SURVEY ON PLASTIC POLLUSION AND ITS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
By
Abhilash chandran
Abstract: The survey was done to analyze the usage of plastic in kuttanad . College andschool students as well as some of their neighbours were selected as the sample population. The sample populationbelonged to three age groups i.e. 15 -17, 19-21 and 40-50, majority being teenagers i.e. the first two groups, comprising 91% of the total population.
It is evident from the survey that without stringent control measures/ban from the side ofgovernment, the unhealthy usage of plastic as well as the pollution of environment by plastic waste would increase alarmingly. Though 73.5% of the surveyed subjects are of the opinion that plastic should be completely banned and 77%say they are ready to be involved in an initiative against plastic pollution, 92% disagree to carry a plastic bag in hand toshop so that it could be reused to maximum, 37% still prefer to use plastic carry bags instead of cloth/paper bags, 42%has adopted burning as a method of disposing plastic carry bags, 14% use more than six plastic carry bags each day, and75% carry drinking water in plastic bottles. 51% of the people had never heard about Bisphenol A, a chemical that leaksfrom plastic. Survey shows that awareness given though education is not enough to equip students to take deterrentactions that favour the conservation of the environment instead of favouring ones comfort and convenience.
Keywords: Survey, plastic, Bisphenol A, Alappuzha, plastic carry bag
INTRODUCTION
The word plastic is derived from the greek (plastikos) meaning capable of being shaped or molded. Plastic that are made up of polymers having only aliphatic (linear) C atoms in their backbone chains. e.g.: poly propylene. Plastics that are made up of heterochain polymers contain O, N, S in their backbone chains, in addition to C. e.g.: poly carbonate. Plastic behaviour of polymers is influenced by their morphology (arrangement of molecules).they are either amorphous or crystalline. Most thermosets are amorphous, while thermoplastics may be amorphous or semi crystalline.
Plastics are a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymerization products that can be molded into a permanent object having the property of plasticity. Plastic are found extensive industrial applications. Plastics having a variety of properties are available at present. They have low specific gravities, ease of fabrication, resistance to low thermal and electrical conductivities. Many plastics can take range of colour to enable them useful for decorative purposes. Plastics are widely used in making electical instruments, telephones, panelling for walls,instrument boards, automoblile parts, lamps, googles, optical instruments, household appliances, etc. Plastic materials dumped into the earth prevent the production of nutrients in the soil. Because of this, the fertility of the soil is reduced and affects the agriculture sector. When its persistence in the environment can do great harm. It causes immune and enzyme disorders, hormonal disruption leading to endocrinal disorders and even infertility and is also considered as carcinogenic (cancer). Not only human health, it dangerously effects other animal life and alters the environment (air,water and soil) sustainability causing hazardous pollution.
PLASTIC POLLUSION: A THREAT TO HUMANITY
Plastic is a necessary evil. You can hardly do away with it. The amount of plastic that is disposed off every year can circle the earth four times. Every day we come across plastic in various forms such as garbage and grocery bags, bottles, food containers, computer keyboards, plastic mouse, coffee cup lids and other such products. Though plastic products are very convenient to use, they play a harmful role in polluting the environment. Till the year 2000, the amount of plastic that was manufactured was far less as compared to that made in the first decade of this century. But where is all the plastic going? It would be startling to note that billions of tons of plastic is ending up in the world’s oceans. Discarded plastic products can be found even in extreme polar latitudes.
Actually ocean pollution starts out on land and is carried away by wind and rain to the sea. Plastic gets accumulated in water and it takes thousands of years for it to decay. According to a new study, around eight million metric tons of plastic ends up in our oceans every year. However, if prompt action is not taken, this figure will increase by ten times during the next ten years.
Plastic wastes can easily be transported to long distances because of their low density. These are collected and gathered in gyres, system of rotating ocean currents. A vast island of plastic is made as these wastes merge in the ocean where currents unite. An example of this is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Located in central North Pacific Ocean, it is twice the size of Texas. Garbage patches can also be seen in the Indian and the Atlantic Ocean and till date five patches have been discovered. Fish and other marine animals mistake the small particles floating on the surface for food.
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS DUE TO PLASTIC
Littering of the landfills and other open spaces with plastic garbage becomes unhygienic and ugly, Once they are used, most bags go into landfill, or rubbish tips. Each year, more and more bags are ending up littering the environment. Once they become litter, plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks, beaches, and streets. And, if they are burned, they infuse the air with toxic fumes
Littering of plastics in the form of plastic bags causes blocking of the cities, municipalities sewerage systems leads to spreading of water borne diseases and increasing the cost of sewage maintenance systems.
2. Soil fertility is also affected due to plastic material as it forms part of manure remaining in the soil for years without natural degradation.
3. Death of animals due to suffocation, stomach and intestine related diseases is a common feature mostly in developing economies due to improper disposal of plastic food bags that are eaten by these animals. About 100,000 animals, such as dolphins, turtles whales, penguins are killed every year due to these bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for food and therefore, die. And worse, the ingested plastic bag remains intact even after the death and decomposition of the animal. Thus, it lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.
4. Plastic waste is finding its way into the rivers, oceans and seas of the world due to which the rich marine life is facing serious health hazards. Marine animals like fish, sea birds, otters and other marine species are swallowing these plastic wastes as food items that are leading to a premature death of these precious marine species.
5. Pollution of environment by industries manufacturing the plastic materials is another serious issue that is facing the environmentalists and the governments globally. The manufacturers of plastic materials are polluting the environment by disposing of the plastic waste and chemicals used in the process of manufacturing plastic material into nearby water channels and open spaces thereby causing health hazards as well as environmental pollution in a vast area.
The laws requiring these manufactures to install anti-pollution machinery at their premises is not being strictly adhered to by these people. Single-use bags have become such a ubiquitous way of life that it seems as if we simply cannot do without them. However, if we have the will, we can start reducing their use in small ways.
Ojective and purpose
This report addresses issues concerning plastic shopping bags from an environmental perspective. Plastic is one of the most useful inventions of the 20th century. It is obvious that nearly every consumer product we buy these days has some plastic content, and many would be impossible without this technology. Plastic materials can be durable, inexpensive, and useful. Plastic is usually made out of some kind of nonrenewable resource, either oil or natural gas. Using a piece of plastic once, for a few minutes, then throwing it away is a short-sighted way to waste an incredibly useful resource.
Even if the bag is used again to pick up animal waste or line a trash can, the useful life of a plastic bag is quite short, squandering a nonrenewable resource. We believe that plastics should be reserved for uses that have a longer lifetime, preserving the nonrenewable resources they are generally made out of for a longer time. Single use plastic bags have several particularly objectionable environmental negatives.
They show up as litter in rivers and streams, and entangle wildlife. They end up in ocean garbage gyres, where they are ingested by fish and birds. They are harmful when eaten by livestock and wildlife. They don’t biodegrade, eventually photo degrading into smaller and smaller toxic bits, but do not disappear. In addition, scientific studies have not been able to show that chemicals used in the manufacture of plastics are safe for humans, and indicate the need to decrease the exposure to these chemicals. Particles derived from the decomposition of plastic waste can enter the food chain of living organisms. In addition, recycling rates for single use plastic bags is very low.
The main objectives of the study
1. The perception of the people toward plastic bags
2. To identify what are the ways consumers are using and reusing the plastic carry bags.
3. To find out awareness of usage of plastic carry bags and environmental impact, among the consumers.
4. To assess the extent to which the current methods to plastic waste management promote sustainability.
5. To evaluate the level of awareness among consumers about the plastic bags ban and the issues associated with plastic use
6. To examine the attitude of the consumers when it comes to the use of alternatives to plastic bags, and the bottlenecks for shifting to these alternatives
7. To examine the role of government agencies in implementing the plastic bags ban
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
METERIAL AND METHODS
The survey was done in Alappuzha, kuttand area, students of Nair samajam higher secondary school Nedumudy, and among the parents and relatives of the students surveyed. This will make up a population of random samples from the people of Alappuzha town, around 91% being the teenagers. A total of 150 people were surveyed. It included three age groups, 15-17, 19-21 and 40-50. A questionnaire was prepared which includes several questions, mostly related to the uses of plastic and how they depose it. Personal interactions were also made with some people. The data collected from questionnaire and personal investigation were subjected to statistical analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The survey was carried out among 150 individuals. The survey includes three age groups - 15-17, 19-21 & 40-50. 50 people coming in the first age group, 80 people belonging to second age group and 20 people belong to third age group was surveyed. Of the total people surveyed, 97% agree that they are aware about India’s excessive use of plastic. 92% of the surveyed people strongly disagree to carry a plastic bag to the shopping area with them while shopping.
Around 14% are using more than 6 plastic bags per day. Of the total people surveyed, 34% prefer to use plastic bags while shopping. Only 21% and 37% prefer to use paper bags and cloth bags respectively. If different age groups are analysed, among the third age group no one prefers to use plastic bags. While among the first age group 89% prefer to use cloth bags and only 4% said they require plastic bags. Among the second age group 50% prefer to use plastic carry bags for various purposes.
About 13% of the surveyed population do not burn plastic items. But a major percentage ie. 66% rarely burn plastic items and 21% always burn plastic items as a means of disposing it. The disposal method adopted for plastic carry bags by 42% of the surveyed population is by burning it.
67% of the total surveyed population said that they use less plastic in their life than 5 years ago. But among the third age group 57% said that they use more plastic bags items than 5 years ago. 82% of the total people surveyed said that they use plastic furniture and toys at home. 43% of the surveyed population said that they use plastic shoes and jewellery. The most commonly used plastic item as per the opinion of surveyed is use plastic bottles the most and 27% using it.
Among 150 people surveyed 96% agree that they have heard or read about the dangers of plastic usage and only 4 % are not aware about its dangerous effects. 67% of people said that their source of information about dangers of plastic is from TV, Radio and Newspapers. 40% of surveyed people are of the opinion that the society requires more awareness about the dangers of plastic bags while 50% said that the society has enough information about plastic.
99% are ready to support the efforts to reduce consumption of plastic bags and among them, 93% strongly believe that they can reduce the rate of consumption of plastic bags if given proper guidance, support and sufficient substitute for plastic such as paper and cloth carry bags. 100% of the third and first age groups are ready to support the efforts and in the second age group 98% are ready to support the efforts. It was found that 21% believe that government is poor in giving awareness to society about plastic while 50% said that government initiatives is acceptable. 8% are satisfied with the works done by government and they said that government is excellent at their works. 46% of people like to have a free plastic bag which is degradable while in a supermarket. 35% among the 150 expressed their readiness to carry eco bag even if they have to pay for it. 20% prefer ordinary free plastic carrier bag. Of the total surveyed 16% do not reuse plastic bags, 33% use it only once, 29% use it for 2-5 times, only 18% use it for more than five times and 54% reuse it for other purposes such as shopping, as bin liner and also for other purpose.
Among the 150, 63% people think that government should ban the use of plastic bags so that its use can be reduced. The survey shows that 100% of the third age group support the ban. 65% among the surveyed population said that plastic bags lie or float around for decade, so that plastic bags are harmful for the environment.
The most common plastic item used by the surveyed population is bottles i.e. 51% use plastic bottles. 19% most commonly use plastic bags and cups and 27% use plastic for packaging. After first usage 31% put the plastic items in dustbin and 23% burn it. 27% said that they recycle it. 19% reuse or sell the plastic items. 88% are aware about the environmental effects plastics are carrying in the world. 77% like to be involved in an initiative against plastic use while 23% are not interested in it. 73.5% said that plastic should be completely banned.
51% have never heard about the chemical Bisphenol A which leaks from plastic items causing various detrimental effects on living organisms. While analysing age wise, among the 1st age group 94% and in the 2nd age group 40% are aware about Bisphenol A. the 3rd age group, a major percentage (90%) is not aware about Bisphenol A.
Around 69% of the surveyed population is not aware about the fact that Bisphenol A leak from plastic items when it comes in contact with hot liquids. 54% said that they are not in practice of selecting Bisphenol A free plastic items. 11% said that sometimes they select Bisphenol A free plastic items. 15% always try to select Bisphenol A free plastic items.
75% use plastic bottles to carry drinking water. Only 6% carry Bisphenol A free plastic bottles and 13% carry water in steal bottles. 41% of surveyed individuals said that they store drinking water in plastic bottles at their home, while 14% said that they store it in glass containers. 27% store water in steel containers and 5% store water in Bisphenol A free containers. 48.2% carries hot food items in plastic containers. Only 3% said that they had never carried hot food items in plastic containers and the rest do it according to their convenience. Only 5% of the surveyed population often checks the identification code number of the plastic items that they purchase.
68% of the surveyed subjects are not aware about the fact that BPA which leaks from plastic has the capacity to cause hormonal imbalances in living organisms. It was found that majority of the subjects coming under first age group and a fairly good number of subjects coming under the second age group are aware about this fact.
Although 97% agree that they are aware about India’s excessive usage of plastic and the dangers of the piling plastic waste, 92% strongly disagree to carry a plastic bag with them for purchasing instead of taking plastic kits from the shopkeeper at each purchase. This is the root cause of the accumulation of plastic bags and kits in our surrounding environment, in the land and water . 13% of the surveyed population say that they use more than six plastic bags/kits each day. This attitude of the people make it very difficult to control use of plastic which leads to increasing plastic pollution of the environment without stringent measures from the side of Government.
Several values obtained through survey shows that giving awareness influence only a very small percentage of the population since 91% of the subjects surveyed belong to age group who is being well informed and thus only through enforcement of strict laws that the excessive use of plastic could be controlled. . Only 37% prefer to use plastic carry bags for shopping, the rest preferring paper/cloth carry bags, but various other results show that their preference differ greatly from what they actually do. Although using plastic at their convenience and 73.5% suggested that a complete ban on plastic could reduce the plastic use so that plastic pollution could be controlled. A ban on plastic carry bags would force the people to bring their own paper/cloth carry bags to shop during shopping.
The accumulation of plastic items mainly carry bags can lead health problems in living organisms including death of aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Several organisms consume thin plastic bags, as well as other plastic materials which cause problems in digestion which eventually lead to their death. Several aquatic organisms also consume plastic items which cause digestion problems. Entanglement in plastic materials can also lead to death of several organisms. Other than digestion problems and entanglement, BPA that leaks from plastic is an endocrine disruptor which causes hormonal problems in organisms. The open disposal of plastic items may clog drainage systems and lead to growth of mosquitoes and other vectors which may spread diseases. Pelagic plastic debris acts as a vector for the dispersal of harmful microalgae. When plastic containing BPA comes into contact with hot liquids, it leads to the leakage of this chemical from the plastic. This can happen at lower level when plastic come in contact with liquids of normal temperature but is aggravated by the increase of the temperature of the liquid and by the age of the plastic item as well as by brushing to other surfaces.
In survey it was found that 75% use plastic bottles to carry drinking water and 35% even carry hot water in the plastic bottle. People may be doing this for their convenience, easy availability of plastic bottles and because of the ignorance about leakage of BPA and the negative effects this chemical can cause in the body. It was found that 51% has never heard of the chemical BPA, 69% are not aware that BPA can leak from the plastic and 68% never know that BPA can cause hormonal imbalance. If this is the case with a survey done with majority of the people belonging to the age groups 15-17 and 19-21, who are well literate and informed, the value of above said results may increase if sample size is extended to general public.
The identification code on plastic items is used to identify the plastic resin from which the item was made and thus indicates the quality and composition of plastic item. Identification codes are mainly used for recycling purpose. (plastic industry. org). Plastics with identification code 1, 2, 4, 5 and plastics labelled ‘phthalate-free’ or ‘BPA-free’ are generally considered safe to use (nrckids.org). The survey shows that majority are unaware about this fact. Only 5% are in the practice of checking the identification code number of the plastic items they buy. This may be due to the lack of awareness among the people regarding the code number of plastic items which indicate the composition of various chemicals in plastic items. Most plastic bottles show only the number that indicates the grade of the plastic used for its manufacture rather than the chemicals it is composed of. Only those industries who aim people seeking for BPA free bottles indicate on the label that it is Bsiphenol free.
But the recent finding is that the chemicals which replace BPA in plastics are not actually safe to use. Survey shows that 21% of the surveyed people always burn plastic items and 42% has adopted burning as a disposal method for plastic carry bags. Despite of the education that the students have received, burning of the plastic items continues and this shows that more awareness should be provided in schools and colleges regarding the disposal of plastics. Burning of plastics can release noxious gases into the atmosphere such as carbon monoxide, furans, dioxins which can lead to health problems such as respiratory diseases, cancer, reproductive and endocrine system effects. Polythene when burnt release major harmful green house gases into the atmosphere. Also it seems that majority of the sampled population are unaware about the ban on unregulated open burning of plastic, rubber or such other article across the country declared by National Green Tribunal, New Delhi. It was found that 94% of the people in 1st age group are aware about Bisphenol A. These are students undergoing plus two courses. Only 40% of the college students are aware about it and in third age group only 10% have heard of the chemical BPA. When the whole population is considered, 69% are not aware about the fact that BPA and many other chemicals can leak from plastic materials. This may be contributing factor of using plastic boxes and bottles to carry food and water. Increasing incidence of hormonal imbalances can be related to the increased usage of plastic materials to carry food and water. BPA is a chemical with estrogenic activity which has proved to cause various endocrine problems in various organisms, majority of the studies being done in fishes.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The survey shows that awareness given through education is not enough to equip students to take deterrent actions that favour the conservation of the environment instead of favouring ones comfort and convenience. Stringent control measures should be taken by governing bodies in the form of fine, penalty or ban, in order to control the excessive usage of plastic materials.
The number one instigator of pollution has always been mankind. Our actions introduce plastics into the ecosystem and cause pollution. That means that we can also be proactive and enforce preventive and control measures so that we do not have to deal with the bad effects. What then can we do so that we avoid the negative effects of plastic pollution? Here are some of the preventive and control measures that get from the analysis of the survey results, can help reduce this menace:
1. Find Alternatives to Plastics: We can reduce plastic pollution by using alternatives to plastics. People can actually stop using plastic bags and disposable utensils. Instead of going to the retail store and having your purchases packaged in plastic bags, you can choose to carry your own bag that is large enough and reusable. The business community can also play a vital role by using other alternatives to plastics when packaging goods. Using bags made of paper is a smart way to reduce plastic pollution. When we stop using plastics and find alternatives, we reduce the risk of pollution and make the environment cleaner. It’s all about everyone being proactive enough to do what needs to be done to conserve the environment.
2. Making use of Reusable Water Bottles: Using disposable water bottles is a major cause of plastic pollution. They are thrown away after use and that just adds dirt in the ecosystem because more bottles will have to be manufactured. An ideal thing to do would be to make use of reusable water bottles. When the water in the container has been used up, it is taken to the respective company for a refill. In this way, less number of plastics are manufactured and the environment is conserved. There shouldn’t be much debate around this because using these types of bottles also saves you a lot of money as opposed to buying new ones from the store. With one move, you conserve the environment and reduce your monthly expenses. That is a really smart way to live.
3. Proper Waste Disposal: We looked at one of the main causes of plastic pollution as lack of proper waste disposal methods. People just throwing around plastic materials without much thought about the consequences of their actions. To stop this from happening, we can adopt proper waste disposal methods. Individuals should strive to dispose of plastic materials only in designated areas like dustbins. This prevents several problems like drainage blockage and air pollution. Cultivating a culture of being responsible goes a long way in reducing the effects of pollution.
4. Recycling: Garbage processing is actually one of the best ways to ensure that unnecessary waste materials are not loaded into the environment. Instead of throwing away plastic bottles, we can collect them and give them to companies that engage in the recycling of plastics. At home, people can have separate bins for collecting wastes. One of those can be dedicated to the collection of waste products for recycling. Companies can also offer incentives by paying for these types of garbage so that people are motivated to give them out for recycling.
5. Government Policies: Every business person’s major concern is to make profits. What happens is that companies manufacture very thin plastic bags that tear easily because they are low cost and are bought in bulk. This is the type of business that gives them high profits. The government can play its role by banning the manufacture of such plastic bags and putting in place policies that promote a clean environment. Thick bags that do not tear easily are expensive and that will encourage people to reuse them. Companies can be compelled to adhere to certain standards failure to which there would be penalties. This would also lead to retail stores opting for alternative packaging methods like papers. Policies to encourage the recycling of wastes and cleaning of the environment can also be helpful.
6. Community Education: Knowledge is power. A person is more likely to conserve the environment when he or she is made aware of the dangers of not doing so. Educating people about the effects of plastic pollution and ways in which it can be prevented or controlled is a step in the right direction because it raises awareness. This can be done by community-based organizations or government agencies tasked with environmental conservation. Another way in which this can be achieved is by running ads in the media or campaigns that aim at sensitizing people about the benefits of conserving the environment. At the family level, parents and their children can educate one another about plastic pollution. They can then do what is necessary to prevent or control it.
Conclusion
Presently India and world facing a problem with the plastic pollution. to control the plastic pollution Effective policy requires effective monitoring and the current state of plastic waste monitoring needs harmonization, which is being put into place by various guidelines on plastic debris in general. There is also a need for better education and awareness around plastic waste. Plastic footprints and labeling on products are possible but need the appropriate education to make them meaningful. Alongside this there could be labelling of products that contain known harmful additives. Banning of some harmful chemicals contained in plastic, such as Bisphenol A and some phthalates, has already occurred, but for others restriction may have to be voluntary. A harmonised industry-wide effort is needed to communicate information about chemicals used in plastic, alongside public education about the chemicals. In terms of addressing existing problems with plastic waste the identification of plastic waste ’hotspots‘may prove useful. This can be done by monitoring or by some forms of modeling
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