Harmful effects of Non-Biodegradable Plastic Products

1. Harmful effects of Non-Biodegradable Plastic Products The arrival of the “Age of Plastic” in 1950s brought about a sea change in building technology. The industries began to develop a wide array of plastics from formulations in fossil fuels making them a ubiquitous component of every building assembly. Plastic & it’s by-products have long found their application in virtually every corner of contemporary life- from toys to storage containers, from vehicles to electronics & much more. Because of its light- weight, strength, durability & ability to be molded in any form, it is being widely used in electronics, sports & manufacturing industries, homes. The products made from non-biodegradable plastic have added comfort & convenience to everyday lives. However, plastic wastes do not degrade over time & have a longer-lasting effect on both humans & entire environment in a myriad of ways. Their decomposition involves usage of heat or fire, which in return produces loads of waste, noxious fumes & takes years to decompose. Some of the non- biodegradable products include polyethylene, rayon, nylon, lexan, polyester, PVC (Ploy Vinyl Chloride) & carbon fibers. 1. Life-Span of Non-biodegradable Materials: We want to make sure that we leave behind certain things for our children & grandchildren after we are gone. These things may include a property to inherit or a financial reserve. However, we are inadvertently framing a toxic legacy of plastic waste that will play havoc with future generations for centuries to come. Yes, the disposable plastic products that we use everyday can take over 400 years to bio-degrade. The most durable plastic items like bottles, disposable nappies & beer holders can take 450 years to biodegrade. Reducing the consumption of products that generate waste material & take long time in

2. landfills to get completely decomposed is important. However, the most viable alternative is to switch to biodegradable materials to save Mother Earth from escalating ecological catastrophes. 2. Ground Water & Food Chain Contamination: Long-term exposure of synthetic materials to air, water & sunlight cause the release of highly toxic pollutants that can leach into water supplies. Moreover, over time these plastics oxidize & give out poisonous copper salt that pollute the land & enter the food chain. These toxins are carcinogenic that can cause severe harm to the metabolism of living organisms after they are absorbed. Their consumption can even prove to be fatal for a large number of species including Homo sapiens. 3. Air Pollution: Constant exposure of plastics to heat melts those resulting in the emission of gases into the atmosphere in a process known as outgassing. Incinerating plastic causes toxic fumes to be released into the atmosphere. Inhaling this polluted air cause different types of diseases like tuberculosis & other forms of respiratory tract infections. Hence destroying them to reduce landfill wastage is not an option. Once we recognize the harm non-biodegradable products prompt on our planet, we need to find a smart solution to address these problems. Banishing the production & use of such materials is not possible. However, alternate methods can be adopted to help the planet. Replacing conventional plastics with eco-friendly cousins is the most viable option. To know the benefits of Biodegradable plastics visit the link. Read more: https://www.ecomaniac.org/harmful-effects-of-non- biodegradable-plastic-products/