SAFETY ALERT : MONSOON PRECAUTIONS

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Chapter:- Environment Safety

ES : Hazards of Plastic

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Chapter : Environment Safety

Hazards of Plastic

Plastic is a bi-product of petroleum. Every year we are producing thousands of tons of plastic products in the form of packing materials, disposable items like toys, cigarette lighter, torches, etc. 

Hazards of plastic is a major concern of environmental researchers. In developed countries, increased percentage of general public are aware of the harms and hazards that plastic poses towards the environment and health.

All plastics by its fundamental nature, can maintain their structural integrity forever and are not bio-degradable. What actually happens to plastic as time passes is a break down into small pieces leaving plastic chunks or plastic dust as a residue. These plastic chunks and dust are not bio- degradable as their molecular structure is too large for micro organisms to consume.

Even there are no chemicals effective to degrade them. In an incinerator, burning plastic releases hydro-chloric acid, which degrades the incinerator rapidly, releases chlorine, which is then available to form dioxins, and releases toxic metals that were added to the plastics to give them color, stiffness or some other desired characteristics.

Other hazards caused by plastics are as follows.

1. 
   Workers in plastic industry run an increased risk of getting various health hazards including cancer.
2. Fires in homes and commercial buildings kill thousands of people each year. Many of them because of the toxic smoke created by burning plastic.
3. Millions of animals, sea birds and sea mammals die each year after ingesting plastic or getting entangled in plastic debris.
4. Drainage and sewage systems get blocked by entangled plastic debris. In some countries, use of plastic packing products less than 10 microns are banned for this reason.
5. Less deadly, but economically damaging to the tourist industry is plastic litter at tourist spots.

It is our duty to educate the public and new generation about the hazards that plastics pose to health and environment. Also we have to reduce the use of plastics in our day to day life and suitable alternative must be sought.