EFFECTS OF PLASTICS

 The History of Plastics:
                                         The first man-made plastic was created by Alexander Parkes who publicly demonstrated it at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London. The material called Parkesine was an organic material derived from cellulose that once heated could be molded, and retained its shape when cooled.

Celluloid is derived from cellulose and alcoholized camphor. John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid as a substitute for the ivory in billiard balls in 1868. He first tried using collodion a natural substance, after spilling a bottle of it and discovering that the material dried into a tough and flexible film. However, the material was not strong enough to be used as a billiard ball, until the addition of camphor, a derivative of the laurel tree. The new celluloid could be molded with heat and pressure into a durable shape
 Research along the lines of plastics has given a great impetus to research and invention in many other different fields of endeavor. Millions of dollars are spent yearly in plastics research, trying to find new plastics and to improve the existing ones.
Much research will be done in the future to lower the cost of producing plastics so that their consumption will become greater. In spite of the varied and widespread application of plastics in practically every phase of everyday life, the possibilities of this wonderful new material have been by no means exhausted. It seems safe to say that if the application and use of plastics continue to increase at the present rate, we may be living in a "Plastics Age."

Plastic shopping bag:
                                    Plastic shopping bags, carrier bags or plastic grocery bags are a common type of shopping bag in several countries. Most often these bags are intended for one single use to carry items from a store to a home: reuse for storage or trash (bin bags) is common. Heavier duty plastic shopping bags are suitable for multiple uses as reusable shopping bags.

 History:
                 Plastic bags are often made from polyethylene, which consists of long chains of ethylene monomers. Ethylene is derived from natural gas and petroleum.

Patent applications relating to the production of plastic shopping bags can be found dating back to the early 1950s in the United States and Europe, but these refer to composite constructions with handles fixed to the bag in a secondary manufacturing process.

The lightweight shopping bag as we know it today is the invention of Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin. He developed his idea for forming a simple one-piece bag by folding, welding and die-cutting a flat tube of plastic in the early 1960s for packaging company Celloplast of Norrköping, Sweden. His idea produced a simple, strong bag with a high load carrying capacity and was patented worldwide by Celloplast in 1965.

Celloplast was a well established producer of cellulose film and a pioneer in plastics processing. The company's patent position gave it a virtual monopoly on plastic shopping bag production and the company set up manufacturing plants across Europe and in the US. However, other companies saw the attraction of the bag, too, and US petrochemicals group Mobil overturned the Celloplast US patent in 1977. The Dixie Bag Company of College Park, Georgia, owned and operated by Jack W. McBride ("The Bagman") was one of the first companies to exploit this new opportunity to bring convenient products to all major shopping stores. McBride's Dixie Bag Company, as well as Houston Poly Bag and Capitol Poly were instrumental in the manufacturing, marketing and perfecting of this bag by the early 1980s. Kroger, an Atlanta-based company, agreed to try this innovation. So, the real change in grocery bags did not start until 1982, when the two of America’s largest grocery companies Safeway and Kroger started replacing paper bags with more affordable plastic bags.

Without its plastic bag monopoly, Celloplast's business went into decline, and the company was split up during the 1990s. The Norrköping site remains a plastics production site, however, and is now the headquarters of Miljösäck, Sweden’s largest producer of waste sacks manufactured from recycled polyethylene.

From the mid 1980s on, the use of plastic bags became common for carrying daily groceries from the store to our vehicles and finally to our homes. As plastic bags increasingly replaced paper bags, and as other plastic materials and products replaced glass, metal, stone, timber and other materials, a packaging materials war erupted with plastic shopping bags at the centre of highly publicised battles.

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.

The Problem with Plastic:
                                          The main problem with plastic -- besides there being so much of it -- is that it doesn't biodegrade. No natural process can break it down. (Experts point out that the durability that makes plastic so useful to humans also makes it quite harmful to nature.) Instead, plastic photodegrades. A plastic cigarette lighter cast out to sea will fragment into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic without breaking into simpler compounds, which scientists estimate could take hundreds of years. The small bits of plastic produced by photodegradation are called mermaid tears or nurdles.

These tiny plastic particles can get sucked up by filter feeders and damage their bodies. Other marine animals eat the plastic, which can poison them or lead to deadly blockages. Nurdles also have the insidious property of soaking up toxic chemicals. Over time, even chemicals or poisons that are widely diffused in water can become highly concentrated as they're mopped up by nurdles. These poison-filled masses threaten the entire food chain, especially when eaten by filter feeders that are then consumed by large creatures.

Plastic has acutely affected albatrosses, which roam a wide swath of the northern Pacific Ocean. Albatrosses frequently grab food wherever they can find it, which leads to many of the birds ingesting -- and dying from -- plastic and other trash. On Midway Island, which comes into contact with parts of the Eastern Garbage Patch, albatrosses give birth to 500,000 chicks every year. Two hundred thousand of them die, many of them by consuming plastic fed to them by their parents, who confuse it for food [source: LA Times]. In total, more than a million birds and marine animals die each year from consuming or becoming caught in plastic and other debris.
 

Adverse Health Effects of Plastics:
                                                            In addition to creating safety problems during production, many chemical additives that give plastic products desirable performance properties also have negative environmental and human health effects. These effects include          

• Direct toxicity, as in the cases of lead, cad mium, and mercury
• Carcinogens, as in the case of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)
• Endocrine disruption, which can lead to cancers, birth defects, immune system supression and developmental problems in children.
     

  Chemical Migration from Plastic Packaging into Contents:

 People are exposed to these chemicals not only during manufacturing, but also by using plastic packages, because some chemicals migrate from the plastic packaging to the foods they contain. Examples of plastics contaminating food have been reported with most plastic types, including Styrene from polystyrene, plasticizers from PVC, antioxidants from polyethylene, and Acetaldehyde from PET.

Among the factors controlling migration are the chemical structure of the migrants and the nature of the packaged food. In studies cited in Food Additives and Contaminants, LDPE, HDPE, and polypropylene bottles released measurable levels of BHT, Chimassorb 81, Irganox PS 800, Irganix 1076, and Irganox 1010 into their contents of vegetable oil and ethanol. Evidence was also found that acetaldehyde migrated out of PET and into water.
Recommendations
Find alternatives to plastic products whenever possible. Some specific suggestions:

* Buy food in glass or metal containers; avoid polycarbonate drinking bottles with Bisphenol A
* Avoid heating food in plastic containers, or storing fatty foods in plastic containers or plastic wrap.
* Do not give young children plastic teethers or toys
* Use natural fiber clothing, bedding and furniture
* Avoid all PVC and Styrene products

• Buy food in glass or metal containers
• Avoid heating food in plastic containers, or storing fatty foods in plastic containers or plastic wrap
• Do not give young children plastic teethers or toys
• Use natural fiber clothing, bedding and furniture
• Avoid all PVC and Styrene products 

Harmful Effects of Plastic Waste Disposal:
                                                                          Many of our favorite products and containers are made from plastic. However, when we throw these plastics away they can often build up and cause some harmful effects. Most negative effects associated with plastic waste come from chemicals that leach from the plastic into the environment. You can help reduce the dangers of plastic waste in a few easy steps.

History: 
              Scientists had been tinkering with plastic-like material based on cellulose compounds since the mid-1850s, reports The American Chemistry Council. New York chemist Leo Baekeland invented the first true plastic material in 1907, Bakelite, which people still use today. The effects of plastic waste became evident during the 1950s, according to PackagingToday. Some children playing with discarded plastic bags suffocated, requiring a public campaign to warn people of plastic bag danger.

Significance:
                                                                           The effects of plastic waste disposal can readily be seen in the environment. Plastics account for 12 percent of all municipal waste, according to the EPA Fact Book on solid waste. Californians Against Waste reports that plastic waste constitutes 60 to 80 percent of the waste in our waters, and 90 percent of floating waste. Most of this marine plastic waste originates from land sources, such as landfills. Water current can spread this waste over a large area and many miles from its source.

Effects:
                Plastic wastes can break down and release toxins that harm the environment, animals and the general public, according to the International Plastics Task Force. Certain chemicals--such as bisphenol A--can cause some serious health concerns, according to an article on plastic bottles by Beth Daley of the Boston Globe. Even low doses of bisphenol may cause developmental problems in children.

Prevention/Solution :
                 You can help reduce the effects of plastic waste disposal by recycling plastics and reducing their use, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Many communities have recycling services that pick up plastic waste from your door. When you shop for products, consider buying economy size products and open-air fruit. Businesses can help by finding ways to make plastic packaging more efficient. Milk producers use 30 percent less plastic than they did 20 years ago.

Misconceptions :
                If you plan to reduce the effects of plastic waste by recycling, consider that just because a product has a "chasing arrow" symbol does not mean it can be recycled. The symbol simply contains a number relating to the type of plastic, according to Ecology Center. Not all recycled plastics go into new, recyclable products. Recycled plastic that goes into secondary products--such as plastic lumber and textiles--cannot themselves be recycled.

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.