The world as we know it, Is filled with various problems and disasters. Right From the Stone age and Iron age leading to the Modern age, Pollution has been on the rise and it's effect disastrous to Man's survival.
Pollution evolved from the actions of man, his works, thoughts and most especially his inventions. The need for simplicity and modernization promts the creation of pollutants and Toxic wastes thereabout. Such lucrative mind of humanity and it's wants induced a cataclysmic phenomena to the world apocalypes.
Crude Oil being the major source of all inventions be it metal, plastics, iron and coal. It is non renewable and pose's a stand peak for the production of lots more non-renewable products and Energy. During the industrial processing of Crude oil,large quantity of toxic wastes inflates the atmosphere causing air pollution and discomfort to residents. Massive amount of Energy are lost in form of heat, plus 2% of distilled products lay waste to the environment or in water logs due to an insecure facility or broken pipes.
The impromptu depliting of ozone's,health hazard and Earth quakes all rises from Mans insanity. The uncultured act for a better society has led to Ten times more the adversity and pollution of the environment we live in. But the main focus for this theme isn't on the general concept of Pollution but strictly on the most common Pollutant; Plastics.
Yeah! Yeah! "Plastics".
Plastics are the most commonly used products everywhere in the world. They exhibit large significance to the society, in various forms and structures. If we look around all sides, plastics says "Hello". It lives and resides at all part of the Globe. And as such being the best substitute for rubber
Plastics surpass the need for rubber, due to it's eligible and self sustaining properties. It's resistance to corrosion and chemicals, low electrical and thermal conductivity, high strength-to-weight ratio, colors available in a wide variety and transparent, resistance to shock, good durability, low cost, are easy to manufacture, resistant to water and have low toxicity make it Superior to rubber or any of it's rival.
Plastics stands out everywhere, because all devices, electronic and building equipment are made from it.Almost everything you touch has some form of plastic. In simple sense, we live in a plasticize universe. A simplified universe made from the existence of Crude oil and polymer products.
I know majority are familiar with the term and concept of "plastics" , but for the few who donot,Read through:-
Plastics are a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers.
Plastics are synthetic, thermoplastic, solid, hydrocarbon based polymer.
Notmuch different from the first,but they are also malleable similarly to stuffs like pliants, ersartz, and effigy.
Plastics originates from the Greek word "Plastikos", which means to Mould together. If we think closer, Clay is thus related to the ability of plastics. It can be moulded, mealable, loosen, detarched and reformed to form sculptures and acient tools. Plastics are made from Polymers(A long molecules consisting of chains of repeating units). These polymers are made from a process called Polymerization; A familiar laboratory technique in Chemistry.
Polymerisation; a process where two or more monomers of similar structure are collectively linked together by covalent bond.
Polymerisation gives rise to, two distinctive plastic/Polymer materials called Thermoplastic and Thermosets.Both Conjoined terms differ slightly, bearing to the fact that Thermoplastics are easily softened repeatedly by heat and remoulded,whereas Thermosets don't.
The nature of plastics and polymers depends solely on the crystal structure or atom arrangements, majorly the impurities added for it's effective performance. These common types of plastics are:
Polythene
A highly demanded plastics due to it's wide range of use. Polythene are in form of plastic bags, bottle, kitchen wares, cable insulators, and transparent films for packaging garments and food stuff.Polychloroethylene
Also known as Polyvinly produced in two forms;ie Specially hardened and Plasticised polyvinyl. Used in the form of shower curtains, table clothes, artificial leather cloths, rain coths, and hand gloves.Polyphenylethene.
Commonly known as polystyrene, aa aromatic made Polymer. Polystyrene Is a clear transparent plastic which is hard but brittle. Its used for making see through containers and lighting fixtures.Perpex.
A family of the aldehyde; It is a strong, hard, transparent Thermoplastic with a glossy surface. Perpexs are used to make car rear lights, wind- shields, window-panes and fish tanks.Polypropenonitrile
A -CN(Cyano) polymer also called polyacrylonitrile. It is mostly used for making textiles and wooly garments (Orlon).
Plastics verges alot of importance to human work and activities, their presence provides comfort in homes, schools, and business places. We can't live without them and thus the world becomes incomplete in their absence.
The overall significance of plastics to the society are numerous to quantify, but regardless, it's presence becomes a threat to human society and to the aquatic habitat. Thus we become an endangered specie, when no proper meaures are promoted.
We are in the Age of plastic Calamity, It's non biodegradable property puts a plus to world Pollution. Since the evolution of plastics, Reasearch shows at 2015 that 22 millions tons or 80% of plastics produced are dumped in landfills and Ocean depth.
Gradually Our society turns into a big Mess, One which can't be fixed. Plastics all around; It's demand rising and Land pollution at it's peak. I stand amazed, when used plastics are dump recklessly on streets, river banks, and in the Ocean. It becomes a struggle in the aquatic habibtat, when fishes are left with nothing but polymer products to consume as daily foods. They try to adapt to an unpleasant change caused by humans. Just like Darwin predicted:
"Survivial of the fittest"
Whenever adaptation seems unbearable, it dies off like ashes down to the sea level. Various research were made precisely on the consumption of plastics in the marine habitat by different Aquatic species.
One on the Local seagulls population, it estimates that they had injested so many plastics, such that an average of 30 pieces of plastic could be found in one seagull stomach.
Also on Albatrosses, one of the many sea bird vulnerable to plastic pollution. Research shows that 30% of Albatrosses chick dies each year being fed plastics crumbs by their parents.
Do the Maths!
Plastic are found in all level of the oceanic food chain. From large predators like sharks and whales to turtles and jellyfish, All animal are endangered to accidental ingestion. Even plankton, the tiniest of the marine organism have ingested minute plastics. In some areas of the ocean, like the Great Pacific garbage patch, plastic mass exceeds the local zoo-plankton population by a factor of 6!
An estimate of 2million plastics refuses are present in the Earth's Ocean and Seas. Think about it! If one Plastic bag can bring down birds and fishes,how much more that number! It would be chaos within the earth and death all around. The population of aquatic animals would decline ravishly only to once be a number on the statistics board; If not instinct.
The time for renovation and adjustment is now. Before the Era of a plastics, humanity made use of Rubber, clay and woods; Biodegradable Items with little or no side effect to our society. If only we wish to stop the Rampage Fall coming, we must step backwards to Rethink our decision, To find better substitute. And with this I believe Our world would be better in the future.
For Trully A Step Backwards makes us move Forward
By Ali Davies
Reference:
Plastic Ventures 4rm Wikipedia
Plastic Polymers; Types
Effect of Plastic to Ocean life forms
Battle for Plastic demand and Pollution
Need For Renovation
Marine life battling plastics Production
A Step Backwsrds could be the Answer
