As an environmental chemist, I have heard a lot about plastics and its pollution. My chemistry background helped me understand the complex interlinks between organic compounds that lead to the production of the most harmless of plastics, a high density polyethylene (HDPE).
However, a design thinking challenge organized by Cartedo and supported by UNICEF and RLabs showed me another side of plastics and its oncoming disaster we've been romanticizing all along. The findings left me shocked and led to more answers than questions. I've been looking for the answers to the concerning questions ever since.
In Nigeria, an estimated 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated annually. Unfortunately for us all, the amount of generated plastic waste is about to increase. When the Dangote Refineries begin full operations, they are licensed to produce plastics alongside petrochemicals. My worry is we've chosen to see but overlook the effects of plastic pollution.
Not far away from my house lies a pedestrian bridge that leads to the street. With a little downpour, the bridge overflows. Why? Because the waterway gets clogged with plastics forcing the water to look for another path. I've had to, on several occasions, walk through a fast running, mildly turbulent water that flows above the bridge after heavy rainfall. In fact, people have been swept off the bridge on two occasions when the water flowed over. One was rescued alive, the other person wasn't so lucky.
It takes about 1000 years for a plastic to degrade. While at it, the plastic constitutes a nuisance by blocking waterways, becoming carriers of disease-causing organisms and acting as vectors for diseases in the environment. The degradation process that is supposed to give some respite only makes the situation a lot worse. How? A lot of plastics release toxins and harmful chemicals while degrading.
Degradation of plastics leads to the attainment of new physical and chemical properties by the plastic. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), additives such as phthalates and Bisphenol A leaches out of plastic particles during degradation. These additives are notoriously known to have the ability to disrupt the hormonal system of both vertebrates and invertebrates.
Leibnitz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries corroborated the claim that nano-sized particles from the degradation of plastics can lead to changes in gene expression and biochemical reactions. They said, “However, it has already been shown that when passing the blood-brain barrier nanoplastics have a behaviour-changing effect in fish.”
Further researches have shown that plastics are gradually finding their ways into our soil and water and these could potentially have long term ramifications on the ecosystem. When these plastics disintegrate into microparticles and nano-particles, they threaten our livelihood. For example, sewage sludge contains a lot of microparticles. When sewage gets applied as fertilizers to our soils, the microparticles are also transferred.
The toxic activities of plastic microparticles on earthworms and other living organisms underneath not only affects the soil fertility, also these toxins can be imbibed by food crops and transferred into humans when they eat the food crops.
Though there has been widespread discussion about the merits and demerits of plastics, the world has gone ahead as if the harmful effect doesn't matter. Still, 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced globally on a yearly basis. Funnily enough, we all act as if we care then we do exactly the opposite. It's even worse in developing countries where plastic recycling plants are few and far between.
Some people see it as an insult to reuse a plastic bag. Some will literally start a fight with a trader for not providing plastic bags for each time they purchase a good. We've already switched to plastic bottles for soft drinks and alcohol instead of glass bottles. The effect has been a widespread littering of the community with plastic bottles.
Maybe the world will take note when a plastic induced pandemic strikes, just as global warming has jolted some sense into us all. I pray it won't get to that before we start acting right.
Yeah, most likely we are already eating microplastics too, especially from seafood. Ah humanity...
May God help us all. Plastic pollution is so underrated.
That is a big problem the pollution and the problem caused by plastics. But I believe a day will come when everything will come into place, everything is going to be alright, there is always a solution to everything in God's perfect time! I came here from @dreemport . God bless you ìn Jesus' name! Amen!🙏
#dreemerofhtheyear
Thank you for stopping by, #dreemer.
I hope solution will come in due time.
That's why it is important to recycle to reduce pollution in the environment.
#dreemerforlife
This is fatal information. There are many recycling plastic companies now though, but with this hint, we need more of such companies to be established. Thanks for sharing with us.
I popped in from #dreemport
I am a #dreemerforlife
Maybe in major cities like Lagos and PH.
Are those cities the only ones with plastic waste problems? No.
I've seen some people go into the business of picking these plastics, storing them and transporting to Lagos for recycling. Recently, due to the high cost of transportation, some dropped out of the business. To them, it's no longer worth the stress because the annoyingly high cost of fuel is eating into their meagre profits.
A lot of sensitization is needed on reusing plastics. That's why I always blame National Orientation Agency for so many of the country's problems. I really don't know what they're doing to educate the average Nigerians.
And, thanks for stopping by, #dreemer.
I agree with your point of view 200%. Plastics are a threat to ecosystem but we have turn a desf ear to the problem. With time we have increased the use of plastic. After the pandaemic the use of plastic has increased drastically when the metal or glass cutlery and glass/cups/plates are replaced by disposable plastic.
Youvare right about people fighting for plastic bags. It's insane. We are insensitive towards the heath of our planet.
Popped in via Dreemport
I just hope we will get wise to the devastating effects of plastic pollution before it becomes wild.
Thanks for stopping by, #dreemer.
Hopes are the only thing we can do.
Thanks for the support.
Yay! 🤗
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