kvs social science exhibition.docx

7/24/2019 KVS Social Science Exhibition.docx

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KVS Social Science Exhibition

Project Report

On

Plastics A New & Powerful Enemy of the

Environment.

Prepared by!

"aspreet #in$h

%lass

Roll No. ! ''

(endriya )idyalaya *Reona +cha,-ateh$arh #ahib Punjab.


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Acknowledgement

/ e0press my sincere $ratitude to all those

people who have been associated with this

project and shared their valuable opinions and

e0periences to ma1e the report even better.

/ would li1e to e0press my deep sense of

$ratitude to ()# #an$athan and our worthy

Principal 2rs.Paramjeet (aur who $ave me theopportunity to participate in social science

e0hibition.

/ sincerely e0press my deep sense of $ratitudeand immense respect to my $uide 2r.Narender

(umar for their valuable su$$estions and

opinions re$ardin$ the project report.


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CERTIFICATE

3his is to certify that this entitled4 5Project

Report on Plastics a new & powerful enemy

of the environment6 prepared by "aspreet #in$hfor ()# #ocial #cience E0hibition is an authentic

wor1 carried out by him under our supervision and$uidance.

3o the best of our 1nowled$e the matter embodied

in this Project report has not duplicated7copied from

any other student of other (.) or any other #chool.

2rs. Paramjeet (aur

2r.Narender (umar

Principal

383 #ocial #tudies

(endriya )idyalaya

(endriya )idyalaya


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Reona +cha *-.8.#.,.

Reona +cha *-.8.#.,.

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE No.

1. Introdction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.!!..!!!

9.9:hat is Plastic;9.ects on environment and :ildlife

@.< Powerful enemy for environment

,. -a$te )ana'e)ent o( la$tic$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.9 Recyclin$

.< Biode$radability

/. Ftre o( la$tic$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

0. Precation$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..

. Concl$ion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...


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Biblio'rah2


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Abstract

Plastics have transformed everyday life; usage is increasing and annual production is likely

to exceed 300 million tonnes by 2010. In this concluding paper to the heme Issue on

Plastics! the "nvironment and #uman #ealth! $e synthesi%e current understanding of the

benefits and concerns surrounding the use of plastics and look to future priorities!

challenges and opportunities. It is evident that plastics bring many societal benefits and offer

future technological and medical advances. #o$ever! concerns about usage and disposal

are diverse and include accumulation of $aste in landfills and in natural habitats! physical

problems for $ildlife resulting from ingestion or entanglement in plastic! the leaching of

chemicals from plastic products and the potential for plastics to transfer chemicals to $ildlife

and humans. #o$ever! perhaps the most important overriding concern! $hich is implicit

throughout this volume! is that our current usage is not sustainable. &round ' per cent of

$orld oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics and a similar amount is used as

energy in the process. (et over a third of current production is used to make items of

packaging! $hich are then rapidly discarded. )iven our declining reserves of fossil fuels!

and finite capacity for disposal of $aste to landfill! this linear use of hydrocarbons! via

packaging and other short*lived applications of plastic! is simply not sustainable. here are

solutions! including material reduction! design for end*of*life recyclability! increased recycling

capacity! development of bio*based feedstocks! strategies to reduce littering! the application

of green chemistry life*cycle analyses and revised risk assessment approaches. +uch

measures $ill be most effective through the combined actions of the public! industry!

scientists and policymakers. here is some urgency! as the ,uantity of plastics produced in

the first 10 years of the current century is likely to approach the ,uantity produced in the

entire century that preceded.


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1 3 Introdction

1.1 Introdction

Plasticis a material consisting of any of a $ide range of syntheticor semi*

synthetic organicsthat aremalleableand can be moldedinto solid ob-ects of

diverse shapes. Plastics are typically organic polymersof high molecular mass!

but they often contain other substances. hey are usually synthetic! most

commonly derived from petrochemicals! but many are partially natural.2/Plasticityis the general property of all materials that are able to irreversibly

deform $ithout breaking! but this occurs to such a degree $ith this class of

moldable polymersthat their name is an emphasis on this ability.

According to science

Plastics are synthetic chemicals extracted mainly from petroleum and composed

ofhydrocarbons(compounds made from chains of hydrogen and

carbonatoms). Most plastics arepolymers, long molecules made up of many

repetitions of a basic molecule called a monomer; in effect, the monomers are

like identical railroad cars coupled together to form a very long train. Thus, as

many as 50,000 molecules of ethylene (which has two carbon atoms bonded tofour hydrogen atoms) can be joined end to end into a familiar polymer called

polyethylene (or polythene). The process of building polymers by adding together

monomers is calledadditive polymerization. Another process called

condensation polymerization(or polycondensation) builds up polymers by

removing some atoms from each monomer so they can join together in a

different way. Polyesters such as Dacron and Terylene (two different brand

names for similar materials) are made by polycondensation. Whichever process

is used, the chemical properties of the monomer normally govern those of the

polymer that is eventually formed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_polymershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_chemistryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molding_(process)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molding_(process)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_polymerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_polymerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_masshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochemicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticity_(physics)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerhttp://www.explainthatstuff.com/atoms.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_chemistryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molding_(process)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_polymerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_masshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochemicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticity_(physics)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerhttp://www.explainthatstuff.com/atoms.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_polymers


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Artwork: Polymers are made from long chains of a basic unit called a monomer.

Polyethylene (polythene) is made by repeating the ethane monomer over and

over again.

Polymerization produces two different kinds of plastics. Sometimes, polymers

form very long straight or branched chains. These are present in so-

calledthermoplastics, which always soften when heated and harden when

cooled down. Examples include polyethylene and polystyrene. Polymers can

also form more complex three-dimensional structures, which give plastics very

different physical properties.Thermosetting plastics, as these are called,

harden the first time they are heated when cross-links form between different

plastic molecules. Thermosetting plastics never soften again no matter how

many times they are heated and this makes them particularly suitable for objects

that need to operate in hot environments. Epoxy resins and Bakelite are

examples of thermosetting plastics.

1.2 History of plastics

he development of plastics has evolved from the use of natural plastic

materials e.g.! che$ing gum! shellac to the use of chemically modified! natural

materials
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellachttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellac


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e.g.! rubber! nitrocellulose! collagen! galalite and finally to completely synthetic

molecules e.g.! bakelite! epoxy!Polyvinyl chloride. "arly plastics $ere bio*

derived materials such as egg and blood proteins! $hich are organic polymers.

In 100 4! 5esoamericansused natural rubber for balls! bands! and figurines.3/reated cattle horns $ere used as $indo$s for lanterns in the 5iddle &ges.

5aterials that mimicked the properties of horns $ere developed by treating milk*proteins casein $ith lye.

In the 1600s! as industrial chemistrydeveloped during the Industrial 7evolution!

many materials $ere reported. he development of plastics also accelerated

$ith 4harles )oodyear8s discovery of vulcani%ationto thermoset materials

derived from natural rubber.

Parkesineis considered the first man*made plastic. he plastic material $as

patented by&lexander Parkes! Inirmingham! 9:in 16.


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&fter >orld >ar I! improvements in chemical technology led to an explosion in

ne$ forms of plastics! $ith mass production beginning in the 1


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)eneric term used in the case of polymeric materialthat may contain other substances

to improve performance andor reduce costs.

Note 1Q he use of this term instead ofpolymeris a source of confusion and thus is

not recommended.

Note 2Q his term is used in polymer engineering for materials often compounded that

can be processed by flo$.1/

" 4 #$e$


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& chair made $ith a polypropylene seat and #ousehold items made of various types of plastic.

PolyesterP"+ A@ibers!textiles.

Polyethylene terephthalateP" A 4arbonated drinks bottles! peanut butter -ars!

plastic film! micro$avable packaging.

PolyethyleneP" A >ide range of inexpensive uses including supermarket bags!

plastic bottles.

#igh*density polyethylene#CP" A Cetergent bottles! milk -ugs! and molded plastic

cases.

Polyvinyl chloridePB4 A Plumbing pipes and guttering! sho$er curtains! $indo$

frames! flooring.

Polyvinylidene chloridePBC4 +aran A @ood packaging.

=o$*density polyethylene=CP" A Rutdoor furniture!siding! floor tiles! sho$er

curtains! clamshell packaging.

PolypropylenePP A ottle caps! drinking stra$s! yogurt containers! appliances! car

fenders bumpers! plastic pressure pipe systems.

PolystyreneP+ A Packaging foamNpeanutsN! food containers! plastic table$are!

disposable cups! plates! cutlery! 4C and cassette boxes.

#igh impact polystyrene#IP+ *Q 7efrigerator liners! food packaging! vending cups.

PolyamidesP& Dylons A @ibers! toothbrush bristles! tubing! fishing line! lo$

strength machine partsQ under*the*hood car engine parts or gun frames.

&crylonitrile butadiene styrene&+ A "lectronic e,uipment cases e.g.! computer

monitors! printers! keyboards! drainage pipe.

Polyethylene&crylonitrile utadiene +tyrene P"&+ A & slippery blend of P" and

&+ used in lo$*duty dry bearings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyesterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinylidene_chloridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saran_(plastic)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_furniturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_furniturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pressure_pipe_systemshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_impact_polystyrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_linehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyesterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinylidene_chloridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saran_(plastic)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-density_polyethylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_furniturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pressure_pipe_systemshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_impact_polystyrenehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_linehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene


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PolycarbonateP4 A 4ompact discs!eyeglasses!riot shields! security $indo$s!

traffic lights! lenses.

Polycarbonate&crylonitrile utadiene +tyrene P4&+ A & blend of P4 and &+

that creates a stronger plastic. 9sed in car interior and exterior parts! and mobile phonebodies.

PolyurethanesP9 A 4ushioning foams! thermal insulation foams! surface coatings!

printing rollers 4urrently th or ?th most commonly used plastic material! for instance

the most commonly used plastic in cars.

Special purpose plastics

5aleimideismaleimide9sed in high temperature composite materials.

5elamine formaldehyde5@ A Rne of the aminoplasts! and used as a multi*

colorable alternative to phenolics! for instance in moldings e.g.! break*resistance

alternatives to ceramic cups! plates and bo$ls for children and the decorated top

surface layer of the paper laminates e.g.! @ormica.

Plastarch materialA iodegradable and heat resistant! thermoplastic composed

of modified corn starch.

PhenolicsP@ or phenol formaldehydes A #ighmodulus!relatively heat resistant!

and excellent fire resistant polymer. 9sed for insulating parts in electrical fixtures! paper

laminated products e.g.! @ormica! thermally insulation foams. It is a thermosetting

plastic! $ith the familiar trade name akelite! that can be molded by heat and pressure

$hen mixed $ith a filler*like $ood flour or can be cast in its unfilled li,uid form or cast as

foam e.g.! Rasis. Problems include the probability of moldings naturally being dark

colors red! green! bro$n! and as thermoset it is difficult to recycle.

Polyepoxide"poxy 9sed as an adhesive! potting agent for electrical components!

and matrix for composite materials $ith hardeners including amine!amide! and oron

rifluoride.

PolyetheretherketoneP"": A +trong! chemical* and heat*resistant

thermoplastic!biocompatibilityallo$s for use inmedical implantapplications! aerospace

moldings. Rne of the most expensive commercial polymers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeglasseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_shieldhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_shieldhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyurethaneshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleimidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleimidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine_resinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastarch_materialhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modified_starchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenolic_resinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol_formaldehydeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young's_modulushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young's_modulushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young's_modulushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formica_(plastic)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recyclehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recyclehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_trifluoridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_trifluoridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyetheretherketonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocompatibilityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocompatibilityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocompatibilityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_(medicine)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_(medicine)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_(medicine)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeglasseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_shieldhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyurethaneshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleimidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine_resinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastarch_materialhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modified_starchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenolic_resinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol_formaldehydeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young's_modulushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formica_(plastic)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recyclehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_trifluoridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_trifluoridehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyetheretherketonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocompatibilityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_(medicine)


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PolyetherimideP"I 9ltem A & high temperature! chemically stable polymer that

does not crystalli%e.

PolyimideO& #igh temperature plastic used in materials such as:aptontape.

Polylactic acidP=& A & biodegradable! thermoplastic found converted into a variety

of aliphatic polyesters derived fromlactic acid$hich in turn can be made by

fermentation of various agricultural products such ascorn starch! once made from dairy

products.

Polymethyl methacrylateP55& &crylic A 4ontact lenses of the original NhardN

variety! gla%ing best kno$n in this form by its various trade names around the $orld;

e.g.! Perspex! Rroglas! Plexiglas! aglets! fluorescent light diffusers! rear light covers for

vehicles. It forms the basis of artistic and commercial acrylic paints$hen suspended in

$ater $ith the use of other agents.

PolytetrafluoroethyleneP@" A #eat*resistant! lo$*friction coatings! used in things

like non*stick surfaces for frying pans! plumber8s tape and $ater slides. It is more

commonly kno$n as eflon.

9rea*formaldehyde9@ A Rne of the aminoplasts and used as a multi*colorable

alternative to phenolics. 9sed as a $ood adhesive for ply$ood! chipboard! hardboard

and electrical s$itch housings.

@uranO7esin based on @urfuryl &lcohol used in foundry sands and biologically

derived composites.

+iliconeO#eat resistant resin used mainly as a sealant but also used for high

temperature cooking utensils and as a base resin for industrial paints.

PolysulfoneO#igh temperature melt processable resin used in membranes! filtration

media! $ater heater dip tubes and other high temperature applications.


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Cue to their relatively lo$ cost! ease of manufacture! versatility! and imperviousness to

$ater! plastics are used in an enormous and expanding range of products! from paper clips

to spaceships.

>hether you are a$are of it or not! plastics play an important part in your life. Plastics8 versatility

allo$ it to be used in everything from car parts to doll parts! from soft drink bottles to the

refrigerators they are stored in. @rom the car you drive to $ork in to the television you $atch$hen you get home! plastics help make your life easier and better. +o ho$ it is that plastics have

become so $idely usedT #o$ did plastics become the material of choice for so many varied

applicationsT

he simple ans$er is that plastics are the material that can provide the things consumers $ant

and need. Plastics have the uni,ue capability to be manufactured to meet very specific functional

needs for consumers. +o maybe there8s another ,uestion that8s relevantQ >hat do I $antT

7egardless of ho$ you ans$er this ,uestion! plastics can probably satisfy your needs.

If a product is made of plastic! there8s a reason. &nd chances are the reason has everything to

do $ith helping you! the consumer! get $hat you $antQ #ealth. +afety. Performance. Balue.

Plastics help make these things possible.

@or example

In Shopping

Uust consider the changes $e8ve seen in the grocery store in recent years. Plastic $rap helps

keep meat fresh $hile protecting it from the poking and prodding fingers of your fello$ shoppers.

Plastic bottles mean you can actually lift an economy*si%e bottle of -uice. &nd should you

accidentally drop that bottle! it8s shatter*resistant. In each case! plastics help make your life

easier! healthier and safer.

Grocery Cart vs. Dent-Resistant Body Panel

Plastics also help you get maximum value from some of the big*ticket items you buy. Plastics

help make portable phones and computers that really are portable. hey help make ma-or

appliances * such as refrigerators or dish$ashers * resist corrosion! last longer and operate more

efficiently. Plastic carfenders and body panels resist dings! so you can cruise the grocery store

parking lot $ith confidence.

Packaging

5odern packaging ** such as heat*sealed plastic pouches and $raps ** helps keep food fresh

and free of contamination. hat means the resources that $ent into producing the food aren8t

$asted. It8s the same thing once you get the food home ** plastic $raps and resealablecontainers keep your leftovers protected. In fact! packaging experts have estimated that each

pound of plastic packaging can reduce food $aste by up to 1.? pounds.

Plastics can also help you bring home more product $ith less packaging. @or example! -ust 2

pounds of plastic can deliver 1!000 ounces ** roughly 6 gallons ** of a beverage such as -uice!

soda or $ater. (ou8d need 3 pounds of aluminum to bring home the same amount! 6 pounds of

steel or 2? pounds of glass. Dot only do plastic bags re,uire less total energy to produce than
http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869E/CHEM869ELinks/plastic-car.comhttp://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869E/CHEM869ELinks/plastic-car.comhttp://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869E/CHEM869ELinks/plastic-car.com


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paper bags! they conserve fuel in shipping. Plastics make packaging more efficient! $hich

ultimately conserves resources.

ight !eighting

Plastics engineers are al$ays $orking to do even more $ith less material. +ince 1


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% 3 &an'er (ro) Pla$tic

'.9 E>ects on health

In addition to creating safety problems during production, many chemical additives that give

plastic products desirable performance properties also have negative environmental and human

health effects. These effects include

?irect to0icity as in the cases of lead cadmium and mercury

%arcino$ens as in the case of diethylhe0yl phthalate *?E=P,

Endocrine disruption which can lead to cancers birth defects immune

system supression and developmental problems in children.

Chemical Migration from Plastic Packaging into Contents

People are exposed to these chemicals not only during manufacturing, but also by using plastic

packages, because some chemicals migrate from the plastic packaging to the foods they

contain. Examples of plastics contaminating food have been reported with most plastic types,

including Styrene from polystyrene, plasticizers from PVC, antioxidants from polyethylene, and

Acetaldehyde from PET.Among the factors controlling migration are the chemical structure of the

migrants and the nature of the packaged food. In studies cited in Food Additives and

Contaminants, LDPE, HDPE, and polypropylene bottles released measurable levels of BHT,

Chimassorb 81, Irganox PS 800, Irganix 1076, and Irganox 1010 into their contents of vegetable

oil and ethanol. Evidence was also found that acetaldehyde migrated out of PET and into water.

'.< ?iseases caused by plastics

V& chemical found in food tins and babyWs bottles has been linked to an increased risk of

developing heart problems!X The Daily Telegraph reported. It said that scientists have

found that people $ith high levels of bisphenol & P& in their bodies $ere a third more

likely to develop heart disease than those $ith lo$ levels.


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his study found some associations bet$een P& levels in the urine and the likelihood

of having certain diseases. #o$ever! it has several limitations! and cannot prove that

P& caused these diseases.

P& is commonly found in many household items! and there is likely to be little thatindividuals can do to reduce their exposure. he 9+ Cepartment of #ealth and #uman

+ervices has information for parentson reducing their childWs exposure.

o date! researchers have found no conclusive evidence that P& is harmful to humans.

Cespite this! some countries have taken precautions and 4anada has introduced

legislation to ban the use of polycarbonate in baby feeding bottles. he "uropean @ood

+afety &uthority "@+& stated in 2006that it considers levels of P& exposure to be

safe! saying Nafter exposure to P& the human body rapidly metabolises and eliminates

the substanceN. It continues to monitor the situation and is currently evaluating the study

that led to the ban in 4anada.

>hat is polyethylene terephthalate P"! P""T

Polyethylene terephthalate P" is clear! tough! and shatterproof. It provides a barrier to

oxygen! $ater! and carbon dioxide and is identified $ith the number 1. P"8s ability to

contain carbon dioxide carbonation makes it ideal for use in carbonated soft drink bottles.

ake a look at the bottom of your soft drink bottle and you $ill most likely find a number 1

there. P" is also used to make bottles for $ater! -uice! sportsdrinks! beer! mouth$ash!catsup! and salad dressing. (ou can also find it on your food -ars for peanut butter! -am! -elly!

and pickles as $ell as in micro$avable food trays.

&ccording to the &merican 4hemistry 4ouncil! P" has been approved as safe by the @C&

and the International =ife +ciences Institute I=+I. In 1


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* 3 Pla$tic$ and En+iron)ent

@.9 E>ects on environment and wildlife

4limate change

he effect of plastics on global $arming is mixed. Plastics are generally made from

petroleum. If the plastic is incinerated! it increases carbon emissions; if it is placed in a

landfill! it becomes a carbon sink/although biodegradable plastics have caused methane

emissions./Cue to the lightness of plastic versus glass or metal! plastic may reduce energy

consumption. @or example! packaging beverages in P" plastic rather than glass or metal is

estimated to save 2S in transportation energy.3/

5ain

here are some accounts of effects of debris from terrestrial habitats! for example ingestion

by the endangered 4alifornia condor! Gymnogyps californianusee et al. 2!!".

#o$ever! the vast ma-ority of $ork describing environmental conse,uences of plastic debris

is from marine settings and more $ork on terrestrial and fresh$ater habitats is needed.

Plastic debris causes aesthetic problems! and it also presents a ha%ard to maritime activities

including fishing and tourism oore 2!!#; $regory 2!!%. Ciscarded fishing nets

result in ghost fishing that may result in losses to commercial fisheries oore

2!!#;&rown ' acfadyen 2!!". @loating plastic debris can rapidly become

coloni%ed by marine organisms and since it can persist at the sea surface for substantial

periods! it may subse,uently facilitate the transport of non*native or YalienW species &arnes

2!!2;&arnes et al. 2!!%;$regory 2!!%. #o$ever! the problems attracting most
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-65https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-66https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-66https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-Applications-3http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-40http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-40http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-40http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-29http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-16http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-29https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-65https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-66https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#cite_note-Applications-3http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-40http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-29http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-42http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-16http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-10http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-12http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-29


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public and media attention are those resulting in ingestion and entanglement by $ildlife.

Rver 20 species! including invertebrates! turtles! fish! seabirds and mammals! have been

reported to ingest or become entangled in plastic debris! resulting in impaired movement

and feeding! reduced reproductive output! lacerations! ulcers and death (aist

1%%";)erraik 2!!2;$regory 2!!%. he limited monitoring data $e have suggest

rates of entanglement have increased over time Ryan et al. 2!!%. & $ide range of

species $ith different modes of feeding including filter feeders! deposit feeders and

detritivores are kno$n to ingest plastics. #o$ever! ingestion is likely to be particularly

problematic for species that specifically select plastic items because they mistake them for

their food. &s a conse,uence! the incidence of ingestion can be extremely high in some

populations. @or example!


21/36

\10S by $eight of strandline material; &arnes et al. 2!!%. =aboratory experiments

have sho$n that small pieces such as these can be ingested by small marine invertebrates

including filter feeders! deposit feeders and detritivores T,ompson et al.2!!! $hile

mussels $ere sho$n to retain plastic for over '6 days &rowne et al. 2!!#. #o$ever!

the extent and conse,uences of ingestion of microplastics by natural populations are not

kno$n.

In addition to the physical problems associated $ith plastic debris! there has been much

speculation that! if ingested! plastic has the potential to transfer toxic substances to the food

chain seeTe-ten et al. 2!!%. In the marine environment! plastic debris such as

pellets! fragments and microplastics have been sho$n to contain organic contaminants

including polychlorinated biphenyls P4s! polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons! petroleum

hydrocarbons! organochlorine pesticides 2!2]*bisp*chlorophenyl*1!1!1 trichloroethane

CC and its metabolites; together $ith hexachlorinated hexane #4#! polybrominated

diphenylethers PC"s! alkylphenols and P& at concentrations ranging from ng g9to Zg

g9. +ome of these compounds are added to plastics during manufacture $hile others

adsorb to plastic debris from the environment. >ork in Uapan has sho$n that plastics can

accumulate and concentrate persistent organic pollutants that have arisen in the

environment from other sources. hese contaminants can become orders of magnitude

more concentrated on the surface of plastic debris than in the surrounding sea $ater

ato et al. 2!!1.Te-ten et al. /2!!%0describe experiments to examine the

transfer of these contaminants from plastics to seabirds and other animals. he potential for

transport varies among contaminants! polymers and possibly also according to the state of

environmental $eathering of the debris. 7ecent mathematical modelling studies have sho$n

that even very small ,uantities of plastics could facilitate transport of contaminants from

plastic to organisms upon ingestion. his could present a direct and important route for the

transport of chemicals to higher animals such as seabirds Te-ten et al. 2!!"!2!!%!

but $ill depend upon the nature of the habitat and the amount and type of plastics present.@or instance! the extent to $hich the presence of plastic particles might contribute to the

total burden of contaminants transferred from the environment to organisms $ill depend

upon competitive sorption and transport by other particulates Art,-r et al. 2!!%. he

abundance of fragments of plastic is increasing in the environment; these particles!

especially truly microscopic fragments less than the 333 Zm proposed by DR&& see
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earlier! have a relatively large surface area to volume ratio that is likely to facilitate the

transport of contaminants! and because of their si%e such fragments can be ingested by a

$ide range of organisms. #ence! the potential for plastics to transport and release

chemicals to $ildlife is an emerging area of concern.

5ore $ork $ill be needed to establish the full environmental relevance of plastics in the

transport of contaminants to organisms living in the natural environment! and the extent to

$hich these chemicals could then be transported along food chains. #o$ever! there is

already clear evidence that chemicals associated $ith plastic are potentially harmful to

$ildlife. Cata that have principally been collected using laboratory exposures are

summari%ed by e,lmann et al. /2!!%0. hese sho$ that phthalates and P& affect

reproduction in all studied animal groups and impair development in crustaceans and

amphibians. 5olluscs and amphibians appear to be particularly sensitive to these

compounds and biological effects have been observed in the lo$ ng l9to Zg l9range. In

contrast! most effects in fish tend to occur at higher concentrations. 5ost plastici%ers appear

to act by interfering $ith hormone function! although they can do this by several

mechanisms H- et al. 2!!%. "ffects observed in the laboratory coincide $ith measured

environmental concentrations! thus there is a very real probability that these chemicals are

affecting natural populations e,lmann et al. 2!!%. P& concentrations in a,uatic

environments vary considerably! but can reach 21 Zg l9in fresh$ater systems and

concentrations in sediments are generally several orders of magnitude higher than in the

$ater column. @or example! in the 7iver "lbe! )ermany! P& $as measured at 0.?? Zg l9in

$ater compared $ith 3'3 Zg kg9in sediment dry $eight. hese findings are in stark

contrast $ith the "uropean 9nion environmental risk assessment predicted environmental

concentrations of 0.12 Zg l9for $ater and 1. Zg kg9dry $eight for sediments.

Phthalates and P& can bioaccumulate in organisms! but there is much variability bet$een

species and individuals according to the type of plastici%er and experimental protocol.

#o$ever! concentration factors are generally higher for invertebrates than vertebrates! and

can be especially high in some species of molluscs and crustaceans. >hile there is clear

evidence that these chemicals have adverse effects at environmentally relevant

concentrations in laboratory studies! there is a need for further research to establish

population*level effects in the natural environment see discussion in e,lmann et
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al. 2!!%! to establish the long*term effects of exposures particularly due to exposure of

embryos! to determine effects of exposure to contaminant mixtures and to establish the role

of plastics as sources albeit not exclusive sources of these contaminants

seeeeker et al. /2!!%0for discussion of sources and routes of exposure.

@.< Powerful enemy for environment

The global war against plastic

Kerala hasbanned plastic bags from this month. Its not a blanket ban, as only bags

below 30 microns are banned in hotels, hospitals and all retail stores. erala howe!er

is not the first state in India to ban plastic bags.Sikkimdid it "uite some time ago and

what is admirable is that the ban isworking. Sikkim did it e!en though the

state never had as bad a problem as the rest of the

country.

The re$t o( India

5ahara$htra6$experience is indicative of the situation in the

rest of the country. After the7l2 "88,

(lood$in 5)bai(drains had got choked which led to

flooding during heavy rains) it was decided tobanplastic bags.

Did this last? Oh no the plastic lobby worked overti!e and got the ban re+o9ed. And soon the

blanket ban was con+erted to a ban on bags below "# !icrons and a di!ension not less than $ x

%& inches.

'ven this has not been i!posed $trictl2 eno'h although the govern!ent in$i$t$ that they are

doing all they can. hecking i!posing fines and confiscating illegal bags. he proble! is with

the people apparently. *o one listens and there is +ust this !uch that the police can do,Prax has

described his first hand exerienceon his blog. As he says-

The whole route through the jungle was spewn with plastic waste of casual thrill seekers and

locals alike with plastic from biscuit packets, balaji wafers, Lays packs and mostly with gutka

and zarda packs like the Goa1000 !orse, at a few places there were broken beer bottles "people

ha#e gotten drunk and drowned there$

he-e$t Ben'al govern!ent i)o$eda ban on the !anufacture sale and use of plastic bags

less than # !icrons in thickness in /une this year but the bags are already back on the streets0

Ta)il Nadplans to ban plastic bags too (a blanket ban isroo$ed:.he blanket ban idea
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-47http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-47http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://in.news.yahoo.com/070901/32/6k7qk.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkimhttp://northeast.nic.in/storiesdetails.asp?sid=10http://www.myholidayreport.com/accommodation/India/Sikkimhttp://www.destoop.com/trip/3%20DAYBYDAY/010710%20Calcutta/Sikkim.htmhttp://www.answers.com/topic/maharashtra?nafid=22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Maharashtra_floodshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Maharashtra_floodshttp://www.answers.com/topic/mumbai?nafid=22http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4180980.stmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1094107http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1094109http://techntrek.wordpress.com/about/http://techntrek.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/plastic-waste-in-national-parks/http://techntrek.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/plastic-waste-in-national-parks/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1071003/asp/calcutta/story_8382773.asphttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1071003/asp/calcutta/story_8382773.asphttp://www.answers.com/topic/tamil-nadu?nafid=22http://www.answers.com/topic/tamil-nadu?nafid=22http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1911/19110380.htmhttp://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1911/19110380.htmhttp://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1911/19110380.htmhttp://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-47http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://in.news.yahoo.com/070901/32/6k7qk.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkimhttp://northeast.nic.in/storiesdetails.asp?sid=10http://www.myholidayreport.com/accommodation/India/Sikkimhttp://www.destoop.com/trip/3%20DAYBYDAY/010710%20Calcutta/Sikkim.htmhttp://www.answers.com/topic/maharashtra?nafid=22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Maharashtra_floodshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Maharashtra_floodshttp://www.answers.com/topic/mumbai?nafid=22http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4180980.stmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020802641900.htmhttp://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1094107http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1094109http://techntrek.wordpress.com/about/http://techntrek.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/plastic-waste-in-national-parks/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://www.telegraphindia.com/1071003/asp/calcutta/story_8382773.asphttp://www.answers.com/topic/tamil-nadu?nafid=22http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1911/19110380.htm


24/36

!akes perfect sense as it isea$2 to 'et rond a thickness ban,!anufacturers si!ply !ake

slightly thicker plastic bags. he Indian govern!ent for exa!ple has banned shopping bags

!ade of a thickness of less than !icrons and !anufacturers get away by !aking plastic bags

of &%)icron$0 It doesn1t solve the proble!,that of plastic proliferation.

India rec2cle$

And in any case thick bags are not doing any good to the environ!ent. he only argu!ent in

their favour is that in India recycling is a ;ell entrenched acti+it2 and thick bags are recycled.

2ag3pickers don1t care about thin bags and they find their way into the drains,and the water

bodies. 4eing thin they also have a tendency to fly away,

he econo!ic angle is very i!portant here. In India recycling

isall abot econo!ics while in the west plastics recycling has

everything to do with saving the environ!ent. 5erhaps that is

why recycling works better here than in the #S< where le$$

than " percent of the %## billion bags used each year are

recycled. InLondon out of the %.6 billion plastic bags that are

used annuallyonl2 one in # is recycled.

In Francehardl2 percent of the three !illion tonnes of

plastics discarded annually is recycled.

Indiarecycles about #3$# per cent of all plastics

produced. 2agpickers (the !a+ority are wo!en and

children) do the +ob by digging into the wastebins

with their bare hands. hey sell the stuff they have

sorted out to eke out a living.

-hat the ;orld i$ doin' abot la$tic

San Franci$cohas bannedplastic bags the first

A!erican city to do so. Apparently the plastic3bag lobby 7fought hard to stop a ban in 8an

9rancisco precisely because it feared that defeat there would start a nationwide trend.:

It1s too late. he trend is well on it1s way0 A!it has described ho; in the #S


25/36

In Ireland one has to pay for a plastic bag and this extra charge has led to a hat about us?? >ell it1s ti!e to got back to our roots. A!it exlained thi$ in his post. =e

talked about the good old days in India when cloth and=tebags were the nor!. Abhorrence of

waste is ingrained in the Indian psyche,and that1s explained here>

%ll o#er the country, material objects like bottles are cleaned out and reused many times in many

different ways and if they break, they will be mended en plastic is often recycled so'called

(plastic mechanics) #isit people)s houses to repair broken plastics by the simple process of heat

fusion %nd when the material is threadbare, and completely beyond repair, it is often picked up

by ragpickers*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_9-8-2004_pg6_14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://www.answers.com/topic/bangladesh?nafid=22http://www.answers.com/topic/bangladesh?nafid=22http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7024395.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7024395.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6994751.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6994751.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6994751.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_bag#United_Kingdomhttp://www4.cnn.com/2007/TECH/09/07/allabout.plastic/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_323/ai_30324208http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_323/ai_30324208http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0721-04.htmhttp://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.htmlhttp://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.htmlhttp://www.alive.com/4295a12a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=182http://lotusnova.blogspot.com/2007/10/paper-or-plastic.htmlhttp://www.answers.com/topic/corchorus-olitorius?nafid=22http://www.answers.com/topic/corchorus-olitorius?nafid=22http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Recycling/India-Plastic-BagsNov00.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_9-8-2004_pg6_14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_baghttp://www.answers.com/topic/bangladesh?nafid=22http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7024395.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6994751.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shopping_bag#United_Kingdomhttp://www4.cnn.com/2007/TECH/09/07/allabout.plastic/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_323/ai_30324208http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0721-04.htmhttp://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.htmlhttp://www.alive.com/4295a12a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=182http://lotusnova.blogspot.com/2007/10/paper-or-plastic.htmlhttp://www.answers.com/topic/corchorus-olitorius?nafid=22http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Recycling/India-Plastic-BagsNov00.htm


26/36

;nfortunately the urban rich are changing their frugal habits and e!bracing a brand new

throwaway culture. It1s sad because the west has realised it1s !istake and they will be fixing

things while we in India could get fro! bad to worse.

/he only thing that will work in India is if

customers ha!e to pay hea!ily for plastic bags.

s '01+ e2tra wont work with the new richI

think a minimum of s )01+ for *ust one big

thick plastic bag should do the *ob. 4s for the

smaller ones, s #)1+ should be the minimum. If

the demand drops there is hope. 5inally, its

what the people want. If they want the bags

there will always be unscrupulous people willing

to pro!ide them. /he fines for companies are

*ust s )0001+ and if a small bribe is gi!en e!en this amount need not be paid.

, 3 -a$te )ana'e)ent o( la$tic$

.9 Recyclin$

hermoplastics can be remelted and reused! and thermoset plastics can be ground up and

used as filler! although the purity of the material tends to degrade $ith each reuse cycle.

here are methods by $hich plastics can be broken back do$n to a feedstock state.

he greatest challenge to the recycling of plastics is the difficulty of automating the sorting of

plastic $astes! making it labor*intensive. ypically! $orkers sort the plastic by looking at the

resin identification code! although common containers like soda bottles can be sorted from

memory. ypically! the caps for P"" bottles are made from a different kind of plastic $hich

is not recyclable! $hich presents additional problems to the automated sorting process.

Rther recyclable materials such as metals are easier to process mechanically. #o$ever!ne$ processes of mechanical sorting are being developed to increase capacity and

efficiency of plastic recycling.

>hile containers are usually made from a single type and color of plastic! making them

relatively easy to be sorted! a consumer product like a cellular phone may have many small

parts consisting of over a do%en different types and colors of plastics. In such cases! the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_intensityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_intensity


27/36

resources it $ould take to separate the plastics far exceed their value and the item is

discarded. #o$ever! developments are taking place in the field of active disassembly! $hich

may result in more consumer product components being re*used or recycled. 7ecycling

certain types of plastics can be unprofitable! as $ell. @or example! polystyrene is rarely

recycled because it is usually not cost effective. hese unrecycled $astes are typicallydisposed of in landfills!incineratedor used to produce electricity at $aste*to*energyplants.

& first success in recycling of plastics isBinyloop! a recycling process and an approach of

the industry to separate PB4 from other materials through a process of dissolution! filtration

and separation of contaminations. & solvent is used in a closed loop to elute PB4 from the

$aste. his makes it possible to recycle composite structure PB4 $aste $hich normally is

being incinerated or put in a landfill. Binyloop*based recycled PB48s primary energy demand

is ' percent lo$er than conventional produced PB4. he global $arming potential is 3ater Polo &renaor the7oyal &rtillery arracks$ere recycled.

his $ay! the PB4 Policy could be fulfilled $hich says that no PB4 $aste should be left after

the games.?3/

In 1


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?. Rther types of plastics see list! belo$

.< Biode$radability

Biodegrada"le plasticsare plasticsthat decompose by the action of living organisms!usually bacteria.$o basic classes of biodegradable plastics existQ 1/ioplastics! $hose

components are derived from rene$able ra$ materials and plastics made

from petrochemicalscontaining biodegradable additives$hich enhance biodegradation.

62amples of biodegradable plasticsedit/

Cevelopment of biodegradable containers

>hile aromatic polyestersare almost totally resistant to microbial attack!

most aliphatic polyestersare biodegradable due to their potentially

hydrolysable esterbondsQ

Daturally ProducedQ PolyhydroxyalkanoatesP#&s like the poly*3*

hydroxybutyrateP#! polyhydroxyvalerate P#B and polyhydroxyhexanoate

P##;

7ene$able 7esourceQ Polylactic acidP=&;

+yntheticQ Polybutylene succinateP+! polycaprolactoneP4=...

Polyanhydrides

Polyvinyl alcohol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#Common_plastics_and_useshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_plastic#cite_note-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochemicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_additiveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_additiveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biodegradable_plastic&action=edit&section=1https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biodegradable_plastic&action=edit&section=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromaticityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromaticityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliphatic_compoundhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliphatic_compoundhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhydroxyalkanoatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhydroxyalkanoatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly-3-hydroxybutyratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly-3-hydroxybutyratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybutylene_succinatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycaprolactonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyanhydrideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_alcoholhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#Common_plastics_and_useshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_plastic#cite_note-1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochemicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_additiveshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biodegradable_plastic&action=edit&section=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromaticityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliphatic_compoundhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhydroxyalkanoatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly-3-hydroxybutyratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly-3-hydroxybutyratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybutylene_succinatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycaprolactonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyanhydrideshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_alcohol


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5ost of the starchderivatives

4ellulose esterslike cellulose acetateand nitrocelluloseand their derivatives

celluloid.

"nhanced biodegradable plastic $ith additives. 2/

Advanta$es and ?isadvanta$es

9nder proper conditions! some biodegradable plastics can degrade to the point $here

microorganisms can completely metabolisethem to carbon dioxideand $ater. @orexample!starch*based bioplasticsproduced from sustainable farmingmethods could be

almost carbon neutral.

here are allegations that NRxo iodegradableRCN plastic bags can release metals! and

re,uires a great deal of time to degrade in certain circumstances/and that RC plastics

may produce tiny fragments of plastic that do not continue to degrade at any appreciable

rate regardless of the environment. ?/6/he response of the Rxo*biodegradable Plastics

&ssociation $$$.biodeg.org is that RC plastics do not contain metals. hey contain salts

of metals! $hich are not prohibited by legislation and are in fact necessary as trace*

elements in the human diet. Rxo*biodegradation of polymer material has been studied in

depth at the echnical 7esearch Institute of +$eden and the +$edish 9niversity of

&gricultural +ciences. & peer*revie$ed report of the $ork $as published in Bol


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Plastics offer considerable benefits for the future! but it is evident that our current

approaches to production! use and disposal are not sustainable and present concerns for

$ildlife and human health. >e have considerable kno$ledge about many of the

environmental ha%ards! and information on human health effects is gro$ing! but many

concerns and uncertainties remain. here are solutions! but these can only be achieved by

combined actions see summarytale 1. here is a role for individuals! via appropriate

use and disposal! particularly recycling; for industry by adopting green chemistry! material

reduction and by designing products for reuse andor end*of*life recyclability and for

governments and policymakers by setting standards and targets! by defining appropriate

product labelling to inform and incentivi%e change and by funding relevant academic

research and technological developments. hese measures must be considered $ithin a

frame$ork of lifecycle analysis and this should incorporate all of the key stages in plasticproduction! including synthesis of the chemicals that are used in production! together $ith

usage and disposal. 7elevant examples of lifecycle analysis are provided byT,ornton

/2!!20and RA4 /2!!50and this topic is discussed! and advocated! in more detail

in6,a7son /2!!%0. In our opinion! these actions are overdue and are no$ re,uired $ith

urgent effect; there are diverse environmental ha%ards associated $ith the accumulation of

plastic $aste and there are gro$ing concerns about effects on human health! yet plastic

production continues to gro$ at approximately < per cent per annum 4lasticsE-rope

2!!#. &s a conse,uence! the ,uantity of plastics produced in the first 10 years of the

current century $ill approach the total that $as produced in the entire century that preceded.

0 4 Precation$
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#T1http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-67http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-67http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-73http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-73http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-57http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-51http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-51http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#T1http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-67http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-67http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-73http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-57http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-51http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1526/2153#ref-51


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Safeg#ards for the plastic-!ary

_ Don$t %icro!ave&use glass or micro$avable ceramic.

_ Avoid fatty and acidic foods and hot foodsdrink.

_ Don$t !ash in dish!asher or in extremely hot $ater.

_ Don$t clean !ith "leaches or harsh detergents.

_ Don$t re#se single*use plastic products i.e.! Do. 1 $ater bottles! plastic $are.

_ Discard prod#cts $ith visible $ear i.e.! scratches! cracks! opa,ue tint.

_ Don$t #se plastic !rap in the micro$ave.

Sippy c#ps

_ 'hy polycar"onate( ecause the main attribute of polycarbonate plastic is itstoughness! it8s a perfect option for a sippy cup that must $ithstand $ear and tearfrom an active toddler.

_ Dangers) If the plastic bond begins to break do$n! the P& in the cup can leach into the tot8s -uice! possibly leaching at a higher rate if the -uice is highlyacidic. >hether the chemicals in Uunior8s next s$ig can have a long*termeffect on him is not certain! but some studies suggest a possible connection$ith behavior and neurological problems! including hyperactivity.

_ Preca#tions)&lthough the polycarbonate bond is extremely strong! somestudies suggest exposure to high*heat dish$ashers! hot drinks!micro$aves can dramatically increase leaching. 7egulatory agencies stillassure that the increased P& levels seen in such studies are safe.

AlternativesBa"y "ottles

_ 'hy polycar"onate(4reated primarily to replace highly breakable andha%ardous glass! polycarbonate $as a shoo*in for the baby bottle industry.

Popular lines Playtex and "venflo have a fe$ P&*free options mostly glass!


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but the polycarbonate plastic still is used heavily in the 9.+. market and deemed safeby the @C&.

_ Dangers) P& in baby bottles has garnered the most attention. +terili%ing thebottlesand heating the formula $hich often comes from a can lined $ith a P&*containing

liner raises concerns because heat increases leaching. In the 9nited +tates! retailers>al*5art and oys N7N 9s have vo$ed to pull all polycarbonate bottles from theirshelves.

_ Preca#tions) 9sing glass alternatives re,uires care because glass! particularly$henused around infants! creates a ha%ard of its o$n. >ith P&*free plastic alternatives!use the same precautions as $ith other plastic food $are.

'ater "ottles

_ 'hy polycar"onate( +trong polycarbonate is a good fit for the tough sports*bottleindustry. he popular Dalgene bottles are predominantly polycarbonate! but thecompany announced in &pril it $ould phase out all P&*containing products.

_ Dangers) "xperts are less concerned $ith P&*containing $ater bottles!unless theyare being used by children and pregnant $omen. +tudies have linked the chemical $ithchromosomal damage that could lead to birth defects! miscarriages or infertility.


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4 Concl$ion

=ow to cut down on plastics

Why is life never simple? If you're keen on helping the planet, complications

like this sound completely exasperating. But don't let that put you off. As many

environmental campaigners point out, there are some very simple solutions to

the plastics problem that everyone can bear in mind to make a real difference.

Instead of simply sending your plastics waste for recycling, remember the

saying "Reduce, repair, reuse, recycle". Recycling, though valuable, is only

slightly better than throwing something away: you still have to use energy and

water to recycle things and you probably create toxic waste products as well.It's far better to reduce our need for plastics in the first place than to have to

dispose of them afterwards.

You can make a positive difference by actively cutting down on the plastics

you use. For example:

Get a reusable cotton bag and take that with you ever time you go

shopping.

Buy your fruit and vegetables loose, avoiding the extra plastic on pre-

packaged items.

Use long-lasting items (such as razors and refillable pens) rather than

disposable ones. It can work out far cheaper in the long run.


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If you break something, can you repair it simply and carry on using it?

Do you really have to buy a new one?

Can you give unwanted plastic items a new lease of life? Ice cream tubs

make great storage containers; vending machine cups can be turnedinto plant pots; and you can use old plastic supermarket bags for holding

your litter.

When you do have to buy new things, why not buy ones made from

recycled materials? By helping to create a market for recycled products,

you encourage more manufacturers to recycle.

Making better plastics

Ironically, plastics are engineered to last. You may have noticed that some

plastics do, gradually, start to go cloudy or yellow after long exposure to

daylight (more specifically, in theultraviolet lightthat sunlight contains). To

stop this happening, plastics manufacturers generally introduce extra

stabilizing chemicals to give their products longer life. With society's ever-

increasing focus on protecting the environment, there's a new emphasis ondesigning plastics that will disappear much more quickly.

Broadly speaking, so-called "environmentally friendly" plastics fall into three

types:

Bioplasticsmade from natural materials such as corn starch

Biodegradable plasticsmade from traditional petrochemicals, which

are engineered to break down more quickly

Eco/recycled plastics, which are simply plastics made from recycled

plastic materials rather than raw petrochemicals.
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Biodegradable plastics

If you're in the habit of reading what supermarkets print on their plastic bags,

you may have noticed a lot of environmentally friendly statements appearing

over the last few years. Some stores now use what are describedasphotodegradable,oxydegradable, or just biodegradable bags (in

practice, whatever they're called, it often means the same thing). As the name

suggests, these biodegradable plastics contain additives that cause them to

decay more rapidly in the presence of light and oxygen (moisture and heat

help too). Unlike bioplastics, biodegradable plastics are made of normal

(petrochemical) plastics and don't always break down into harmless

substances: sometimes they leave behind a toxic residue and that makes

them generally (but not always) unsuitable for composting.

Recycled plastics

One neat solution to the problem of plastic disposal is to recycle old plastic

materials (like used milk bottles) into new ones (such as items of clothing). A

product called ecoplastic is sold as a replacement forwoodfor use in outdoor

garden furniture and fence posts. Made from high-molecular polyethylene, the

manufacturers boast that it's long-lasting, attractive, relatively cheap, and nice

to look at.
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Biblio$raphy

kvs social science exhibition.docx

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