EFFECTS OF PLASTICS

Understanding The Use Of Plastic In Everyday Life:
                                                                                       You may not think about it very often, but plastic plays a critical role in the way our society runs and functions. Without the use of plastic products, it would be more difficult for people to conveniently access medical treatment, ship certain materials across state borders, or even make a quick cup of coffee in the morning. Below, you'll find various ways in which plastic affects our everyday lives, as well as learn about a process called plastic injection molding, which is important to the production of many plastic products.

Plastic Packaging:
Because of its flexibility when it comes to strength, durability, size and shape, plastic makes a quality packaging material that gives products the protection they need. For example, when used for medical purposes, plastic packaging can keep medical instruments and equipment safe from contamination and prevent the spread of infection. Food is often kept in plastic packages to help preserve flavor and provide convenience when storing and transporting.

Building and Construction:
Second only to the packaging industry, the building and construction industry is one of the nation's largest consumers of plastics. Windows, doors, flooring, gutters, piping, insulation and plumbing fixtures are all just some of the examples of how plastic is used for constructing both the interior and exterior of homes and buildings. Plastic can be easy to install and transport, making it a cost-effective material that is incredibly welcomed in a troubled economy.

Around the House:
If you take a look around your own home, you will notice that many of the items that you use on a daily basis are made out of plastic. From your desktop computer to your hair dryer, the coffee maker to the can opener, plastic is what keeps your home running smoothly every day. Many children's toys are made with plastic parts, and the smoke detector that keeps your family safe also consists of plastic materials.

Plastic Injection Molding:
So now that we understand how plastic affects our day-to-day activities, another question remains: How are these plastic materials and items produced? One manufacturing process that is commonly used for creating plastic parts is called plastic injection molding. During the plastic injection molding process, raw plastic material is melted and injected into a mold through an injection molding machine, then cooled and ejected in just a matter of minutes. Injection molding can be used for a wide variety of materials, including acrylic, polycarbonate and polyolefins, to name just a few. From kitchenware to chair seats, automotive housings to cosmetic packaging, plastic injection molding produces many of the plastics that we use every day.

Every once in a while the government here passes out an order banning shop keepers from providing plastic bags to customers for carrying their purchases, with little lasting effect. Plastic bags are very popular with both retailers as well as consumers because they are cheap, strong, lightweight, functional, as well as a hygienic means of carrying food as well as other goods. Even though they are one of the modern conveniences that we seem to be unable to do without, they are responsible for causing pollution, killing wildlife, and using up the precious resources of the earth.

About a hundred billion plastic bags are used each year in the US alone. And then, when one considers the huge economies and populations of India, China, Europe, and other parts of the world, the numbers can be staggering. The problem is further exacerbated by the developed countries shipping off their plastic waste to developing countries like India.

Here are some of the harmful effects of plastic bags:

Plastic bags litter the landscape. Once they are used, most plastic bags go into landfill, or rubbish tips. Each year more and more plastic bags are ending up littering the environment. Once they become litter, plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks, beaches, and streets. And, if they are burned, they infuse the air with toxic fumes.

Plastic bags kill animals. About 100,000 animals such as dolphins, turtles whales, penguins are killed every year due to plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for food, and therefore die. And worse, the ingested plastic bag remains intact even after the death and decomposition of the animal. Thus, it lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable. And one of the worst environmental effects of plastic bags is that they are non-biodegradable. The decomposition of plastic bags takes about 1000 years.

Petroleum is required to produce plastic bags. As it is, petroleum products are diminishing and getting more expensive by the day, since we have been using this non-renewable resource increasingly. Petroleum is vital for our modern way of life. It is necessary for our energy requirements – for our factories, transport, heating, lighting, and so on. Without viable alternative sources of energy yet on the horizon, if the supply of petroleum were to be turned off, it would lead to practically the whole world grinding to a halt. Surely, this precious resource should not be wasted on producing plastic bags, should it?



  So, What Can be Done about the Use of Plastic Bags?

Single-use plastic bags have become such a ubiquitous way of life that it seems as if we simply cannot do without them. However, if we have the will, we can start reducing their use in small ways.

• A tote bag can make a good substitute for holding the shopping. You can keep the bag with the cahier, and then put your purchases into it instead of the usual plastic bag.
•  Recycling the plastic bags you already have is another good idea. These can come into use for various    purposes, like holding your garbage, instead of purchasing new ones.