The Negative Side Effects Of Plastic

Each year there is an increase in demands for plastic bags, and therefore more are shipped, creating further environmental pollution concerns. This increase in demand has lead to the phenomenal upsurge in the use and misuse of plastic bags globally, both in developed and developing countries. Statistics show that 4 to 5 trillion plastic bags are produced per annum, whereby North America and Western Europe account for nearly 80% (Geographical, 2005; Reusable Bags, 2005). Cheeseman (2007) states that approximately “380 billion plastic shopping bags are used in the United States annually”; in turn, only 0.6% of this is recycled.

“Addicted to Plastic,” reveals the history of plastics on a worldwide scale; Connacher investigates toxicity and explores solutions surrounding the world

One material dominates the entire world, a material incapable of degrading for centuries and used in all facets of life. While very new to the earth, this synthetic polymer has flourished rapidly since the 1950’s, and, still at full throttle in the 21st century, the Age of Plastic sees no imminent end. Plastic continues to ascend at an exponential rate as its plethora of uses extends to new branches of technology and innovation. Even with their differences, both the working class American and the CEO of an industrialized company utilize plastic for its low cost and versatility. Nevertheless, humanity cannot sustain this nonrenewable resource for long, and eventually the issues of this material will one day outnumber the benefits.

About 299 million tons of plastic were made in 2013 (Lytle). Plastic waste gained popularity when animals begin to die do to mistaking plastic for food (Lytle). Plastic also causes drains to be clogged and then flooding issues. (Moore) “Global plastic consumption has gone from 5.5 million tons in the 1950s to 110 million tons in 2009,” (Lytle). The overuse of plastic is still important today because plastic is causing many global issues such as draining floodage, animal deaths, and pollution (banthebottle.com). Experts, like Renee Cho, say that plastic is “slowly taking over the country.” (Artwohl). Plastic waste affects the word in many ways. Americans should help decrease this issue by using less plastic

Plastics of the 20th century should consider the health of the environment. Over the past 153 years http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/11/14/fsummit.climate.plasticbags/ of producing plastics there is an evident impact of the environment. The Earth’s ocean has 5.25 trillion pieces, which is equivalent to 269,000 tons floating on the surface. Some of plastic is as small as 1cm2; this makes this every difficult to reverse the already existing impact of humans. This large scale disaster also affects the wildlife. 100,000 marine animals and 1 million birds have to suffer the consequence of plastic pollution every year. Globally a million single-use plastic bags are used every minute, this number is also increasing. http://oceancrusaders.org/plastic-crusades/plastic-statistics/

Plastics have massive economic effects in a world practically covered by it. Plastics are polymers, chains of molecules polymerized together. There are two different categories, thermoset which solidifies irreversibly when the polymer is heated and thermoplastic which soften when exposed to heat (Halden, 2010). Plastic is a log lived material which can be used for many years yet the highest uses we have for the material are disposable, such as for packaging. Since 1975 Global plastic production has increased by 620% (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2015). This increase is due to benefits such as cost efficiency, increase in shelf life and protection of products. But do these benefits outweigh the residual wastes effect

Plastic is one of the worlds most prominent resources and therefore it is a staple in not only in the United States economy, but in other economies around the world. To begin with, the plastics industry and manufacturing alone accounts for over nine hundred thousand jobs domestically. Meaning that of the 64.2% of the United States workforce, about one in every two hundred people is employed by the plastics industry (“Economic”).

The film Plastic Planet takes an in- depth look of our modern world and it’s major production and consumption of plastic. Released in the year 2010, director Werner Boote reminisces on the time spent with his most memorable childhood figure, his grandfather. Whose fascination at the time was focused toward the production of plastic and what it held for the future to come. This fascination carried on into Boote’s adult life and after considerable research formed from around the world spurred him to ask the question, Is plastic dangerous? In completion, of this film analysis it is my goal to properly convey what was discussed within the hour and thirty- five minute film, and my analysis of the directors finished product.

Silverman (2007), states that, “Plastic constitutes 90 percent of all trash floating in the world's oceans”. Plastic has become a well-known and wanted commodity around the world. It is a commodity that is involved in most things that we use; however, we are oblivious of its bad effects. In the article “Plastic is rubbish” it shows that in 2010 alone, Americans created 31 million tons of plastic waste such as containers, appliances, and cups (n.d.). When plastic is used this excessively it acts as a hazard and a harmful commodity, since it endangers the lives of many creatures including humans. The way this commodity is disposed off should be efficient and should not result in harming the environment either. To solve this problem, all governments should take action and improper plastic disposal should be made illegal and its production should be moderated to lessen its effect on the environment, human health, and overall on the economy worldwide.

Plastic pollution negatively affects America’s future. The origin of this environmental pollution is caused by the excessive lack of ethics that human beings have. Many times, people throw garbage on the streets, seas, etc. Not knowing that this will be severely altered the environment, and planet earth conditions. Environmental pollution is found in many places such as plastic products, cleaning products, food, animals, personal care products, and the most dangerous in the environment where the oxygen we breathe and share with other living beings (Eriksen 2013).

Early 1950’s marked the introduction of the plastic industry and has in the last 67 years become a useful and versatile material with a wide range of applications, due to its durability, lightweight and low cost. Plastic comes in many different variations such as Nylon, Acrylic, PVC, Polythene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate and much more. These are created using a combination of cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and crude oil forming chains of like molecules linked together named polymers (Le Guern, 2009). In many cases plastics are disposed of after one use, especially packaging, water bottles, plastic bags, straws and cutlery, however, these same attributes that make plastics such a versatile material also pose a threat to ecosystems due to their durability and persistence in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine environments adversely affecting wildlife, wildlife habitat and humans globally (Plastic Waste: Ecological and Human Health

Where does all the plastic go. Every bit of plastic that has been created is still here. This is because plastic is one-hundred percent non-biodegradable! Even the most degraded plastic down to polymers cannot be digested by bacteria (Laist, 1997). If global issues like starvation and climate change are not enough to stress on, the weight of an issue literally churning in the Pacific Ocean is startling. For decades the majority of the world’s population has not been properly educated on the nature of plastic and the potential harm it can do to our environment and our physical health. Due to factors of man and the natural effects of nature, a major problem has developed that is now harming our food.

Nowadays, the use of plastic bags has increased. It can be seemed that plastic bags are really needed by everyone especially for their daily life. Comparing to the past in the early 1950s when people still used the paper bags instead of plastic bags. Literally, plastic bags are very useful for human, but at the same time it is also bring disadvantages. Plastic is made from fossil fuel sources, such as natural gas and petroleum. It is not biodegradable and it will always exist. This is why the excessive use of plastic bags poses an adverse effect on the universe. Besides, it remains toxic even after they break down. Even for each country, approximately about 6 billion plastic bags were consumed.(William T. Fujioka,2008) According to China Trade News, over 1 trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide.

Nowadays, plastics can be seen almost everywhere in people’s daily life, such as plastic water bottles, plastic bags and decorations. It is true that plastics have made people’s life a lot easier. However, the overuse of plastic may cause huge problems, which is mainly plastic pollution.

There are many reasons why the human population decided to produce single-use, and recyclable plastics, but intentions of ruining our beautiful oceans was not one of them. Plastics were originally produced to protect some of the planet's most valued resources and elements, used to produce glass and metals. Plastics make a positive contribution to the conservation of valued natural materials (Moore, et.al). Plastics are useful, and everyone uses plastic every day. Although plastic was invented in 1898, they became extremely popular in the 1960’s when housewives figured out that they did not need to spend time washing dishes anymore, they could just use plastics! Back then plastics were