Plastic.... the horror and its effects...
It seems that all shops have started charging money for a plastic bag, mostly with their logo on it which advertises the shop as we walk around..
I challenged one shop asking why the customer was being charged? They said it is for the sake of the environment. (I'm all for that believe me) I then pointed out that 90% of the goods in the shop was covered in Plastic? so shouldn't the manufacturer cut down? and shouldn't you be providing paper bags for your customers? which are slightly better... I have never seen so much plastic, the world is swimming, literally with the stuff, oceans full of this crap...
Birds and wildlife are suffering greatly
The tiny beads of plastic, which are employed as an exfoliant in personal care products, are designed to be washed down the drain. They go through the sewage system and many enter the natural environment where they can have a devastating effect over the long term as they are ingested up the food chain.
Environmentally, plastic is a growing disaster. Most plastics are made from petroleum or natural gas, non-renewable resources extracted and processed using energy-intensive techniques that destroy fragile ecosystems.
Plastic packaging – especially the ubiquitous plastic bag – is a significant source of landfill waste and is regularly eaten by numerous marine and land animals, to fatal consequences. Synthetic plastic does not biodegrade. It just sits and accumulates in landfills or pollutes the environment. Plastics have become a municipal waste nightmare, prompting local governments all over the world to implement plastic bag, and increasingly polystyrene (styrofoam), bans.
Plastic pollution may not even be visible to the naked eye as research is showing that microscopic plastic particles are present in the air at various locations throughout the world and in all major oceans. Plastic is now ubiquitous in our terrestrial, aquatic and airborne environments - that is, it's everywhere.
Can we not be more careful? Please?
So true, we really need to look after our planet!
ReplyDeleteThere is far to much plastic floating around, In the USa they even use it in their home, not washing up real pots like we do in Europe..It all adds up.
ReplyDeleteWith world leaders like Trump, we don't stand a chance! Jake.
ReplyDeletePrimary Microplastics, a type of microdebris, known as Nurdles enter the ocean by means of spills during transportation or from land based sources. These micro-plastics can accumulate in the oceans and allow for the accumulation of Persistent Bio-accumulating Toxins such as DDT and PCB's which are hydrophobic in nature and can cause adverse health affects D Rowan.
ReplyDeletePlastics themselves contribute to approximately 10% of discarded waste. Many kinds of plastics exist depending on their precursors and the method for their polymerization. Depending on their chemical composition, plastics and resins have varying properties related to contaminant absorption and adsorption. Polymer degradation takes much longer as a result of haline environments and the cooling effect of the sea. These factors contribute to the persistence of plastic debris in certain environments. Recent studies have shown that plastics in the ocean decompose faster than was once thought, due to exposure to sun, rain, and other environmental conditions, resulting in the release of toxic chemicals such as bisphenol A. However, due to the increased volume of plastics in the ocean, decomposition has slowed down. The Marine Conservancy has predicted the decomposition rates of several plastic products. It is estimated that a foam plastic cup will take 50 years, a plastic beverage holder will take 400 years, a disposable diaper will take 450 years, and fishing line will take 600 years to degrade. D.M
ReplyDeleteThe litter that is being delivered into the oceans is toxic to marine life, and humans. The toxins that are components of plastic include diethylhexyl phthalate, which is a toxic carcinogen, as well as lead, cadmium, and mercury.
ReplyDeletePlankton, fish, and ultimately the human race, through the food chain, ingest these highly toxic carcinogens and chemicals. Consuming the fish that contain these toxins can cause an increase in cancer, immune disorders, and birth defects. Sally