Plastic: An Overview
What makes plastic so dangerous?
Plastic contamination is an inevitable global issue. This is because plastics are widely used in various daily activities. Due to its widespread use, plastics have become a major contributor to pollution in the oceans. Global statistics show that five trillion plastic bags are used every year and 13 million tons of them are dumped into the sea. Meanwhile, it is estimated that one million plastic bottles are bought every minute and 100,000 marine life is killed due to plastic every year. In Malaysia alone, an estimated nine billion plastics are used annually, and most end up in the oceans.
This situation is so worrying because plastic is a component that does not easily decompose. Plastic will only break down into small particles and decompose when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, oxygen, high temperatures and the activity of microorganisms over a period of time. Plastic that breaks and decomposes in the sea will be microplastics (plastic particles measuring between five millimeters and 0.1 micrometers) and nanoplastics (smaller in size than microplastics of 0.000000009) which will invite danger to the diversity of marine life (from plankton to animals such as seabirds, turtles) , dolphins and whales).
These plastic particles are not only a direct danger when eaten by animals, but chemicals found in plastic will also be absorbed into the tissues of the animal. This condition will certainly pose a major threat to marine survival and human health when consuming seafood sources contaminated by microplastics and nanoplastics. The entire marine ecosystem is disrupted and inhibits the food chain system in the oceans.
 |
Hundreds of wildlife species—including countless individual animals—are entangled, strangled, starved or poisoned by plastic trash and fishing gear worldwide. Among the victims: 1. Antarctic fur seal with a deadly necklace of fish netting; 2. bottlenose dolphin muffled by a plastic six-pack holder; 3. blacktip shark entangled by a fishing line; 4. red-eared slider girdled by a plastic six-pack holder; 5. domestic duck trapped by plastic trash; 6. blue-striped grunt wrapped in a plastic band; and 7. European white stork at a garbage dump wearing a plastic shroud. Source: The National Wildlife Federation |
The serious increase in the rate of plastic pollution in the oceans has invited researchers to conduct detailed studies on marine life and resources. Among them, a study led by the University of California Davis on fish in the Indonesian market and California, USA, found that 25 percent of the fish samples studied contained plastic and textile fiber in the animal's stomach.
Meanwhile, in a recent study by Greenpeace found that more than 90 percent of the salt used in kitchensworldwide contains microplastics. The study, which analyzed 39 salt brands from 21 countries around the world (including neighboring Malaysian countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) also found that salt sold in Asia contains the highest levels of plastic pollution.
Findings from these studies certainly upset many parties. Especially when microplastics are also associated with heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and chromium that are harmful to human health. Chemicals such as heavy metals can cause cancer, endometriosis, damage to the nervous system, endocrine system disorders, effects on infant growth, damage to the reproductive system and disorders of the immune system.
If there are other alternatives to avoid the use of plastic (such as the use of recyclable glass and stainless steel containers or more environmentally friendly containers), then that is the right choice. At the very least, be able to minimize some of the causes of pollution and the use of plastic materials. Good plastic waste management also needs to be done more comprehensively covering every level of industry, whether small, medium and large industries. In addition, research activities on plastic pollution need to be mobilized more actively to identify more effective efforts in reducing the use of plastics and exploring more environmentally friendly alternatives.
References
2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/08/plastic-bottles/> [Accessed 22 July 2020].
General Assembly of the United Nations. 2020. Op-Ed: We Must Save Our World From Drowning In Plastic - General Assembly Of The United Nations. [online] Available at: <https://www.un.org/pga/73/2019/06/05/op-ed-we-must-save-our-world-from-drowning-in-plastic/> [Accessed 22 July 2020].
Nanotechnology, N., Reemtsma, T., Nanotechnology, N., Michael Sander, McNeill, K., Nanotechnology, N., Koelmans, A., Nanotechnology, N., Denise M. Mitrano, Schmidt, F., Nanotechnology, N. and Nanotechnology, N., 2020. Nanoplastic. [online] Nature.com. Available at: <https://www.nature.com/collections/ehjifgbfga> [Accessed 22 July 2020].
National Wildlife Federation. 2020. A Plague Of Plastics. [online] Available at: <https://www.nwf.org/Home/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2019/June-July/Conservation/Ocean-Plastic> [Accessed 22 July 2020].
Nationalgeographic.com. 2020. Microplastics Found In 90 Percent Of Table Salt. [online] Available at: <https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/10/microplastics-found-90-percent-table-salt-sea-salt/> [Accessed 22 July 2020].
Oceanservice.noaa.gov. 2020. What Are Microplastics?. [online] Available at: <https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html> [Accessed 22 July 2020].
Comments
Post a Comment