Pollution Caused by Plastic Materials

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Plastics and health problems
Solutions
References

Introduction

Plastics have become major environmental concern largely due to the myriad of negative health effects posed on both human and animal health in the immediate surroundings. Exposure to harmful chemical that are transferred from plastics is a dangerous global threat due to some of the most severe, harmful, and long lasting negative health effects and implications to the environment. In addition, it is worth noting that exposure to the non-biodegradable plastic particles have a long term effect. Thrift (2012) acknowledges that many people are exposed to health dangers posed by plastics largely owing to the fact that the latter pollutes the environment through leakages of toxic chemicals from plastic packages that are used to pack foodstuff and water. Therefore, the rising levels of pollution due to plastics and subsequent health problems spell deep rooted health challenge that is burdensome to address. Much of the effort that has been put in place by business organizations, government agencies as well as non-governmental organizations to control the use of plastics so as to minimize environmental pollution has fallen short of the necessary emphatic application of principles that can provide the much needed safe and healthy environment for all. It is on this front that this paper intrinsically explores pollution caused by plastic materials.

Plastics and health problems

The use of plastics by people and organizations has in the last few decades grown massively to shocking levels. This has been attributed to the high levels of reliance on plastics to make clothing for people as well as for making pools, hot tubs, safety PVC ropes and stair treads at home (“At a glance”, 2012). Besides, businesses and manufacturing industries have employed the use plastics to package foodstuff and water. Thrift (2012) indicates that among businesses and individuals, the use of plastics has gained popularity because they are flexible, malleable for designing houses and electronics, inexpensive in subsidized markets, light weight and resistant to breakages especially when exposed to external pressure.

However, it is important to note that regardless of the many pleasant and appealing uses of plastics, the numerous health problems and dangers presented to the environment are gruesome. Morris (2012) indicates that the effects of plastic on health are due to its carcinogens, direct toxicity via mercury, cadmium and lead in addition to leakages from phthalates, adipates and plasticizers in poly vinyl chloride (PVC). The carcinogenetic agent in polyvinyl chloride has been a major area of study with specific attentions to the risks and epidemiological presentation it poses to the environment. It is worth noting that poly vinyl is one of the many brittle plastics that are commonly used to make toys and food packaging materials. Other plastics used for packaging especially food stuffs include PET, polyethylene and polystyrene. Foster and McChesney (2012) indicate that the chemicals used to make the aforementioned plastics may contain harmful substances which may easily contaminate foodstuffs. For instance, PET releases Acetaldehyde, PVC releases plasticizers while polyethylene releases antioxidants and polystyrene gives out styrene. Studies conducted by Food Additives and Contaminants revealed that polypropylene, HDPE and LDPE plastic bottles release considerable amounts of Irganox 1010, Irganix 1076, Irganox PS 800, Chimarsobb 81 and BHT. When these substances are released, they find their way into important liquids such as ethanol, water and vegetable oil.

Kippler et al (2012) indicate that significant health related issues from plastics especially those from polyvinyl chloride used for packaging, water pipes, cosmetics and plastic wraps are related to dioxins, additives, incineration products and its carcinogenic precursor known as vinyl chloride monomer. When the aforementioned chemicals are exposed through the process of chemical migration, they have the potential of causing massive health impacts on both plants and animals. Dioxins have been major sources of incapacitating reversible and serious health complications like endometriosis, different cancers, reproductive disorders and immune system suppression. Other related dangers include the release of bisphenol A from polycarbonate plastics in bottled waters. This causes hyperactivity, diabetes, obesity, onset of puberty, impaired immune function and cancers. Besides, Thrift (2012) in his publication mentions other plastics such as tetrafluoro-ethylene which are known to cause potential breathing difficulties as well as throat, eyes and nose irritations. In addition, acrylic for making clothing carpets and blankets is known to cause fatigue, headache, breathing difficulties and nausea, and polyurethane form in pillows, mattresses and cushions which cause bronchitis and severe lung problems.

Solutions

The health dangers associated with environmental exposure to plastics as Warren (2004) reflects in his study on pollution is very extensive. Besides affecting individuals who come into contact with them, plastics pollute the environment, the atmosphere, soil and water pathways. An increase in the manufacture and use of plastics as well as the potential health effects caused by exposure to plastics is indeed an issue of health concern that is yet to be resolved fully especially in developing economies. Indeed, one should not merely lay the blame on industries which are carrying out their normal routines of production and waste disposal. It is worth noting that government agencies should also be brought on spotlight for continuous neglect and poor policies on environmental health. Clearly, from the environmental justice perspective, pollution of environment by plastic wastes especially due to poor positioning of hazardous waste sites among poor communities indicates a level of discrimination by concerned bodies. Since the dangers presented by plastics are highly intertwined and demand central application of the correct policies to address them, governments should consider creating appropriate dumping sites and prior analysis of toxic wastes and their effects should be established to determine the expected negative effects and therefore address them to prevent disasters.

Mack (2012) points out that addressing the exposure to toxic substances leaking from plastic containers that are used to pack is a key facet in dictating how communities and states need to be prepared in ensuring that the environment is protected. Businesses should also limit excessive manufacturing of plastic commodities. This will lower the exposure to toxins by plastic users as well as significantly reducing environmental degradation from industrial plastic wasters. The major hindrance to reducing the manufacture of plastics as Meierotto (2012) posits is the practice of businesses and industries which embrace the Marxist model of maximizing their returns at the expense of an endangered environment. Planners too have failed to focus on this danger by putting up structures that promote continued emission of toxic substances. Efforts to reduce environmental exposure through professional ethics are indeed necessary to promote a safe and healthy environment.

The media can also be used to raise awareness especially among the affected communities and playing a key role in highlighting the extent of the environmental pollution through plastics and providing reports on how effective environmental policies should be enacted towards ensuring a healthy environment. According to Warren (2004), different press releases have shown the importance of conserving the environment by limiting use of plastics. The latter is of critical importance since it has enabled various affected communities to identify leaders who have failed to fast track environmental conservation caused by plastics. In fact, press releases clearly indicate that some leaders have ignored the important aspect of health and well being of the people they represent, and instead followed other special interests and given corporate polluters first priority. Indeed, this could be the reason why there is massive contamination of food, water and soil with pollution from raw plastics and industrial wastes from chemical substances derived from plastics.

To sum up, the discussion in the paper has highlighted some of the important uses of plastics in everyday social and economic life. Some of the major uses of plastics include packaging, making clothing and shipping. However, plastics have turned out to be major causes of pollution to the environment and human beings through leakages of toxic chemicals which contaminate food, soil and block waterways. The effect of plastic pollution has drastic health impacts some of which include respiratory problems, cancer and reproductive disorders. The discussion has concluded by reiterating the importance of relevant environmental agencies in developing policies which will limit production and use of plastic products. In addition, the research paper has deduced that while plastic products may be useful in everyday life, the harmful chemical exposure of this substance has led to myriad of environmental problems due to the negative impacts on human health.

References

At a glance (2012). Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(3), A96-A100.

Foster, J. B., & McChesney, R. W. (2012). The global stagnation and china. Monthly Review, 63(9), 1-28.

Kippler, M. et al. (2012). Maternal cadmium exposure during pregnancy and size at birth: A prospective cohort study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(2), 284-289.

Mack, T. C. (2012). Rethinking “return on investment”: What we really need to invest in. The Futurist, 46(2), 36-40.

Meierotto, L. M. (2012). The blame game on the border: Perceptions of environmental degradation on the united states-mexico border. Human Organization, 71(1),11- 21.

Morris, M. (2012). Sustainability: An exercise in futility. International Journal of Business and Management, 7(2), 36-44.

Thrift, N. (2012). The insubstantial pageant: Producing an untoward land. Cultural Geographies, 19(2), 141-168.

Warren, C. (2004). Deceit and denial: The deadly politics of industrial pollution. Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 78(2), 507-509.

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Pollution Caused by Plastic Materials

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