Plastics –In our web of life

“Plastic touched more lives than any other technological advancement breakthrough. It has replaced old and familiar things”. Plastic has become a sleek symbol of modernity and advancement of technology. It is light, durable, strong and molded material. After invention of plastic, heavier wooden or glass home and office furnishing gave way to light, colored, sleek and strong plastic utilities. It occupies a very important place in almost all walks of life.


Plastic word comes from a Greek word “plastikos”, which means, “fit for molding”. It may be synthetic or semi- synthetic material, which is a polymerization product. Of the leading petrochemical products by the Indian petrochemical companies, polymers comprise of nearly 70% of it. India’s reserve of crude oil in 2000-01 were 703 (million tones) which became 756(million tones).


Plastic refers to polymer, which is made from many monomers chemically combined together. Variety in combination of monomer and their constituents lead to the formation of different properties. Although the basic make up of all monomers constitutes is carbon and hydrogen only but the kind of bond and presence of other elements brings difference in the properties and characteristics of plastics. For example, Teflon contains Fluorine, Polyvinyl Chloride i.e. PVC contains Chlorine, Nylon contains Nitrogen etc. the polymers are the basic building material of all plastics but without certain additives they would be useless . these additives give them inherent qulalities , desired physical properties like flexibility , color, strength ,durability, sleekness, plasticity etc. Additives may include colourants for Styrofoam or Thermocol, plasticisers etc.


In the table given below you can find various kinds of plastics and their utility in everyday life.

SNo	Chemical name	Typical use
1.	Polysytrene	Disposable foamy plastic cups, Plastic stirrers, plates, thermocol chips and sheets which are used for packaging delicate products, cassettes.
2.	PVC(Polyvinyl Chloride)	Shoe soles, Teethers for babies, Flexible toys, Pipes, Tubing, Medical disposable like blood and plasma transfusion bags, Shower curtains
3.	Polyethylene-Terephthalate (PET)	Bottle jars
4.	Polyethylene (PE)	Carry bags or polybags, Pouches for packaging milk, oil etc., Buckets, bowls, cups, plates etc. sacks for packing cements, fertilizers, Bottles, canes
5.	Polycarbonate(PC)	Baby feeding bottles, Large water bottles which are refilllers used over dispensers, Lenses, Flasks used in autoclaving
6.	Polyurethane(PU)	PU foam which is used cushionng in mattress, Pillow etc., Rigid PU foam which is used as insulation and refrigeration
7.	Polypropylene(PP)	Packaging eatables like wafers, Luggage, Textile cones, Bobbins

There are numerous other kinds of plastics now available n many more are being invented but plastic being durable hardly get degraded and therefore degrade the environment and posing serious threat to the ecology around.




Plastic-Comfort or Destruction
Plastics are used in many spheres of life. It has made our lives very much comfortable and convenient but at the cost of choking our drains, rivers, seas, using oil reserves at a fast pace, threatening lives of human beings and animals, causing intense damage to ecosystems, depleting resources and creating ever increasing pollution because of its non –biodegradable nature. Plastic, which is a petroleum based product is made by the process of polymerization where many monomers combine to form polymers. Many of the monomers that make up plastic are carcinogenic, mutagenic and disruptive in many ways.

Various harmful effects of plastics are discussed below:

Harmful effects of plastic on Ecosystem

• Plastic being non- biodegradable, accumulate in ecosystem. From here, they leach toxins, which contaminate the ground water.
  
• Burning of plastics release toxic gases.
  
• They take a journey down the drains, sewage lines and streams and choke them .
  
• Burning of PVC release an acidic gas, toxic dioxins and other organo-chlorides (HCl). HCl combines with moisture to form hydrochloric acid which cause serious burns.
  
• During incineration and burning of PVC heavy metals like Lead, Cadmimum, Tin, Barium and Zinc are used which are harmful for ecosystem and health of human and animals.

Harmful effects of plastic on health of human beings and animals

• Additives those are added to plastics so as to have desired physical properties, are poorly bonded with polymers. They leach out and enter human body when chewed on teether or used as tubes in hospitals.
  
• They find way in digestive system of animals and pose serious health hazards.
  
• During production of Styrene harmful chemicals like benzene, 1,3-butadine, carbon tetrachloride are released which are carcinogens. Chromium (IV) oxide released produces both cancer and is mutagenic. The workers show elevated rate of cancer, irritation to eyes, nose and throat, dizziness and unconsciousness.
  
• PVC dust leads to an increased incidence of lung tumors, gastric and gastrointestinal cancer. Solvent from PVC, which is, Tetrahydrofuran cause irritation of eyes, nose, respiratory tract, headache, dizziness and potential damage to central nervous system, liver and kidney.
  
• PVC has plasticisers, which have a tendency to migrate into food wrapped in PVC plastic.
  
• PVC flooring releases particularly high concentration of plasticiser and contributes to the ‘sick building syndrome’ commonly reported in modern office blocks.
  
• PET releases acetaldehyde into the products like water, oil, juice etc in it. This leads to the production of toxins.
  
• PE contains Lead and Cadmium as additive, which are very toxic. Lead is known as neurotoxin, which cause depression of central nervous system, unconsciousness, respiratory arrest, heart attack etc.
  
• PU production has resulted in occupational health problems. It creates hazardous by-products including Iso-cynates, Diamines and ozone depleting gases like Methylene chloride and CFCs.
  
• PE is highly inflammable material of its own. Heavy metal powders are used as fillers, which leach into the soil and groundwater contamination.
  

Plastic waste- A problem itself

India is instant trash yard for plastic waste. India has been a popular destination for waste plastic. India has imported 61,000 tones of plastic waste in the year 2000. Some of the imported plastic is simply thrown away or burned. A good fraction is recycled and enters Indian market as consumer good. The products, thus formed are cheap because the waste plastic is inexpensive and recycling is undertaken in small units which is not at all safe for workers as well as for environment.

Thus, it can be easily concluded that harmful effects of plastics cannot only be observed during production and use but also after disposing off.