PLASTIC AND POLLUTION

PLASTIC POLLUTION

Plastic is one of the chemical materials which is the biggest environmental hazard and is spreading all over the world causing pollution at larger scales. Polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene are  used in the manufacture process of plastics. Synthetic polymers are easily molded into complex shapes, have high chemical resistance, and are more or less elastic. they can be shaped into fibers and even thin transparent films. These properties  made them popular in making of durable or disposable goods and for packaging materials also. These materials have molecular weight ranging from several thousands to 1,50,000. Excessive molecular size is mainly responsible for their resistance  to bio-degradation and their persistence in soil environment for a long time.That s why they are big source of pollution. Plastic in the environment is polluting every where it is in seas and rivers causing water pollution and in dump places causing the air pollution, since the material is biologically quite inert. The plastic industry in the USA  is $ 50 billion per year and is obviously a good market for biotechnological enterprises.The Biotechnological processes are being developed as an alternative to  get new biodegradable bio-polymers . 20% of solid municipal wastes in US is plastic.and causing lot of pollution. Non-degradable plastics accumulate at the rate of 25 million tonnes per year. According to an estimate more than 100 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year all over the world. In India it is only 2 million tonnes. In India use of plastic is 2 kg per person per year while in European countries it is 60 kg per pe rson per year while that in US it is 80 kg per person per year.which is really alarming situation.To reduce this hazard of pollution we all have to work together.

plastics are made from remaining materials of petroleum refinery industry.What’s worse is that some plastics are made from the natural gas that is being used to heat home. It is turned into a disposable water bottle that will promptly be thrown away and will be a great hazard producing pollution specially producing water pollution .
Many plastic materials leak harmful chemicals into our food. #7 polycarbonate bottles are found to leach bis-phenol A (BPA), that has not only linked to pollution it is also linked to a wide array of health problems including hormone disruption, obesity and even cancer.Most annoying thing is that It’s used in baby bottles, some brands of reusable water bottles and as a lining for tin and aluminum cans.


Look for new containers and packaging made from a poly lactic acid (PLA) that can be made from a variety of plants, including potatoes, corn and sugar cane.PLA, or poly-lactic acid, a decomposable plastic is normally made from corn. It is made by converting corn into starch and starch into sugar. Microorganisms are used to gain  poly-lactic acid from that sugar.At  that point the PLA mixed with different starches forms into Styrofoam-like food containers, cups and  “plastic” bags. PLA is very safe in freezers, allergen free and, the       best    thing is, compo stable in just 30 to 45 days. So by using green technologies we can have pollution decreased.we should aim our selves to reduce pollution and safe our world and make future of our children a pollution free world.