EFFECTS OF PLASTICS

The Effects of Plastics on Microorganisms Commonly Encountered in Milk:
                                                                                                                              Plastics are widely used for many different purposes, but the effects of these materials on the development of bacteria have not been studied extensively. Undoubtedly some investigations were conducted before plastic Petri dishes were marketed but few references are available on this subject.
                                        Mackenzie (1951) compared water passed through lead pipes and Alkathene (polymerized ethylene plastic) pipes and found no significant differences between the two waters in coliform counts, in total counts at 22 or 37 C, or in numbers of actinomycetes or fungi. Stahl and Pessen (1953) studied the microbiological degradation of plasticizers which are generally high molecular weight esters combined with a plastic to give the resulting product a suitable flexibility. Aspergillus versicolor and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found to utilize, as the sole source of carbon, certain dialkyl sebacates, a number of commercial plasticizers, and various alcohols used in plasticizers.
 
Common plastics chemical linked to human diseases:

The smoke of burning plastic contains toxic particles; these toxic particles can cause cancer when inhaled. When these burnt particles fall back to the ground, they contaminate the soil for many years and may render vegetables and fruit harvested from gardens in these areas unsafe to eat.

Separate plastic from other rubbish that is to be burnt and dispose of safely. Pigs, goats and chickens eating grass or food scraps contaminated with dioxins from the burnt plastic will pass it on to humans when these animals are then eaten.

Open burning of plastic waste is simply dangerous to your health and the health of the environment. Plastic such as PVC (polyvinylchloride) is common in such products as: bottles, jugs, plastic packaging and plastic bags from the supermarket. When these plastics are burnt, carbon monoxide, dioxins and furans are released into the air. Studies have linked dioxins and furans to cancer and respiratory diseases, most especially in children as their respiratory systems may not be fully developed. It also causes birth defects in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems when inhaled by a pregnant mother.

Dioxin is a toxic organic chemical that contains chlorine and is produced when chlorine and hydrocarbons are heated to high temperature.

TO INHALE DIOXIN OR TO BE EXPOSED TO THE FUMES CAN CAUSE DEADLY DISEASES.

These toxic components inhaled with smoke from burning plastic materials can cause hormonal and sex behavioral orientation problems with your newborn child, as a result, the child could begin exhibiting behavior in total contrast to his or her sex - a male acting female or vice versa.

Researchers have established that inhaling burnt plastic materials have altered sexual characters of some birds (from male to female). They have also revealed the same defects can easily occur in human beings. Plastics should never be burnt in the open air, there are recycling options available for disposal of these waste products.

Dioxins and furans can also cause impotence, asthma and a myriad of other allergies in humans. Medical reports show exceptionally low sperm counts in young men in comparison to previous generations. Testicular cancer has increased by 55 % between 1979 and 1991 and fewer boys are being born in areas where burning plastic is practiced. Some girls are achieving puberty earlier than earlier generations, this can also be a result of inhaling dioxin and furans.

DO THE WORLD AND YOURSELF A FAVOUR.

STOP BURNING PLASTIC NOW! If your neighbour is burning plastic, report them to your health department.
The Author is a retired Australian living in the southern Philippines. He wrote this article to be circulated within his residential area because of the wide spread practice of burning plastics in and around the dwelling to drive off mosquitoes. This practice is also very prevalent in Papua New Guinea for the same reason.