Cause And Effect

PLASTIC WASTE

*Causes

As plastic is less expensive, it is overused. When it is disposed off in landfill sites, it does not decompose at a fast rate, and hence pollutes the land or soil in that area.

Most people tend to throw plastic bottles and polythene bags away, even after a single use. This drastically increases its pollution rate on land as well as in the oceans, mainly in the developing and underdeveloped countries.

Plastic bags, plastic bottles, discarded electronic components, toys, etc., clog the water bodies like canals, rivers, and lakes, especially in the urban areas.

Every year, about 100 million tons of plastic are produced all over the world. 

*Effect

The rural areas are more prone to this type of pollution and the related effects, as a majority of the people from these areas use plastic on a large scale.

Many stray animals end up eating plastic bags and bottles due to improper disposal systems, and this can cause their death

During the rainy season, the plastic rubbish that has fallen on the road gets washed away into the nearby water reservoirs, canals, and drains, leading to their choking up and overflowing. Also, the water quality gets spoiled due to the addition of these synthetic materials.

When dumped in landfills, plastic materials interact with water and form hazardous chemicals. If these compounds seep down towards groundwater aquifers, they degrade the water quality, leading to groundwater pollution.

Plastic pollution in marine water bodies leads to innumerable deaths of aquatic animals, and this also affects the aquatic plants to a considerable degree.

Blockage due to plastic accumulation may form breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other harmful vector insects, which might cause numerous diseases in humans.

The quality of drinking water on our planet is deteriorating, as plastic releases some toxic chemicals such as Styrene Trimer,Bisphenol A, and a by-product of Polystyrene. These products are worsening the drinking water situation with every passing day. Bisphenol A is a harmful chemical that damages the reproductive system of animals.

Bio-accumulation of plastic inside animals is one of the most recent effects of plastic pollution. Over many years, the accumulated plastic releases harmful chemicals, and also breaks down into small pieces, causing extreme discomfort to the animals. After their death, the body might decompose, but the plastic fragments may remain as a threat to other animals.






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