In the present plastic age plastics have appeared as highly versatile and immensely beneficial materials to human society. As the most recently used plastic polymers are highly resistant to biodegradation, the huge influx of such persistent and complex materials poses potential risk to the health of environment and organisms including human beings. Their indiscriminate disposal puts a heavy burden on the waste management systems, allowing plastic wastes to infiltrate ecosystems, with the potential to contaminate the food chain and elicit toxic effects on diverse forms of life. Still, there remains paucity of ecotoxicological studies, lack of quality knowledge generation and a huge knowledge gap about the action, potential and toxic effects of microplastics and nanoplastics of environmental origin.
Dear my friends and respected scientists, you please come forward and take part in the discussion on this RG platform and contribute substantially to make it a thought provoking and enriching brainstorming exercise for all of us concerned about this emerging environmental hazard.
Dear Colleagues and Friends from RG,
I suggest continuing the discussion on the following topic:
The increase in environmental pollution with plastic and the issue of efficiency of waste management.
The above discussion inspired me to formulate the following question:
Who should pay for cleaning the environment from plastic?
On the basis of the above considerations and conclusions from the discussion on interesting issues discussed, I formulated the following thesis that in connection with the rapidly increasing pollution of the natural environment in recent years with plastic, it is necessary to urgently improve waste management and recycling. Most types of polyethylene and other types of plastic are materials that break down in a very slow process, usually lasting at least several hundred years. Plastic production and the use of plastic in the packaging of various products has grown rapidly in recent years. Therefore, environmental pollution has also grown exponentially in recent years. Plastic has become one of the biggest problems of environmental pollution. It is urgent to change plastic into biodegradable materials and improve waste management and recycling. The key issue is also to determine in the system of legal norms who should pay for cleaning the environment from plastic? The debatable question is why these costs are charged to consumers or all taxpayers, and to the least extent by plastic producers and producers of various products that are delivered to the markets in plastic packaging. Below I have described the key determinants confirming the formulated research thesis. To the above discussion, I would like to add the following conclusion formulated as a summary of my previous considerations on this topic: Urgent need to improve waste management and recycling.
In the context of the above interesting discussion, I ask the following question:
Is waste management efficiently carried out in your city, city district? Is the waste segregated? Is there a problem with non-biodegradable waste? Is there a problem with plastic waste?
In connection with the growing importance of this issue, an important issue is the analysis of the correlation between the increase in environmental pollution by plastic and the efficiency of waste management.
Are studies conducted that verify the correlation between the increase in environmental pollution by plastic and the efficiency of waste management?
I ask the above questions on this Research Gate discussion forum because in recent years there have been more and more media reports that in many countries there has been a significant increase in plastic pollution and a decrease in waste management efficiency. The problem is serious because the microplastic particles are already accumulating in increasing numbers in some regions of the seas and oceans and poisoning the natural environment.
In line with the above, in my opinion, due to the rapidly increasing pollution of the environment in recent years with plastic, it is urgent to improve waste management and recycling. Most types of polyethylene and other types of plastic are materials that break down in a very slow process, usually lasting at least several hundred years. Plastic production and the use of plastic in the packaging of various products has grown rapidly in recent years. Therefore, environmental pollution has also grown exponentially in recent years. Plastic has become one of the biggest problems of environmental pollution. It is urgent to change plastic into biodegradable materials and improve waste management and recycling. The key issue is also to determine in the system of legal norms who should pay for cleaning the environment from plastic? The debatable question is why these costs are charged to consumers or all taxpayers, and to the least extent by plastic producers and producers of various products that are delivered to the markets in plastic packaging.
Do you agree with me on the above matter?
Best wishes.
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Dear Jayanta,
It is an important topic as you pointed. the application of these micro beads however are gradually reducing. Here in NZ some major super markets have begin to stop selling products contain these non degradable beads. also research on ongoing to replace the plastic beads with biodegradable ones
you may check
Article Microplastic pollution identified in deep-sea water and inge...
and several others to get an ovewrview
@Amin,
cosmetic microbeads never were the main problem, however, litter from disintegrating spilled plastics. Much more strict contention and recycling is needed.
as said though harmful the cosmetic microbeads were not the main problem due to relatively low volume. Nevertheless, due to the issue being in focus most companies turned to non plastic alternatives for exfoliating skin.
In relation to microplastic one has to also consider fibres released during washing.
the following article might be of interest
http://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulating/category/bath/Microbeads-Then-and-Now-Polyethylene-and-Alternative-Next-gen-Abrasives-458244203.html
Exactly as Titus Sobisch said. Nowdays are usted microbeads coming firm plants ir for example totally hydrogenated jojoba oil
If so such micro- and nano-plastics will enter into the regime of the ecosystem through food chain promoting biomagnification and doing a lot of harm by causing serious disease leading to cancer.
Most ecotoxicological studies suggest microplastics by themselves do not cause significant acute or chronic effects on aquatic organisms except in super high unrealistic concentrations.
As microplastics have hazardous additives, like BPA (endocrine disruptor) and work as a vector for many hydrofobic hydrocarbon derived contaminants, heavy metals, and even farmaceuticals, that adsorb to their surface, assosiated contaminants may a subject of major concern.
Gabriel, though they rather would not accumulate heavy metals, the question is whether it is rather benefical that they accumulate instead of direct accumulation of contaminants in organisms.
Dear Colleagues and Friends from RG,
I suggest continuing the discussion on the following topic:
The increase in environmental pollution with plastic and the issue of efficiency of waste management.
The above discussion inspired me to formulate the following question:
Who should pay for cleaning the environment from plastic?
On the basis of the above considerations and conclusions from the discussion on interesting issues discussed, I formulated the following thesis that in connection with the rapidly increasing pollution of the natural environment in recent years with plastic, it is necessary to urgently improve waste management and recycling. Most types of polyethylene and other types of plastic are materials that break down in a very slow process, usually lasting at least several hundred years. Plastic production and the use of plastic in the packaging of various products has grown rapidly in recent years. Therefore, environmental pollution has also grown exponentially in recent years. Plastic has become one of the biggest problems of environmental pollution. It is urgent to change plastic into biodegradable materials and improve waste management and recycling. The key issue is also to determine in the system of legal norms who should pay for cleaning the environment from plastic? The debatable question is why these costs are charged to consumers or all taxpayers, and to the least extent by plastic producers and producers of various products that are delivered to the markets in plastic packaging. Below I have described the key determinants confirming the formulated research thesis. To the above discussion, I would like to add the following conclusion formulated as a summary of my previous considerations on this topic: Urgent need to improve waste management and recycling.
In the context of the above interesting discussion, I ask the following question:
Is waste management efficiently carried out in your city, city district? Is the waste segregated? Is there a problem with non-biodegradable waste? Is there a problem with plastic waste?
In connection with the growing importance of this issue, an important issue is the analysis of the correlation between the increase in environmental pollution by plastic and the efficiency of waste management.
Are studies conducted that verify the correlation between the increase in environmental pollution by plastic and the efficiency of waste management?
I ask the above questions on this Research Gate discussion forum because in recent years there have been more and more media reports that in many countries there has been a significant increase in plastic pollution and a decrease in waste management efficiency. The problem is serious because the microplastic particles are already accumulating in increasing numbers in some regions of the seas and oceans and poisoning the natural environment.
In line with the above, in my opinion, due to the rapidly increasing pollution of the environment in recent years with plastic, it is urgent to improve waste management and recycling. Most types of polyethylene and other types of plastic are materials that break down in a very slow process, usually lasting at least several hundred years. Plastic production and the use of plastic in the packaging of various products has grown rapidly in recent years. Therefore, environmental pollution has also grown exponentially in recent years. Plastic has become one of the biggest problems of environmental pollution. It is urgent to change plastic into biodegradable materials and improve waste management and recycling. The key issue is also to determine in the system of legal norms who should pay for cleaning the environment from plastic? The debatable question is why these costs are charged to consumers or all taxpayers, and to the least extent by plastic producers and producers of various products that are delivered to the markets in plastic packaging.
Do you agree with me on the above matter?
Best wishes.
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Dear Colleagues,
What do we know about the time of mechanical and chemical decomposition of plastic material?
Below which size does micro-plastic become harmful to living beings (see e.g. the discussion on asbestos and asbestine matter. Not each amphibole is deadly)?
How does the plastic material interact with living beings and different species?
Which type of the material is most harmful and which of lesser importance (not each plastic syringe is deadly)?
Then we can take measures to get rid of the problem.
I think these are only a few serious questions to be answered before kick-starting another fear- and panic mongering campaign like that going on in geogene and anthropogenic climate change which since quite a long time has spiraled out of control because nobody recalls what climate is!!!
H.G.Dill
If you want to have a clean water, don't pollute it. We must to fight the cause but not the effect. The society philosophy should be change. For now, the consumerism philosophy dominates (produce more, earn more and consume more - circle)
With all this covid19 issue we will have massive increase of plastic emission nowadays. Now this topic is marginal in media but for sure the problem will escalate.
Hi.this type of materials is highly resistance for bio degradation by microorganisms also for degredation by other factors such as photochemical oxidation therefore this compounds accumulate in environment and transfer across foodchain and cause harmful for ecosystem
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology