The Dangers of Plastic

Kim Soo Hyun, Iwahashi Nobukatsu, and Juan Gerard Archie Fernandez

SMP CENDEKIA HARAPAN

 

 

Introduction

Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient, they are easily moldable into shapes needed, this along with its other properties, such as being durable, lightweight, flexible, and inexpensive to produce, has led to its widespread use across the world, mostly in packaging products and accessories. Most modern plastics are made using fossil-fuels like natural gas and petroleum, however recent new industries use variants made from renewable resources, such as corn and cotton derivatives.

Because there are different types of plastic, Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyamide (PA), Polycarbonate (PC), and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

No. Name Output Most Common Product Weaknesses
1. Polyethylene (PE) Resistant to Chemicals

Resistant to Cold

 Ice Tray Not Heat Resistant
2. Polypropylene (PP) Similar to PE

Increased Hardness

Heat Resistant

 Vacuum Cleaner None
3. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) Mostly Used in Electronics and Health Care Lego or Car Dashboard Not Chemical Resistant

 
4. Polyamide (PA) Strong Surface
Heat Resistant		 Drill or Motor Parts None
5. Polycarbonate (PC) Solid and Transparent Street Lamps None
6. Polyoxymethylene (POM) Self-Recovering Spiral Rings
7. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Pressure Resistant Bottles Not Heat Resistant

 

Plastics are dangerous for the ocean because ocean species can think that plastics are food, the most endangered animal by plastics are sea turtles, seals, sea birds, fish, and whales. Plastic bags are very bad for the environment because it takes very long to be decomposed and if plastics are under sunlight toxic substances can go into the soil. Besides that, plastics are bad for the air because when it is burned, they release toxic gases. In addition, you can also decrease plastic pollution by recycling, instead of using plastic bad you can use a bag to bring stuff, and use a glass bottle to decrease plastic waste.

This article will explore the dangers of plastic, how it affects our world, and how to mitigate the problems caused by these plastics.

Reference

https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/marine-plastic-pollution#:~:text=Impacts%20on%20marine%20ecosystems,stomachs%20become%20filled%20with%20plastic

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/marine-animals-are-dying-because-of-our-plastic-trash/.

https://www.ibanet.org/article/76F8D2A9-1A1D-4A2F-8A6F-0A70149FD4D5#:~:text=The%20major%20impact%20of%20plastic,air%20causing%20ambient%20air%20pollution

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/plastic-bag-bans-can-help-reduce-toxic-fumes#:~:text=The%20burning%20of%20plastics%20releases,and%20human%20and%20animal%20health.&text=Burning%20plastic%20also%20releases%20black,climate%20change%20and%20air%20pollution.

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution.

https://youtu.be/PbuiIhr0LVA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic