uice! possibly leaching at a higher rate if the -uice is highlyacidic. >hether the chemicals in Uunior8s next s$ig can have a long*termeffect on him is not certain! but some studies suggest a possible connection$ith behavior and neurological problems! including hyperactivity.
_ Preca#tions)<hough the polycarbonate bond is extremely strong! somestudies suggest exposure to high*heat dish$ashers! hot drinks!micro$aves can dramatically increase leaching. 7egulatory agencies stillassure that the increased P& levels seen in such studies are safe.
AlternativesBa"y "ottles
_ 'hy polycar"onate(4reated primarily to replace highly breakable andha%ardous glass! polycarbonate $as a shoo*in for the baby bottle industry.
Popular lines Playtex and "venflo have a fe$ P&*free options mostly glass!
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but the polycarbonate plastic still is used heavily in the 9.+. market and deemed safeby the @C&.
_ Dangers) P& in baby bottles has garnered the most attention. +terili%ing thebottlesand heating the formula $hich often comes from a can lined $ith a P&*containing
liner raises concerns because heat increases leaching. In the 9nited +tates! retailers>al*5art and oys N7N 9s have vo$ed to pull all polycarbonate bottles from theirshelves.
_ Preca#tions) 9sing glass alternatives re,uires care because glass! particularly$henused around infants! creates a ha%ard of its o$n. >ith P&*free plastic alternatives!use the same precautions as $ith other plastic food $are.
'ater "ottles
_ 'hy polycar"onate( +trong polycarbonate is a good fit for the tough sports*bottleindustry. he popular Dalgene bottles are predominantly polycarbonate! but thecompany announced in &pril it $ould phase out all P&*containing products.
_ Dangers) "xperts are less concerned $ith P&*containing $ater bottles!unless theyare being used by children and pregnant $omen. +tudies have linked the chemical $ithchromosomal damage that could lead to birth defects! miscarriages or infertility.
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4 Concl$ion
=ow to cut down on plastics
Why is life never simple? If you're keen on helping the planet, complications
like this sound completely exasperating. But don't let that put you off. As many
environmental campaigners point out, there are some very simple solutions to
the plastics problem that everyone can bear in mind to make a real difference.
Instead of simply sending your plastics waste for recycling, remember the
saying "Reduce, repair, reuse, recycle". Recycling, though valuable, is only
slightly better than throwing something away: you still have to use energy and
water to recycle things and you probably create toxic waste products as well.It's far better to reduce our need for plastics in the first place than to have to
dispose of them afterwards.
You can make a positive difference by actively cutting down on the plastics
you use. For example:
Get a reusable cotton bag and take that with you ever time you go
shopping.
Buy your fruit and vegetables loose, avoiding the extra plastic on pre-
packaged items.
Use long-lasting items (such as razors and refillable pens) rather than
disposable ones. It can work out far cheaper in the long run.
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If you break something, can you repair it simply and carry on using it?
Do you really have to buy a new one?
Can you give unwanted plastic items a new lease of life? Ice cream tubs
make great storage containers; vending machine cups can be turnedinto plant pots; and you can use old plastic supermarket bags for holding
your litter.
When you do have to buy new things, why not buy ones made from
recycled materials? By helping to create a market for recycled products,
you encourage more manufacturers to recycle.
Making better plastics
Ironically, plastics are engineered to last. You may have noticed that some
plastics do, gradually, start to go cloudy or yellow after long exposure to
daylight (more specifically, in theultraviolet lightthat sunlight contains). To
stop this happening, plastics manufacturers generally introduce extra
stabilizing chemicals to give their products longer life. With society's ever-
increasing focus on protecting the environment, there's a new emphasis ondesigning plastics that will disappear much more quickly.
Broadly speaking, so-called "environmentally friendly" plastics fall into three
types:
Bioplasticsmade from natural materials such as corn starch
Biodegradable plasticsmade from traditional petrochemicals, which
are engineered to break down more quickly
Eco/recycled plastics, which are simply plastics made from recycled
plastic materials rather than raw petrochemicals.
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Biodegradable plastics
If you're in the habit of reading what supermarkets print on their plastic bags,
you may have noticed a lot of environmentally friendly statements appearing
over the last few years. Some stores now use what are describedasphotodegradable,oxydegradable, or just biodegradable bags (in
practice, whatever they're called, it often means the same thing). As the name
suggests, these biodegradable plastics contain additives that cause them to
decay more rapidly in the presence of light and oxygen (moisture and heat
help too). Unlike bioplastics, biodegradable plastics are made of normal
(petrochemical) plastics and don't always break down into harmless
substances: sometimes they leave behind a toxic residue and that makes
them generally (but not always) unsuitable for composting.
Recycled plastics
One neat solution to the problem of plastic disposal is to recycle old plastic
materials (like used milk bottles) into new ones (such as items of clothing). A
product called ecoplastic is sold as a replacement forwoodfor use in outdoor
garden furniture and fence posts. Made from high-molecular polyethylene, the
manufacturers boast that it's long-lasting, attractive, relatively cheap, and nice
to look at.
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Biblio$raphy