WHY PLASTIC BAGS SHOULD BE BANNED

Toxic plastic bags are a serious threat to the environment. Because toxic chemicals are used in the manufacture of plastic, there are environmental issues such groundwater contamination and drain blockages. However, this risk may not endanger the environment and public health if plastic is recycled in accordance with accepted practices and regulations. Due to flaws in the nation's waste management system, the issue with the use of plastic bags is getting worse.

At present, the production of plastic in the world is about 100 million tones per annum and it is growing at 4 per cent per annum. In India too, the production and use of plastic is growing rapidly. On an average, every Indian generates around half a kilo of plastic wastes every year. Much of it is scattered on and around the litter stack, which, in turn, spreads environmental pollution.

Plastic and plastic bag composition

Plastic is a polymer comprised of big repeating molecules that is often used for packaging (called monomers). It is a material that is undisturbed by nature and cannot dissolve readily in soil; if left in the soil, it can prevent geothermal water from recharging. The repeated units in the case of plastic bags are ethylene. In the process of "polymerizing" into polyethylene, ethylene molecules create a longer chain of carbon molecules, each of which is made up of two hydrogen atoms.

High density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and linear low density polyethylene are the three major polyethylene polymers that make up plastic bags (LLDPE). Dry cleaning bags are often composed of LDPE, whereas grocery bags are typically made of HDPE. The degree of the polymer chain's primary mobility determines the principal distinction between these compounds. While the LDPE series disintegrates, the HDPE and LLDPE series is linear and indefinite.

Thick polyethylene has a unique unit of carbon and hydrogen. It is an indestructible chemical additive. The thick polyethylene does not decay because of this.

REASONS PLASTIC BAGS ARE DANGEROUS TO HEALTH (WHY WE SHOULD NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS)

In general, plastic is neither harmful nor dangerous. However, coolers, dyes, metals, and other inorganic substances are used to make plastic bags. The chemicals and colors that are typically used to enhance the qualities of plastic products and make them soluble in soil frequently have negative impacts on health. Some of the vivid coolers used in the manufacture of plastic bags are thought to have the potential to cause cancer, while others have the potential to contaminate food. In pigment materials, hazardous metals like cadmium can spread widely and pose a risk to human health.

Plasticizers are non-volatile, low-molecular-weight substances that can dissolve in meals and liquids, raising the risk of cancer development. Foods become poisoned by scalding when plastic bags are made with dangerous metals like cadmium and zinc.

Utilizing plastic bottles and containers carries serious risks, according to recent studies. Cancer can be brought on by heating food in plastic utensils and water bottles left in cars. The release of the dangerous chemical dioxins that are present in plastic starts when a plastic bottle that has been placed in the automobile is heated by sunshine or another source of heat. Dioxins get inside of us through water. This makes women more likely to develop breast cancer.

Cadmium use in modest doses can make a person throw up and enlarge their heart. Zinc use over a prolonged period of time harms brain tissue.

CONCERNS RELATED TO PLASTIC BAGS

When plastic bags are not properly disposed of, they find their way into the drainage system, clogging the drains and polluting the environment. Additionally, it causes aquatic ailments. Certain chemicals in recycled or colored plastic bags breakdown and make their way to the ground, where they can contaminate soil and water. Toxic emissions produced during the recycling process can harm the environment in sectors where recycling units are not environmentally well-developed. Plastic bags that contain leftover food and are mingled with other rubbish frequently end up as food for animals, often with tragic results.

Plastic liquor bottles are currently one of the major hazards. Such containers act as moisture and gas inhibitors, which seriously harms agricultural ground. Plastic packaging materials can cause fatal illnesses in people. This plastic waste also has an impact on the Earth's ecological equilibrium. In cities and towns, the waste-filled plastic bags are clogging the sewers.

WHY IT IS IMPERATIVE TO REDUCE THE USE OF PLASTIC?

1. The majority of plastic is made from materials that are themselves non-renewable resources.
2. Inflammable plastics are very common.
3. Animals get a variety of ailments as a result of eating foods that have been wrapped in plastic.
4. The river-drain is clogged as a result of plastic usage.
5. Aquatic species are in danger of being extinct.
6. The European Commission suggests reducing the annual use of plastic bags in Europe. Plastic has been completely outlawed for the first time in Italy. Concern exists around the potential ban on plastic use in India.

Dangerous for expectant mothers

According to physicians, consuming food and beverages in any such product, including foil and recycled colored or white plastic jars and cups, can be fatal to health. Plastic contains a toxic chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA), which is harmful to both pregnant women and children. Lethal plastic substances enter our bodies through food and beverages, where they prevent the brain from developing. The effects on children's memory are the worst. BPA also has an impact on how hormones are produced and how much of them are present in the body. Fertility is negatively impacted by this.

Effects of polythene poisoning

The most widely used plastic is polyethylene or polythene. Currently, 80 million tonnes are produced annually throughout the world. It is mostly used to create plastic bottles, bags, films, geomembranes, and other goods.

There are numerous varieties of polyethylene, the majority of which have the formula (C2H4) nH2. In other words, the same organic molecules are combined to form polyethylene. Ethylene molecules, which are very beneficial chemicals, combine to make the polymer polyethylene. But because it is not biodegradable, it has a harmful effect on the environment.

Causative factors for cow deaths

According to a source, post-mortem examination of cows in Lucknow's Kanha Grove typically finds that their intestines contained up to eight kg of polyethylene. According to the Environment Protection Act of 2003, polythene is prohibited in the province. Only uses with dimensions smaller than 20 m and 20 x 20 cm square are subject to restrictions. Recycling of colored polyethylene is also prohibited since it causes significant environmental impact. Food items cannot be transported in plastic bags at any time.

Harmful to both humans and animals

Every year, millions of animals and birds perish as a result of polyethylene garbage. The number of diseases affecting people is rising, the productivity of the land is dwindling, and the geological sources are getting contaminated. The level of phthalates in people's blood increases after exposure to plastic. This hinders the growth of the fetus inside the womb of pregnant women and harms the baby's reproductive organs. Diabetes is brought on by the chemical bisphenol, which is utilized in plastic manufacturing, and liver enzyme abnormalities are also produced. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and dioxins are harmful gases released during the burning of polyethylene trash. These raise the risk of diseases of the skin, respiratory system, and other organs.

Conclusion

Plastic waste in the nation is become a major issue. The global pollution caused by plastic is rising. An estimate states that the world uses more than 500 billion plastic bags annually. Along with hurting the ecosystem, polyethylene bags are regularly discovered in the ocean across numerous river basins. Due to this, a large number of marine animals are escaping their natural habitats in an effort to survive. As a result, numerous species of living things are in danger of going extinct. A specific global campaign is urgently needed in this situation to protect both people and the environment from the negative impacts of plastic.