Topic > The Waste Problem: Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic products that begin to negatively affect the environment, animals and their habitats, and humans. The reality is that we eat plastic, drink plastic and breathe plastic every day, but there is no one to blame for this but ourselves. It is virtually impossible to completely avoid and eliminate the use of plastic in today's society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Plastic is a type of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymer that can be molded into any shape. It is an example of inorganic waste. Plastic is not toxic as such to humans as it is less soluble, but additives such as plasticizers are toxic. Plastics, although non-toxic, cause extensive damage to the environment due to their non-biodegradability. This is because most plastic comes from propylene monomer and the propylene bond formed is extremely strong to be broken down by bacteria. It has been found that in marine pollution, 60-95% of the pollution is caused by plastic itself. Due to the low temperature and salinity of the oceans, the degradation of polymers is very difficult. Plastic also degrades soil, making it less fertile, and chlorinated plastic releases harmful chemicals that can be absorbed into nearby water sources. The types of plastic are: Polyethylene terephthalate is a thermoplastic polymer used to make food and water containers, clothing fibers, etc. It is recyclable. High-density polyethylene is a thermoplastic material obtained from the cracking of petroleum. It has a high strength-to-density ratio and is therefore used to produce plastic bottles, tubes, plastic bags, etc. It is recyclable. Polyvinyl chloride is a synthetic polymer used to make pipes, window frames, ducts, etc. Contains numerous toxins (plasticizers). and it's called "poisonous plastic". They are recyclable. Low density polyethylene is a thermoplastic material obtained by free radical polymerization of ethylene at high pressure. It is commonly used in plastic bags. It is also recyclable. Polypropylene is formed by the chain polymerization of propylene. It is used to make bottle caps, packaging and labels, etc. It is also recyclable. Polystyrene is obtained from the polymerization of styrene. It is transparent and rigid. It is used for protective packaging of DVDs, CDs, glasses, bottles etc. It is not recyclable. By various plastics we mean all other plastic materials (polycarbonates, acrylic, styrene, nylon, etc.). They usually contain bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disruptor used to increase the lifespan of plastic. It requires very high temperatures to degrade and is therefore not recyclable. Each year approximately 18 billion pounds of plastic waste ends up in the world's oceans from coastal areas. 40% of the plastic produced is intended exclusively for packaging. This percentage of plastic is used only once and then simply discarded. Only 20% of plastic is recycled worldwide, although many countries are taking initiatives to increase this percentage. The main problem due to plastic is entering our food chain and causing damage to our health. Most of this plastic disintegrates into particles smaller than five millimeters, known as microplastics, and these further break down into nanoparticles (less than 0.1 micrometers in size). The plastic bags we use to package food contain many harmful compounds. The use.