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Plastics in general are harmful to the environment because they are here for 500-1000 years, and if left to be in the sun and oxygen, will fragment into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces are then mistaken by wildlife as food, and ultimately humankind eats this wildlife to complete a full, unhealthy circle. With plastic fragmentation being the enemy, OXO-degradable plastics are not eliminating the problem, but rather adding to it by accelerating this process. Also, OXO-degradable plastics add heavy metals and salts into the plastic to make it oxidize, thus leaving behind possibly toxic contaminates. In addition, there is no scientific data showing OXO-degradable plastic to be considered biodegradable (meaning that is is edible like other carbon based material) so it should not be considered biodegradable, but rather only fragmentable or degradable.
Plastics are a wonderful invention that are obviously too convenient and entrenched in our human life-style to discontinue using. What we need is new plastic materials that can work in harmony with the environment rather than be a scourge to the environment. Like truly biodegradable plastics -making plastics earth friendly (like Enso Plastics) because nature, through microbial activity, can take care of the problem for us if we let it.
-Del Andrus
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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What are the harmful effects of plastics on plants and animals?
harmful effects of polythene on animals
1 How can you help plastics be less harmful to the enivirement?
Recycle the plastic
Is it harmful to eat styrofoam?
You should not eat plastics- including expanded polystyrene (styrafoam)
Types of plastics which are harmful to the environment?
jom jim kim is the three types of plastic
Why should you ban harmful plastics in food and drink containers?
Banning harmful plastics, such as Bisphenol A, from food and drink containers is important. Bisphenol A has been proven to cause cancer. When food is heated in plastic containers the plastics heat up as well and leach into the food. Plastic leaching also happens when water bottles warm in the sun.
Why are plastics harmful to environment?
Because there un natural, non biodegradable and just generally alien if you like to the planet?,
How can recycling help the ocean?
It keeps harmful materials (ex. plastics) from getting into the ocean, and being eaten by the animals.
In what two ways does population affect a state?
leaving the waste and harmful products into the river's and sea.burning plastics and tyres.
Why is it that reusing plastics can save the mother earth?
Reusing plastics can save the earth because the manufacturing of plastic is very hazardous to us. If we reuse it, then the manufacturing will be less and hence, the emission of harmful substances will be reduced.
Are plastics important for all living organisms on the Earth?
No, actually plastics are harmful to most living organisms on earth, including humans (depending upon the plastic). Plastics are a very recent invention of humans, and outside of human convenience are not needed in any way, shape or form.
What are the harmful gases in plastic?
Some plastics produces very poisonous fumes when they are burnt. Plastics and other organic compounds containing chlorine and nitrogen produce hydrogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide respectively on combustion.
Are all types of plastics harmful to environment?
No reason for them to be. Plastic can be recycled or reused. Some are biodegradable, and break down when left exposed to weather and sunlight.
