prevention from plastic pollution

 Impacts of plastic pollution.

1. Implications For Animals

Plastic wastes have been mistaken for food by numerous animals, mainly marine wildlife. Large quantities of plastics have been found in the stomachs of many dead animals. When the plastics are ingested, they upset or fill up the digestive systems of the animals thus contributing to their death due to blockage or starvation.

Marine animals can also be trapped in plastic waste where they are exposed to predators or starve to death. The plastics may also contain toxic chemicals which can harm the animal’s vital organs or biological functions. Cumulatively, plastic wastes have profoundly affected animals in aquatic, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.

2. Implications For Human Health

Plastics are made up of a variety of toxic chemicals. As such, its uses and exposure are associated with a number of human health concerns. Chemicals leached from the plastics contain compounds like polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalates. These chemicals have been established to upset the endocrine system and thyroid hormones and can be very destructive to women of reproductive age and young children.

3. Land Pollution

Plastics wastes have resulted in the destruction and decline in quality of the earth's land surface in term of use, landscape and ability to support life forms. Mainly, it’s because plastics leach hazardous chemicals on land, forms breeding grounds for diseases, and litters available space thereby reducing the productive land areas. The bulk of plastics also end up in the landfills and since they take years to breakdown they heap up causing significant health implications to plants, people, and animals within the surrounding.

4. Air Pollution

Often, plastics are burned in the open air. This leads to air pollution because poisonous chemicals are released into the atmosphere during combustion. Plus, when animals or humans inhale the polluted air it can affect their general well-being and cause respiratory disorders.

5. Groundwater Pollution

Whenever plastics are dumped in landfills, the hazardous chemicals present in them seep underground when it rains. The leaching chemicals and toxic elements infiltrate into the aquifers and water table, indirectly affecting groundwater quality. Eventually, it thwarts the efforts of water conservation around the world since it  endangers the sustainability of the water .