Why is plastic a problem for the environment?
Plastic pollution causes harm to humans, animals and plants through toxic pollutants. It can take hundreds or even thousands of years for plastic to break down so the environmental damage is long-lasting. It affects all organisms in the food chain from tiny species like plankton through to whales.
Why is plastic pollution such a big environmental problem?
Why is plastic pollution such a big environmental problem (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)? … Plastic is virtually indestructible and it doesn’t break down easily. If current trends continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050.
How is plastic waste harmful to the environment?
A small percentage of plastic waste is addressed with thermal destruction (burning it), most of the plastics discarded end up in landfills or elsewhere in the environment. … Thermal destruction releases toxic fumes and chemicals into the environment, reducing air quality and creating a public health risk.
What happens to plastic waste in landfills?
Simply put, plastic doesn’t belong in a landfill—but it’s not alone in this category. Plastic bags can take 10 to 100 years to degrade in landfills. … Other products take a long time to biodegrade in landfills as well, since the point of landfills is not to facilitate, but to prevent, decomposition.
What is the conclusion of plastic pollution?
Conclusion : Though plastic is very useful in modern civilisation and provides us with various useful articles, it serves as a serious threat to our environment. So, we should try our level best to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic whenever possible to reduce the level of environment pollution caused by plastics.
What are the problems caused by plastic?
The chemicals used in the production of plastic are toxic and detrimental to the human body. Chemicals in plastic-like lead, cadmium and mercury directly can come in contact with the humans. These toxins can cause cancers, congenital disabilities, immune system problems and childhood development issues.