Plastics clearly constitute an important component of the range of materials used in modern society. Almost all aspects of daily life involve plastics or rubber in some form or the other. ... Owing to their light weight, plastics reduce transportation costs and, therefore, atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions.
What is the importance of plastic in our daily life?
Versatile plastics inspire innovations that help make life better, healthier and safer every day . Plastics are used to make bicycle helmets, child safety seats and airbags in automobiles. They're in the cell phones, televisions, computers and other electronic equipment that makes modern life possible.
Why is plastic so important?
Plastic is durable and provides protection from contaminants and the elements . It reduces food waste by preserving food and increasing its shelf life. It protects food against pests, microbes and humidity. Without this protection, food is more likely to get damaged and become unusable.
What are the negative effects of plastic?
- Direct toxicity, as in the cases of lead, cadmium, and mercury.
- Carcinogens, as in the case of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)
- Endocrine disruption, which can lead to cancers, birth defects, immune system suppression and developmental problems in children.
Why is plastic harmful?
Toxic chemicals leach out of plastic and are found in the blood and tissue of nearly all of us. Exposure to them is linked to cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption and other ailments.
What diseases can plastic cause?
- Asthma.
- Pulmonary cancer due to inhalation of poisonous gases.
- Liver damage.
- Nerve and brain damage.
- Kidney diseases.
Why plastic should be banned?
Plastic bags are polluting coastlines, waterways and oceans where they damage animals and ecosystems. They take centuries to break down. Banning single use plastic bags will go a long way to stopping the source of plastic pollution .
How does plastic negatively affect humans?
Microplastics entering the human body via direct exposures through ingestion or inhalation can lead to an array of health impacts, including inflammation, genotoxicity , oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necrosis, which are linked to an array of negative health outcomes including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, ...
What are the 3 worst effects of plastic pollution?
These include: Physical impact on marine life: entanglement, ingestion, starvation . Chemical impact: the buildup of persistent organic pollutants like PCBs and DDT. Transport of invasive species and pollutants from polluted rivers to remote areas in the ocean.
Is plastic good or bad?
Plastic is incredibly useful material. In fact, humans have been making forms of plastic for thousands of years. ... The first ‘plastic', Bakelite, was developed in 1907, and the plastics have become ubiquitous ever since. But plastic's strength as a material is also pretty bad for the environment .
What is the main cause of plastic pollution?
Plastic pollution is caused by the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment . It can be categorized in primary plastics, such as cigarette butts and bottle caps, or secondary plastics, resulting from the degradation of the primary ones.
How do you remove plastic from your body?
- Do: Drink tap water. ...
- Do: Heat food in or on the stove, or by microwaving in glass. ...
- Do: Buy and store food in glass, silicone, or foil. ...
- Do: Eat fresh food as much as possible.
Do we really need plastic?
Plastic is durable and provides protection from contaminants and the elements. It reduces food waste by preserving food and increasing its shelf life. It protects food against pests, microbes and humidity. Without this protection, food is more likely to get damaged and become unusable.
Is plastic a health risk?
Exposure to harmful chemicals during manufacturing, leaching in the stored food items while using plastic packages or chewing of plastic teethers and toys by children are linked with severe adverse health outcomes such as cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive ...
Who invented plastic?
A key breakthrough came in 1907, when Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland created Bakelite, the first real synthetic, mass-produced plastic.
