Plastic and its harmful effects

The presentation have description about plastic and harmful effects that it have and the problems that can humans face.

1. Presentation on Plastic Utensils & Their Harmful Effects

2. Plastic The word plastic was derived from the words plasticus ( Latin for ‘capable of moulding’) and plastikos ( Greek for ‘fit for moulding’). Plastics are organic polymers (synthetic or natural) of high molecular weight. The plastic is basically formless material which can be moulded under heat and pressure.

3. Positive Aspects of Plastics Plastics are good electrical /heat insulators. Plastics do not corrode or decay. Plastics are cheap and dispensable Plastics are resistant to chemicals,water or grease.

4. Negative aspects of plastic Plastics can either be non-biodegradable or degrade very slowly. Plastics are flammable and release toxic fumes when burned . Plastics can contaminate foods with dangerous chemical compounds. Plastics usually have low melting point and therefore expand with heat.

5. Impact of plastic in human body Risk of kidney stones Scientists say that eating hot meals on melamine crockery could be harmful to health. Hot temperatures increase the amount of melamine and this can increase the risk of kidney stones in both children and adults. To be in a safer side it is recommended to take hot food on ceramic crockery or stainless steel plates. Accelerate Breast cancer Plastics melt when it is exposed to hot sun. we often store water in plastic bottles while we travel. Many times we leave plastic bottles in car where it is in direct exposure of sun and we drink the same water. Such heating releases a toxin called dioxin in the water. Dioxin which accelerate breast cancer. To avoid this use stainless steel bottles like thermosteel.

6. Continued… Hormonal imbalance Biphenyl A in plastics is an estrogen-mimicking chemical.  It can lead to lots of health hazards. Biphenyl A in plastics cause  obesity , diabetes, cancer, asthma, fertility problems and even early puberty in girls. It also leads to neurological effects.   Liver cancer and reduced  sperm count Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastic soft, including plastic wrappers. They affect male reproductive system like reducing sperm quality, and male hormone levels. Because of  the presence of phthalates in plastics, drinking water from plastic bottles can also lead to liver cancer.

7. Effects Of Plastic It Upsets the Food Chain Plastic comes in sizes large and small, polluting plastics even affect the world’s tiniest organisms such as plankton. When these organisms become poisoned due to plastic ingestion, this causes problems for the larger animals that depend on them for food. This can cause a whole slew of problems, each step further along the food chain. Plus, it means that plastic are present in the fish that many people eat everyday.

8. Groundwater Pollution Every time it rains then the garbage dumps that are near our surroundings make our drinking water contaminated .  Groundwater and reservoirs are susceptible to leaking environmental toxins . Most of the  litter and pollution affecting the world’s oceans also derives from plastics. This has had terrible consequences on many marine species, which can lead to consequences for those that eat fish and marine life for nutrients – including people . Land Pollution When plastic is dumped in landfills, it interacts with water and form hazardous chemicals. When these chemicals seep underground, they degrade the water quality. Wind carries and deposits plastic from one place to another, increasing the land litter. It can also get stuck on poles, traffic lights, trees, fences, tower etc. and animals that may come in the vicinity and might suffocate them to death.

9. Air Pollution Burning of plastic in the open air, leads to environmental pollution due to the release of poisonous chemicals. The polluted air when inhaled by humans and animals affect their health and can cause respiratory problems. It is Poisonous Man artificially makes plastic by using a number of toxic chemicals. Therefore, use of and exposure to plastics has been linked to a number of health concerns affecting people around the world. The processes of making, storing, disposing of, and just being around plastics can be extremely harmful to living things.

10. It is Expensive It costs millions of dollars each year to clean affected areas after exposure, not to mention the loss of life to plants, animals, and people. As land becomes more valuable, just finding a place to put garbage is becoming a problem in many parts of the world.