Plastic pollution endangers the future of our planet. Since the invention of plastic, it took us mere 60 years to drown ourselves in plastic pollutants.
The major factors that contribute to air pollution are fossil fuel combustion, chemical pesticide release, and plastic pollution.
The four prominent modes though which plastic causes air pollution are:
1. Petroleum oil extraction (raw material of plastic):
• Extraction of fossil fuels like petroleum oil and natural gas release enormous amounts of contaminants and toxic emissions such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, ozone, toluene, particulate matter, etc. into the air.
• Production of plastic polymers from crude oil include several operational stages that emit dozens of pollutants that fill air with smog, haze, and hazardous toxins.
2. Plastic recycling:
• Even though recycling plastic prevents the production of virgin plastic, it becomes a problem when strict environmental and workplace standards are neglected. Melting down plastic emits noxious gases into the atmosphere
3. Plastic incineration:
• As plastic decomposition rate is too slow, it increases garbage accumulation into landfills. Over 40% of the plastic garbage is burned which releases dangerous substances such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POP), and other toxic chemicals into the air.
4. “Off-gas” effect of plastic
• Plastic is produced by addition of phthalate chemicals which give structural qualities like flexibility and heat resistance.
• Phthalates are not chemically bound to plastic, so, they can easily off-gas into the air and other products that we consume.
How to overcome the doom of plastic pollution?
As responsible humans and consumers, we must try to develop sustainable alternatives to plastic and prevent excessive dependence on plastic products that fill up landfills and oceans. We must definitely reverse the trend of plastic usage to preserve the natural beauty of ecosystems and brighten the future of our subsequent generations.
