Introduction
Plastic is an extremely popular synthetic material that is used in many spheres of life. It has numerous benefits that compel manufacturers to produce it in large quantities. However, mass production creates waste that not only pollutes the environment but also jeopardizes human health. Ascertaining the reasons for the dangers of plastics is essential in understanding its effect on public health and finding solutions to this environmental issue.
Possible Causes
Due to the high applicability of plastics, their production grew exponentially in the second half of the 20th century. Businesses prefer plastics to other materials since it is cheaper, more durable, and light in weight. However, large-scale production leads to waste that is disposed of in oceans (Van Rensburg et al. 102132). The ensuing implication is damaging to both environment and animals. For instance, “in Ethiopia and Nigeria numerous cattle, sheep, and goats have plastic in their stomachs and there are increasing cases of terrestrial birds dying from plastic waste ingestion” (Willis et al. 243). As plastic production increases, the detrimental effect on the environment multiplies.
Potential Harmful Effects on Humans
The excess of plastic waste intoxicates air, which manifests itself in damage to lung tissue. “Plastics contains various types of toxic components as an additive, such as di-(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), bisphenol A (BPA), polyhalogenated compounds, and heavy metals which pose a potential health risk to the humans” (Ilyas et al. 384). Exposure to plastic air does not immediately impair breathing, but rather accumulates over time, causing long-term health problems.
Plastics can also have an indirect impact on human health to the point that it is not clear that plastics are the cause. The ocean is a common location for plastic waste disposal. Marine species do not discriminate between healthy and harmful substances; therefore, they proceed to ingest plastic. A study has been conducted that explores the transition of toxins from fish to the human gastrointestinal tract (Koelmans et al. 11514). Fish is a common meal worldwide, thus implying that the repercussions of marine product consumption relate to large quantities of people.
Overcoming the Problem
The awareness of the adverse effects of plastics on the environment and public health is on the rise. Many environmental activists believe that in order to reduce plastic waste, it is necessary to change consumer behavior. For instance, campaigns “Do the Right Thing” and “Neat Stress” encourage people to rely less on products made of plastic (Willis et al. 243). Similarly, populations living near oceans and seas are incentivized to participate in beach cleaning activities that help people feel responsible for environmental safety.
Another venue to combat the consequences of extensive plastic use is to limit its production legally. Countries with green policies continuously attempt to adopt waste management policies. The United States, Canada, the Netherlands, and Great Britain correct their legislations, effectively placing a ban on the production of plastics in some products intended for consumer use, while Germany prohibited the use of plastic bags (Willis et al. 244). If more countries adopt environment-friendly policies, there will be less plastic waste to deal with in the future.
Conclusion
Plastic has a large presence in everyday life and will most likely be a prevalent issue in the years to come. The implications of its production, use, and disposal complicate environmental safety as well as public health. The solutions to the problem include restrictions in production and influencing consumer behavior. Raising social awareness of the threat that plastic use presents is critical in mitigating this issue.
Works Cited
Koelmans, Albert A., et al. “Risks of Plastic Debris: Unravelling Fact, Opinion, Perception, and Belief.” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 51, no. 20, 2017, pp. 11513-11519.
Van Rensburg, Melissa L., et al. “The ‘Plastic Waste Era’; Social Perceptions Towards Single-Use Plastic Consumption and Impacts on the Marine Environment in Durban, South Africa.” Applied Geography, vol. 114, 2020, p. 102132.
Ilyas, Muhammad, et al. “Plastic Waste as a Significant Threat to Environment–a Systematic Literature Review.” Reviews on Environmental Health, vol. 33, no. 4, 2018, pp. 383-406.
Willis, Kathryn, et al. “How Successful are Waste Abatement Campaigns and Government Policies at Reducing Plastic Waste into the Marine Environment?.” Marine Policy, vol. 96, 2018, pp. 243-249.