(R.SQUARE)PLASTIC POLLUTION AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION

Come to know, plastic revolution and what is plastic pollution?

Since the business development of The 1950s, plastics have been a real success. Its global production is increasing significantly. Its success is due to its notable qualities: ease of molding, low cost, mechanical resistance, etc. As it is the ideal material for easy packaging, plastic is practically everywhere.

Actually, human negligence is the main cause of plastic pollution. People accumulate plastic waste but do not its proper management which created pollution of the environment. Plastic pollution is caused by the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment. It can be classified into primary plastics, such as cigarette butts and bottle caps, or secondary plastics, as a result of the degradation of primers. It can also be defined by its size from microplastics - small particles (<5 mm) scattered in the environment - to macro plastics.

How does plastic harm the environment?

Plastics remain in the environment for years, threatening wildlife and spreading toxins. Plastics also play a role in global warming.

Almost all plastics are made from chemicals that come from fuel production that heats the planet (gas, oil, and even coal).

The burning of plastics in burners also releases climate-destroying gases and toxic air pollutants. Our reliance on plastics, therefore, prolongs our demand for this waste fuel.

                                  plastics scattering in the river area.

The real effects of plastic pollution

It seems very obvious that it is not the isolation of these substances that can destroy the natural environment, create long-term problems for plants, animals, and humans.

Some of the major long-term effects of plastic pollution are:

1.Negative effects on human health

We eat seafood contaminated with plastic. Scientists have found microplastics in 114 marine species, and about one-third of them are in our plates. We consume plastic through packaging. BPA present in many plastic objects that come in direct contact with food is metabolized in the liver to form bisphenol A and remains in our body through urine. We drink microplastics through bottled water.

The WHO released shocking research in 2018 that revealed the presence of 90% microplastics in bottled water, with tests showing that only 17 out of 259 were plastic-free. We absorbed plastics through our clothing, of which 70% are synthetics and the worst fabric for the skin. We even breathe plastic when we burn garbage in the open because of contaminated waste management.

2. It upsets the food chain

As it comes in both large and small sizes, polluting plastics affect even the smallest organisms in the world, such as plankton. When these organisms are poisoned by eating plastic, it causes problems for larger animals that depend on them for food.

This can cause a lot of problems, further increasing the food chain at each step. Also, it means that the fish that people eat every day contains plastic.

3.Groundwater pollution

Water conservation is already a concern from California to various parts of India, but the world's water is at great risk from leaks of plastics and waste. If you have ever seen a garbage dump, imagine what happens every time it rains, imagine that it is present in your drinking water. Groundwater and reservoirs are sensitive to environmental toxins.

Most of the litter and pollution affecting the world’s oceans also derives from plastics.

4. Land Pollution

After discharge into plastic landfills, it comes in contact with water and structurally hazardous chemicals. The moment these chemicals go underground, they reduce the quality of the water. The air starts from one place of plastic and then transports and stores the land waste spread to another place. It can get stuck in poles, traffic lights, trees, fences, towers, etc., and in animals that can hold their breath.

5. Air Pollution

Burning plastic in the open-air causes environmental pollution due to the release of toxic chemicals. Contaminated air when inhaled by humans and animals affects their health and can cause shortness of breath.

6.It is toxic

People make plastic artificially through the use of toxic chemicals. Therefore, the use and exposure to plastics have been linked to many health problems that affect people worldwide. Manufacturing, storage, disposal and simply being around plastic can be extremely harmful to living things.

7.Plastic cleaning is expensive

It spends millions of dollars every year to clean up affected areas, not to mention the loss of plant, animal, and human lives. As land becomes more valuable, finding landfills are becoming a problem in many parts of the world.

Moreover, excess pollution leads to a decline in tourism in the affected areas, significantly affecting that economy.

 High effective Solutions to Plastic Pollution

                                                         plastics scattering in the river area.

1. Shop Friendly

 Plastic packs were at one time a cutting-edge comfort yet can be effectively supplanted by reusable bags, many of which fold up compactly to be portable. 

Simply consider the number of bags you typically carry out of a grocery store and multiply that by the number of times you visit the grocery shop. That’s a lot of plastic! Carry a bag and always reuse plastic bags as much as possible if you have them.

 2. Dispose of Bottled Water

People are intended to drink lots of water every day, and plastic water bottles have become an incredible method to remain hydrated for the duration of the day.

However, the greater part of these is just suggested for single-use, and that implies that each time somebody completes a bottle, it goes into the rubbish. As these plastic containers are normally produced using polyethylene terephthalate (Pet), it takes more than 400 years to decompose normally.

Numerous organizations currently sell reusable water bottles as a substitute, reducing plastic waste and openness to leaking bottles. The best thing you can do is carry a reusable metal bottle in your bag.

3.Forget about taking out containers

You will be amazed at how much plastic is used in the manufacture and packaging of food containers? Do you think the coffee shop drinking cup is made of paper? It’s probably lined with plastic to insulate it (pour a coffee cup into a carton and see what happens).

Plastic food containers, lids, and containers are easily replaced with reusable containers, which will also significantly reduce the waste of a single food.

4.Recycle everything

Try and select the items that come in recyclable and reusable non-plastic packaging to try your best to handle items that cannot be reused properly. Check everything before you throw it away, as more items can be recycled these days.

Keep in mind that plastic doesn’t break easily (if it ever does), recycling plastic means that it is still plastic, just being used for a different purpose. Therefore, you’re not actually reducing plastic amounts or exposure, even in the recycling process.

5.Make Better Choices at Home

You can make a big difference when making green choices at home, and your cast culture should be clean. Choose products with less plastic packaging.

Avoid cosmetics and personal hygiene products that contain microbeads, toothpaste dots, and facial scrubs that are actually a type of microplastic.

New examination shows expanding harm from microbeads to marine life and human wellbeing. Stay away from garments that have engineered microfibers. At the point when these things are washed, they frequently discharge microfibers into the water, at last advancing toward seas, and afterward ingested by fish and other marine animals.

AUTHOR-M.ZAMAN(RASEL)