Plastic waste was collected and analyzed to see in which form its most commonly found, which toxic chemicals are used to create the plastics, and what recovery systems i. The amount of plastic bags we use is important because once we throw the plastic bags away they will just pile up and create pollution, which is harmful to the environment because how we dispose of the plastic bags isnt really going to help due to the amount of time it takes for them to decompose. Chlorofluorocarbons cfcs reduces the amount of ozone. Causes, effects and solutions of plastic pollution paperblog. This article highlights the effects of plastic pollution, while also telling you about the causes of this problem, and some solutions. We absorb many types and forms of plastic pollution exist. Introduction the word plastic is derived from the greek plastikos meaning capable of being shaped or molded. Plastic pollution activities communities for sustainable. When plastic products accumulate in the environment, they begin to cause problems. Plastic pollution in our oceans the chair of the mornings proceedings, john duncan, described how 93% of plastic marine debris is consumer waste and 80% is generated on land. This paper provides the insight view about the affects of environment pollution in the perspective of air pollution, water and land soil waste pollution on human by diseases and problems, animals and trees plants. Different types pollution on earth 9 types of pollution pdf there are several types of pollution, and while they may come from different sources and have different consequences, understanding the basics about pollution can help environmentally conscious individuals minimize their contribution to these dangers.
The most dangerous and common pollution of the century, should be plastic pollution. Causes of plastic pollution the reckless dumping of plastic waste is yet one of the environmental topics that has attracted the attention of many conservationists and nations. Unfortunately it is difficult to recycle and takes a very long time to break down naturally. Causes of air pollution carbon dioxide deforestation and fossil fuel burning sulfur dioxide burning of sulfur containing compounds of fossil fuels. Put simply, plastic pollution is when plastic has gathered in an area and has begun to negatively impact the natural environment and create problems for plants, wildlife and even human. Plastic pollution is the introduction of plastic products into the environment which then upset the existing ecosystems in different ways. Rise above plastics is designed to eliminate the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of singleuse plastics and the recycling of all plastics. Ecological and human health impacts november 2011 plastic waste is a growing concern and the drivers behind it look set to continue. The plastic pollution can adversely affect lands, waterways and oceans. At the heart of the problem is one of plastics most valued properties. Another easy action is to bring your reusable bag to the store instead of accepting a plastic bag for every purchase. Plasticfree activist beth terry shares her journey learning to live a plasticfree life. Microplastic can penetrate fishs brains, altering behavior for the first time scientists have shown that the smallest bits of marine plastic pollution called nanoplastic can move up the aquatic food chain and be absorbed.
The dangers of plastic pollution to marine life article by. Radioactive fallout causes air pollution from the nuclear energy dispersed, which is a dust. Choose a reusable glass water bottle over a plastic one. Plastic pollution is a big question that is posed to the world, right now. The section on pollution and marine debris includes five downloadable activities and games regarding biomagnification, effects o land use in watershed, modern and historic sources of pollution to a body of water, effect of plastic on beaches and beach contamination. Plastic pollution, harmful accumulation of synthetic plastic products in the environment.
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles e. As a symbol of our disposable consumer culture, its legacy can be seen and touched. Different types pollution on earth 9 types of pollution pdf. Plastic pollution is a global problem that is growing exponentially due to both an increase in consumerism and an increase in the number of plastics used to manufacture the things we use on a daily basis.
Plastic are high molecular weight organic polymers which can be moulded into desired shapes by the application of heat and pressure. Stop the use of plastic bags and use bags of degradable materials like paper and cloth. The first step towards a plastic pollution solution is learning how to reduce plastic use. At present, design practices and recycling technology mean that 80% of plastics have little to no value at the end of life. Pollution is a negativeundesirable change in the environment, usually the addition of something hazardous or detrimental. Microplastic can penetrate fishs brains, altering behavior for the first time scientists have shown that the smallest bits of marine plastic pollution called nanoplastic can move up the aquatic food chain and be absorbed by predators brains, affecting their ability to hunt. As plastic is composed of major toxic pollutants, it has the potential to cause great harm to the environment in the form of air, water and land pollution. Plastic pollution we can make things better 1950 2015 plastic waste has a significant impact on the environment every day, a gigantic amount of plastic leaks into the environment, the seas and oceans 5 to million tyear. A 2014 report by the world bank indicated that the municipal solid waste is doubling at an astonishing rate, much of which is categorized as singleuse plastic items. Plastic pollution in freshwater and marine environments have been identified as a global problem.
Environmental pollution, types, causes, impact and. Causes of water pollution factors that contribute to water pollution can be categorized into two different groups point sources nonpoint sources point sources are the easiest to identify and control non point sources are ambiguously defined and harder to control. Plastic pollution occurs in many forms, including but not limited to littering, marine debris manmade waste that has released in a lake, sea, ocean, or water way, plastic particle water pollution, plastic netting and friendly floaters. May 10, 2018 plastic pollution activities may 10, 2018 october 28, 2017 by laurie eavey csmc partners with many other nonprofit organizations to educate our community and influence legislation to reducing plastic pollutions in our oceans. The impact of plastic pollution through ingestion and entanglement of marine fauna, ranging from zooplankton to cetaceans, seabirds and marine reptiles, are well documented 14. Billions of pounds of plastic can be found in swirling convergences in the oceans making up about 40 percent of the worlds ocean surfaces. The plastic pollution involves the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that adversely affects wildlife habitat, or humans.
A large percentage of plastic produced each year is used to make singleuse, disposable packaging items or. Plastic bag pollution by sharon jacobsen every year, around 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. Last week seas at risk published a report highlighting the scale of disposable plastic use across europe. Plastic pollution is of particular concern in coastal areas of developing countries th at lack appropriate waste management policies, but it also represents a major threat to the worlds. Plastic pollution facts and figures surfers against sewage.
This range of responses is necessary for such a global problem with such local variation, but to ensure plastic waste does not fall through the holes in the net of. Plastic pollution in india causes of plastic pollution due to plastic bags, bottles, containers, recycled plastics are used because they are easy and. This book describes plastic pollution, especially as it effects the worlds oceans, and offers solutions to. This air pollution destroys plants, damages buildings and creates oxidation on iron. The amount of plastic bags we use is important because once we throw the plastic bags away they will just pile up and create pollution, which is harmful to the environment because how we dispose of the plastic bags isnt really going to help due to. Research article plastic pollution in the worlds oceans. Plastic goods, hazardous plastic waste, anthropogenic activities. Plastics are inexpensive and durable, and as a result levels of plastic production by. What is plastic pollution, its causes and effects natural. Due to the nonbiodegradable nature of plastic, it is quite dangerous to make our environment polluted with plastics. Plastic pollution and its adverse impact on environment and ecosystem conference paper pdf available december 2018 with 15,750 reads how we measure reads. Were using more plastic than ever, its durable, cheap to produce and were consuming it at staggering rates. The presence of a substance in the environment that because of its chemical composition or quantity prevents the functioning of natural processes and. Its in the sea and on the beach and its causing harm.
The great pacific garbage patch is located in the north pacific gyre off the coast of california and is the largest ocean garbage site in the world. Environmental pollution, types, causes, impact and management. Pdf plastic waste, plastic pollution a threat to all. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular weight, and may contain other substances to improve performance andor reduce. Although recently there has been a slight decrease in plastic production, this is unlikely to be. Then, use this graph to predict how much plastic will be in the oceans by the year 2050 if plastic pollution continues at this rate. Plastic waste has the additional complication of spanning many policy areas, such as marine management, coastal management, waste management and the regulation of chemicals.
These pollutants cause environmental degradation and also affect different living organisms and their habitats negatively. Big numbers can be daunting so lets put it another way. Environmental pollution is any discharge of material or energy into water, land, or air that causes or may cause acute shortterm or chronic longterm detriment to the earths ecological balance or that lowers the quality of life. Plastic never really disappears at least, scientists have not been able to determine how long it takes, according to world re\. Plastic is an incredibly useful and versatile material that offers ease and convenience.
Use 1930 as the year of zero plastic in the ocean this was the decade when mass production of plastic began. Rajesh kumar mishra, tropical forest research institute. Plastic is a nonbiodegradable product, with the potential to cause great harm to the environment. Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized into micro, meso, or macro debris, based on size. Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semi synthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products. Pdf mapping plastic pollution see below to download individual grade levels. Other cities in monterey county are working on similar ordinances.
Biomedical waste should be collected and incinerated in incinerators. Environmental pollution usually occurs as a result of energy conversions and the use of resources which leaves their byproducts behind in water, soil or air. Follow these steps to do your part in keeping our earth a cleaner place. Due to its property, plastic gained wide use over the whole world. Many of these items are singleuse items, which are used once and then tossed in the trash. Environment pollution is a widereaching problem and it is likely to influence the health of human populations is great. Ecological and human health impacts 1science for environment policy indepth reports plastic waste. Jul 27, 2017 air pollution is caused by a wide variety of things. Real life examples of plastic pollution ecoloblue blog. A plastic bottle in the ocean can last up to 100 years, floating around. Current estimates show that at last 8 million pieces of.
How i kicked the plastic habit and how you can too by beth terry 2012. This article highlights the effects of plastic pollution, while also telling you about the. So many that over one million bags are being used every minute and theyre damaging our environment. Writer donovan hohn notes that while no one would say that plastic pollution is the biggest environmental issue of the day, it is the most iconic because it is completely manmade and never goes away. Factories, office buildings, homes and powergenerating stations burn fossil fuels, which cause air pollution. Plastics are persistent largescale pollutants, and plastic debris such as bottles, straws, containers, and plastic wrap and particulates have been found in many environmental niches, from mount everest to the bottom of the sea. Plastic pollution this module1 is intended for elementary or secondary education teachers interested in teaching their classroom about plastic pollution and for anyone interested in learning about the impacts of plastic pollution on our environment and society and actions we can take to diminish this problem. Csmc partners with many other nonprofit organizations to educate our community and influence legislation to reducing plastic pollutions in our oceans. Reduce plastic pollution by choosing products that do not contain plastic. Cfcs come from the burning of plastic foam items leaking refrigerator equipment spray cans. Technology has begun to solve some pollution problems, and public awareness of the extent of pollution will eventually make government bodies to be more proactive rather than. Over 90% of seabirds and almost all sea turtle species have been found with plastic in their stomachs.
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