Plastic Menace - Pollution - MicroPlatics

Plastic pollution is a major issue facing our planet. Plastic is a synthetic material made from organic polymers, mostly derived from fossil fuels, that can take hundreds of years to break down in the environment. The production and use of plastic has skyrocketed since the post-World War II economic boom, with single-use plastic accounting for 40% of plastic production. Of the 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic produced from 1950-2017, approximately 7 billion tonnes became plastic waste. Each year, around 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the world's oceans.




Source: www.theguardian.com (414 million pieces of plastic found on remote island group in Indian Ocean | Plastics | The Guardian)



The harmful effects of plastic are significant. Marine plastic pollution impacts at least 267 species worldwide, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Microplastics, which are plastic pieces less than five millimetres across, are present in many organisms and can be difficult to detect. Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the soil, affecting groundwater and the ecosystem.

Recycling and responsible consumption of plastic are important solutions to tackling plastic pollution. However, the cost of producing organic degradable plastic is a barrier to its widespread use. Encouraging technological innovation in producing viable organic plastic products could help address this issue.




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