An Analysis of the Environmental Impacts Caused by Plastics

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental impacts of plastics. It begins by highlighting the significant societal benefits of plastics but emphasizes their detrimental effects on the environment. The essay discusses various forms of pollution caused by plastics, including soil contamination from practices like the use of sewage sludge and plastic greenhouses, leading to chemical harm to soil microorganisms and biodegradability issues. It also addresses water pollution, detailing how plastics release toxins into groundwater, block waterways, and harm marine life through ingestion and disruption of the bio-geo cycle. Furthermore, the essay examines air pollution resulting from the burning of plastic waste, releasing harmful gases and carcinogenic effluents. The author concludes by emphasizing the need for cost-effective strategies, such as plastic mulching, incineration, and landfills, to mitigate these environmental damages and maximize the benefits of plastics. References from environmental studies are included.

Running Head: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PLASTICS 1
Environmental Impacts of Plastics
By (name)
Institutional Affiliation

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PLASTICS 2
Synthesis and development of plastics has molded society in many ways that make life
both easier and safer to both population constituents, for instance, innumerable lives have been
spared in the well-being area, the development of clean vitality from wind turbines and boards
and safe nourishment stockpiling has been reformed. Be that as it may, regardless of all these
positive effects, the engineered materials has left hurtful engravings on nature and maybe human
well-being segment.
According to Plastic planet (2018), Plastics trash causes a plenty of negative issues when
it discovers its way into the biological system, such incorporates; soil contamination, air
contamination and water contamination. Soil contamination; pollution on land both to
contamination and damage of terrestrial habitat and a transfer to aquatic ecosystem (Gall et al.,
2015). Plastic debris find their way to terrestrial habitat through different pathways as a result of
certain trends and practices. Such practices includes use of sewage sludge from municipal
wastewater as a fertilizer for agricultural land use, application of bio-waste as a fertilizer, and
application of plastic greenhouses. Challenges that are accompanied by these plastics are that;
additive substances such as chemicals like Bisphenol A that are commonly added to during the
formulation represent a potential harm to the microorganism within the soil; again there is
increased biodegradability concerns depending on the main polymer component thus making
plastics a pervasive soil environment pollutant.
Water pollution; water reservoirs are susceptible to leaking environmental toxins. Plastic
toxins can seep into the groundwater that can block waterways and exacerbate natural disasters
(Sherwin, 2018). These poisons risks the regular vibe of marine life by meddling with the
whole bio-geo cycle causing undesirable troll into the marine biological system. The plastic
flotsam and jetsam which are bound with synthetic compounds like the chlorinated plastics are
frequently ingested by amphibian creatures consequently harming the sensory system, lungs and
regenerative framework. Once more, the plastic flotsam and jetsam additionally obstruct the
sewers along these lines give a reproducing medium to specific microbes and pets this can
encourages the transmission of vector-bone illnesses like jungle fever. At long last there is proof
of dangerous synthetic concoctions included during the amalgamation of plastic exchange to
creature tissue, thus pose a fatal troll.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PLASTICS 3
Air contamination; in specific nations, plastic waste are singed for warmth or cooking ,
this demonstration of discarding plastics flotsam and jetsam in a free air pits prompts arrival of
unsafe gases like furan and dioxin parts to the climate organization (Burning Plastic:
Incineration Causes Air Pollution, Dioxin Emissions, Cost Overruns. | Global Alliance for
Incinerator Alternatives, 2019). The additives chemicals added during the synthesis of plants
such as benzene and vinyl hydrochloride releases carcinogenic effluents when burnt. These
toxins gases when sniffed by animals causes respiratory disorders.
This assessment shows that even though the revolution of plastics into the people and
planet have –profitable-positive pivotal importance in the society, but larger accumulation onto
either of the eco-system constitutes to environmental trolls. As a result of these detrimental
impacts, cost effective and efficient ways and strategies should be constructed in order to help
curb these troll and maximize on the positive and profitable impacts at a robust. Such practices
may include plastic mulching, incineration and landfills.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PLASTICS 4
References
Burning Plastic: Incineration Causes Air Pollution, Dioxin Emissions, Cost Overruns. | Global
Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives. (2019). No-Burn.Org.
https://www.no-burn.org/burning-plastic-incineration-causes-air-pollution-dioxin-
emissions-cost-overruns/
Gall, J. E., Boyd, R. S., & Rajakaruna, N. (2015). Transfer of heavy metals through terrestrial
food webs: a review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(4).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4436-3
Plastic planet: How tiny plastic particles are polluting our soil. (2018). UN Environment.
https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/plastic-planet-how-tiny-plastic-
particles-are-polluting-our-soil
Sherwin, B. (2018). After the Storm: The Importance of Acknowledging Environmental Justice
in Sustainable Development and Disaster Preparedness. Duke Environmental Law &
Policy Forum, 29, 273.
https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/delp29&div=9&id=&pag
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