Plastic Boon or Bane?

Introduction:
Extensions of knowledge do not always enlarge our capacity for control. This holds true for our relation to nature, some of whose phenomena are alterable by man while others are not. Despite all increase in our information about heavenly phenomena, some lie entirely beyond human influence. For instance a geologist studies the nature of the earthquakes but he cannot cause or prevent this occurrence. In some cases, we are ourselves the determinants of nature, since the use we make of natural forces produces the result we have caused. One such recent matter is the use of plastic. The term "plastics" covers a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic condensation or polymerization products that can be molded or extruded into objects or films or fibers. They consist of long chains of polymers. Their name is derived from the fact that in their semi-liquid state they are malleable, or have the property of plasticity. Plastics vary immensely in heat tolerance, hardness, and resiliency. Combined with this adaptability, the general uniformity of composition and lightness of plastics ensures their use in almost all industrial applications today Today plastics have replaced metals, natural fibres and hides, paper wood and stone and glass ceramics. Manufacturers use these plastics to make their products stronger, lighter, inexpensive and durable. Plastics\' versatility is responsible for its many uses: everything from car parts to doll parts, from soft drink bottles to the refrigerators they get stored in. From the car you drive to work in to the television you watch when you get home, plastics help make your life easier and better. Plastic bottles mean we can actually lift an economy-size bottle of juice. And should we accidentally drop that bottle, it is shatter-resistant. Plastics also help to conserve energy in our homes. Vinyl siding and windows help cut energy consumption and lower our heating and cooling bills. Plastics have also replaced paper in packaging, wood and stone in making furniture etc. Plastics thus have become an integral and indispensable part of our lives. But, as useful they are, plastics do have disadvantages. The biggest problem is that most plastics take a very long time to decompose. Deciding how to dispose the plastic wastes has become a major environmental concern. As more and more plastic packaging materials are used by consumers, more plastic waste is generated. Since most plastics do not easily breakdown, this problem contributes significantly to environmental pollution. Plastics use up natural resources, consume energy to manufacture, create litter, choke marine life and add to landfill waste.

Plastic is one of the few new chemical materials which pose environmental problem. Polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene is largely used in the manufacture of plastics. Synthetic polymers are easily molded into complex shapes, have high chemical resistance, and are more or less elastic. Some can be formed into fibers or thin transparent films. These properties have made them popular in many durable or disposable goods and for packaging materials. These materials have molecular weight ranging from several thousands to 1,50,000. Excessive molecular size seems to be mainly responsible for the resistance of these chemicals to bio-degradation and their persistence in soil environment for a long time. Packaging represents the largest single sector of plastics use in the world today. Benefits of plastics-Boon The considerable growth in plastic use is due to the beneficial properties of plastics. These include : a. Extreme versatility and ability to be tailored to meet very specific technical needs. b. Lighter weight than competing materials, reducing fuel consumption during transportation. c. Extreme durability. d. Resistance to chemicals, water and impact. e. Good safety and hygiene properties for food packaging. f. Excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties. g. Relatively inexpensive to produce. Plastic makes up around 7% of the average household dustbin. Plastic as a Curse Misuse of any technology can lead to curse. Plastic was thought to be a boon but it turned out to be a curse. Plastic can be very harmful as it produces harmful gases when it is burned. As it is non bio degradable, it is harmful to the soil and takes hundreds of years to degrade or decompose. With more and more plastic products, particularly plastic packaging, being disposed of soon after their purchase, the landfill space required by plastics waste is a growing concern. Plastic waste, such as plastic bags, often becomes litter. For example, nearly 57% of litter found on beaches in 2003 was plastic. The waste problem is a major curse, mainly because they degrade slowly. They are difficult to recycle because of the great variety of plastics which are hardly distinguishable. Many plastics poison the environment when degrading. PVC for example contains chlorine; generally there is no problem during use, but the chlorine returns into the environment when the waste is processed. Also, the manufacturing of plastics often creates large quantities of chemical pollutants. Plasticizers like phthalates are suspected to cause upheaval in the hormone systems of animals and people, especially kids.

References: 1) http://somshuvra.instablogs.com/entry/plastic-a-boon-or-curse