PLASTIC

POLLUTION
What is PLASTIC ?
 PLASTIC is a material
consisting of synthetic or semi synthetic
organic compounds that are malleable and so
can be molded into solid objects.
PLASTIC POLLUTION
is the accumulation
of plastic objects
and particles in the
Earth’s environment
that adversely
affects
wildlife ,
wildlife habitat and
humans.
Why do we use so much
of
plastic products ??????
 Low cost

Flexible

Light Weight

Moisture resistant

Ease of manufacture

Versatile
Why should we avoid
using plastics ?
 People use
People buy plastic .
more plastic.
People throw
it away.

They get
hurt and die.

Fish and sea animals It ends up in

get trapped in Oceans and
plastic or eat it. rivers.
Who all are Affected?

CONSEQUENCES:
Internal blockages ,injuries ,
stop feeling hungry,
stop hunting for food ,and
eventually
starve to death ,
may develop ulcers.
BIRDS
CAUSES:
1) Red ,white and light brown
plastic particles floating
on the surface are
mistaken for plankton.
2) Light brown particles
resemble fish eggs.
3) Birds wings and necks may
get caught up in pieces of
plastic bags.
4) Toxic chemicals leach out
of plastics and can be
ingested by birds.
 FISH
CAUSES:
1) They may ingest the
toxic chemicals
leached from plastics.
2) When small fish eat
plastic and a bigger
fish eats many of
these little
(contaminated) fish
CONSEQUENCES: ,the big fish ends up
1) Ingestion of plastic causes intestinal injury and with an accumulation
death. of plastic in its system.
2) Entangled fish cannot move to escape predators
or to look for food.
3) Fish and marine mammals wounded by plastic
rings or ropes and which may cause their death.
 TURTLES
CAUSES:
1) Jellyfish are a turtle’s favourite food!
2) But, turtles can’t tell the difference
between a jellyfish and a floating
plastic bag.
3) Turtles also ingest plastic ropes and
other plastic fishing equipment.
CONSEQUENCES:
4) Plastic ingestion cause blockage in gut
and cause death.
5) Entangled turtles cannot move to
escape predators or to look for food.
6) Turtles that get trapped in plastic rings
eventually grow around them , causing
their bodies to be deformed and their
organs to not develop properly.
CORALREEFS
CAUSES:
1) Plastic pollution from the land gets
carried into the sea and other water
bodies.
2) Ships may also be a source of pollution
out at sea.
3) Plastics may be carried into sea
through rivers, streams etc.
CONSEQUENCES:
4) Pesticides from land carried on plastics
affect coral reproduction and growth.
5) Sewage through plastic produce
pathogens.
6) Fishing gear (nets) become entangled
on corals .
7) Plastic blocks the sunlight.
HUMANS
 CAUSES:
1) Plastic may soak up toxic chemicals
before even moving into the sea.
2) Human eat contaminated fishes which
are full of toxic chemicals leached by
plastic.
3) Even if a fish is cleaned before cooking
we may still be contaminated with toxic
chemicals in its flesh.

CONSEQUENCES:
1) Cause of different type of cancers.
2) Birth defects
3) Infertility
4) Immune system problems
5) Childhood development issues
6) Pregnancy complications
7) Heart , brain and liver diseases
8) Diabetes
9) Lead, cadmium and mercury
poisoning
Integration of plastics into our food chain
The toxins are transferred in the
food chain as they get absorbed
in the animals body .
After they eat the plastic pieces.
Human beings consume these
contaminated fish and mammals.
.
Planet
or
Plastic?
“ We made
plastic. We
depend on it.
Now we’re
drowning in it”
GENERAL 1) It takes 500-1000 years for plastic to
degrade.
FACTS 2) Plastic makes up 10% of all of the waste
we generate in the world.
ABOUT 3) 50% of the plastic we use is single-use or

PLASTIC plates etc.

disposable plastic which includes cups ,

POLLUTIONevery minute, most of which end up

4) 1 million plastic bottles are purchased

polluting water bodies.

5) Nearly 2 million single –use plastic bags
are distributed worldwide every minute.
6) 91% of plastic waste isn’t recycled.
7) We currently recover only 5% of the
plastics we produce.
8) 50 million plastic straws are used every
day in America.
Shocking Facts about plastic
pollution in ocean
1) Billions of pounds of plastic can be found in oceans
making up about 40% of the world’s ocean surfaces. 80%
of pollution enters the ocean from the land.
2) If plastic production isn’t curbed, plastic pollution will
outweigh fish pound for pound by2050.
3) Plastic constitutes approximately 90% of all trash floating
on the ocean’s surface , with 46000 pieces of plastic per
square mile.
4) 1million sea birds and 100000 marine mammals are
killed annually from plastic in our oceans.
5) 44% of all seabird species , 22% of cetaceans, all sea
turtle species and a growing list of fish species have been
documented with plastic in or around their bodies.
Ways to reduce your
plastic consumption
1) SAY NO to plastic straws..
2) Bring a reusable shopping bag with you.
3) Get rid of the plastic water bottle.
4) Pack your lunch in silver containers
instead of plastic.
5) Give up gum. Gum is made up 1) Use of cloth diapers instead of
disposable diapers .
of synthetic rubber. 2) Avoid snacks/food with excess
packaging.
3) Stop using plastic cutlery
4) RECYCLE- if u want to use plastic , try to
choose #1(PETE) or #2(HDPE), which
are the most commonly recycled
plastics . Avoid plastic bags and
polystyrene foam as both typically
have very low recycling rates.
Biodegradable
Plastics
These are the
plastics that can be
decomposed by the
action of living
organisms, usually
microbes, into
water, carbon
dioxide and biomass.
These are produced
with renewable raw
materials, micro-
organisms,
petrochemicals or
combination of all
three.
 Things you can do to encourage
others to join in
1) Encourage your family and friends , workplace ,
school or group to get involved. Share what you’ve
learned about reducing single –use plastics and
encourage them to join with you .
2) Encourage your local cafe or favourite restaurant
to provide a discount for those bringing
recyclable cups and containers.
3) Promote recycling at work or in your school by
setting up or requesting recycling bins for organic
waste, glass, paper, plastics, e-waste including
batteries and phones.
4) Share your achievements and challenges on social
media with the hashtags
(WED18).
In reality, we cannot eliminate plastic use from our
day-to-day activities. However , we should not allow
plastic to reach the soil or water . The government
should restrict plastic production and encourage
recycling through appropriate policies.
We clean our house and get rid of all the waste ,
thinking we are working towards clean India mission
but cleaning is just a visible removal of waste of your
“Environmental degradation hurts the poor and
vulnerable the most. It is the duty of each one
of us to ensure that material prosperity does not
compromise our environment”
~ NARENDRA MODI
REFERENCES
SUBMITTED
BY ~
SAIJAL
VERMA
(181657)
ARNAV
RAWAT
(181632) SUBMITTE
D TO~
Dr. RISHI
RANA