A trusted study suggests that 12 million tonnes of plastic are disposed of into the ocean annually. This alarming number indicates the need to reduce the use of plastic and opt for eco-friendly materials.
Everywhere you see around yourself, you will find plastic. From packaging to electronics, you can find plastic in everything. However, this must be changed as this widely used material has severe environmental consequences. Using anything too much can be harmful, and it is no exception with plastic. Below are the 5 harmful effects of plastic that will help you understand why plastic usage needs reduction. So, start reading below to understand the problems caused by plastic and how they can be solved.
5 Harmful Effects of Plastic
Over the course of time, mankind has engaged itself in the immense production and utilisation of plastic. Affordability and versatility are two of the most common aspects that result in the increased use of plastic. However, no matter how convenient it is to use plastic, its darker side needs your immediate attention. Below are the 5 harmful effects of plastic that act as an alarm to reduce its use.
#1. Kills Ocean Life
Do you know that a trusted study suggests that plastic causes 80% of marine pollution and by 2050 plastic may outweigh the number of fishes in the seas? (1) After you discard plastic, it makes its way into oceans from shorelines and rivers. This severely affects ocean life, including sea turtles, aquatic plants, sharks, birds, and fish. Animals get stuck in discarded bottles or nets. They might even mistake plastic for food filling their stomachs or choking on plastic. Such accidents usually lead to their death, eventually leading to the ecosystem's death. Plastic pollution also destroys the habitat of marine animals. Oceans contain ocean garbage patches, a huge plastic debris collection. Such areas in the oceans become uninhabitable and uncrossable for the animals.
#2. Takes Up Space
Globally, only 9% of plastic waste gets recycled, and 12% is incinerated. The remaining 79% ends up in landfills, taking up a major space on the Earth. (2) The large amount of plastic waste produced daily is quite challenging to deal with. The lack of resources and systems results in this waste ending up in landfills and taking up a large space. Although plastic’sweight is not a problem when it comes to dealing with its waste, as it is lightweight, its volume is a significant issue. Plastic waste does not only make the space in the landfills unusable. It also makes the land surrounding these landfills unusable. Even the wildlife habitats surrounding them get destroyed.
#3. Kills Terrestrial Wildlife
In addition to aquatic life, plastic pollution harms terrestrial wildlife. It significantly contributes to habitat degradation, leading to the destruction of terrestrial life. Land animals and plants have not evolved to deal with plastic pollution just like their water counterparts. They get tangled and choked in the same ways aquatic animals do, resulting in their deaths and disturbing the ecosystems. The increasing plastic pollution is shrinking and weakening the ecosystem. Although detailed studies are still not present on the effects of plastic on plant life, early experiments show that plastic pollution hinders plant growth. This results in affecting our ability to grow food and feed livestock.
#4. Produces Chemical Pollution
Another of the 5 harmful effects of plastic is that it results in increasing chemical pollution. Plastic is made with oil and gas. Mining these nonrenewable resources leads to harmful chemical production. So, the production of plastic not only degrades nonrenewable resources but also increases chemical pollution. This is because mining these resources releases harmful chemicals like xylene, hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, toluene, benzene, ozone, carbon monoxide, ethylbenzene and several others. The lack of space to store plastic waste results in its incineration. This, again, results in the production of toxic chemicals into the air. So, plastic is harmful to the environment and humans during its production, during its life, and when it is discarded.
#5. Creates Microplastics
Next on the list of adverse effects of plastic on the environment is that it creates microplastics. You must have heard that plastic doesn't break down. However, this is partially true. It does not break down like organic materials and decomposes into non-toxic substances. Instead, it breaks down into much smaller plastic particles known as microplastics. These plastic particles might be as large as a pebble or as small as a human body cell. The increasing plastic pollution is resulting in microplastics scattered everywhere. These small particles significantly pollute water bodies and land. Studies suggest that they greatly affect the soil quality, making it unfit for plant growth. Microplastics also damage animals by damaging their DNA, hindering, hindering their growth and damaging reproductive organs.
To Sum Up
Plastic is doing good to none. From trees and plants to animals, humans and soil, the increasing plastic pollution is leaving its adverse effects on everything and everyone. So, what is the best way to reduce the 5 harmful effects of plastic? The best way is to follow the three R’s: Reduce, reuse and recycle.
However, Pexpo helps you solve the plastic pollution problem with only the first R. Yes, the brand allows you to replace your plastic water bottles, lunch boxes and other containers with stainless steel ones. So, you can easily reduce the use of plastic, reduce your carbon footprints, live a healthy life, and contribute towards preserving the environment.