Causes of Plastic Pollution

Letter 10067

What are the causes of plastic pollution? How does it affect our environment and human beings? What are the chemicals used in plastic?

Praveena Nlast name deleted
- Chennai, Tamilnadu, India


 

C'mon, Praveena :-)

I'm happy to help when someone is stuck, and will be pleased to assist you after you show some effort, but have you absolutely no theory at all on even one of these three questions?! This sounds like a homework requirement that you cut & pasted without spending even 10 seconds thinking about. "Helping" you at this point would be disserving you.


Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey


 

Heck, Praveena, you sure did get a good reply from Ted ... and probably deserved his answer, too.

It's thanks to Plastics that many industrial areas are not polluting so much as they have replaced many metals ... the advantages far, far exceed any disadvantages. They have, to answer your question, benefited mankind.

The chemicals used? Mainly oil derived, (eg PVC's), some from natural gases (Pe and PP), others from compounding or synthesizing various gases/solvents but virtually ALL relate to carbon and, like a parrot, all are Poly this or Poly that meaning that they have been polymerized by chemists for a certain function and end use.

Freeman Newton
- White Rock, B.C. Canada


 

I really think that you should look around you at the lakes and rivers Praveena. You could see garbage in them. The causes of plastic pollution is that careless self absorbed people don't care about any pollution as long as it doesn't effect them. But wait and see what happens when it gets to be too much!

Cecilia Plast name deleted
- Redding, Connecticut


 

There is certainly truth to that Cecilia, thanks. But it's also a simplification of a complex problem and implies that the solution to the problem only requires police officers to write citations. What it actually requires is for people to think deeply.


Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey


 

I am pleased to find a site concerned with plastic. Or at least lapping at the edge of the pool. Plastic pollution (just in its manufacture) is far greater than other very wasteful processes, aluminium included. Plastic has changed man-kind but we need to address how it will continue to do so.

Atillalast name deleted
- Melbourne, Australia


++++++

Respected sir,
sir please answer my question I am a student, next month I submit a project for plastics pollution but no clear idea in this topic so please clear my doubt
my question are following
1.introduction to plastics?
2.who first discover the plastics?
3.what are the plastic pollution?
4.what are the plastic pollution control and recycling method?
5.what is plastic rood?
6.what are the plastic rood method?
please give my answer

K.Vijayalakshmi
i am a student - Kovilpatti


+++++++

YOUR INFORMATION IS VERY NICE. I WANT TO MAKE A PROJECT ON PLASTIC POLLUTION.SO PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION

R SHAH
- MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA


+++++++

Shah, we explained the problem with Praveena's posting, but Vijay and yourself are ignoring what was said. If you have a specific stumbling point, we will be pleased to help; but to expect someone to simply do your homework for you is another matter.


Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey


+++++++

Hello my name is Caleb. I am writing an essay on the effects of waste plastic on the environment and I have searched through many news papers, books, and hundreds of web pages trying to find out if plastic, when it decomposes, leaves chemicals that effect the ground or water were it decomposes. The closest answer I have found to my question was from a high school teacher, he said that there was a possibility that when plastic breaks down it might leave chemicals that could pollute the ground or water around it. If you have any knowledge on this matter it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Caleb

Caleb vlast name deleted
student - Guelph, Ontario, Canada


+++++++

I think part of your problem is that there are thousands of different plastics, Caleb. What may be true of one isn't true of the other. But if you google "when plastic decomposes", you will see some great topics.

As long as the plastic has deteriorated into small enough pieces that it is not in troublesome shapes that living things choke on or swallow, and it is non-toxic, it may not be a really major immediate concern. But the basic issue is that many plastics are long chain molecules which no living organisms can "digest", that is, they are not biodegradable. Thus, they may persist for a very long time. It can't be a good idea for this stuff to just accumulate.

We now have several biodegradable plastics based on plant fibers instead of oil, and current thinking is that it would be best to use them when their properties suit the application.


Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

 





February 1, 2008

Does plastic pollution have a good side?

Martha Rlast name deleted
student - Palmdale, California


February 1, 2008

There are usually two sides to everything, Martha, but there is also such a thing as an "oxymoron". Look up the word "pollution". Depending on the definition you find, you may discover that "pollution" may be defined as a waste product in a location where it is harmful.

I think the "advantages" are few and small. But here is one for an example: plastic lumber probably would not exist if we didn't have plastic waste to start from.


Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey


August 18, 2008

sir i am a student and i got a project work on plastics uses and causes of problems please help me sir for this topic

shaneed k
student - hamdan,abu dhabi, UAE


January 12, 2009

i need some information about the plastic pollution & it waste. Give some remedies for that & how to control this.

Nilesh K
- Mumbai, India


January 12, 2009

Shaneed, Nilesh: we were through this twice already on this one page. If you get stuck on something, we'll help. But you don't just pass your homework assignment on to us to do for you :-)

Go to google news and search for "plastic pollution". Pick one or two of the news articles that capture your interest and work your way through them for further sources leading to greater details and deeper insights. It is so very easy today.

Regards,


Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey


August 31, 2009

If completely neglected.... what can the worst possible effects of plastic pollution be??

Prerana Nair
- Chennai, India


August , 2009

Hi, Prerana. This is subjective because some people even think the earth would be better off without mankind. So tell me what you think the worst possible catastrophe that could happen would be, and I will try to explain how plastic pollution could be involved in that.

Regards,


Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey


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