Polythene causes a lot of destruction to the environment. It is because polythene is not biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Polythene is a product of ethylene. Many ethylene molecules link together and give rise to polythene. It has two forms of polymer.
LDPE – low density polythene. This type of polythene is made by polymerization of ethylene at high temperature and high pressure. It is used as a cheap wrapping film. It is more flexible.
HDPE – High density polythene. This type is produced at moderate pressure and at 100 degrees Celsius. It’s harder, more rigid and is used for the manufacture of products such as plastic bowls and baskets.
There are many advantages of using polythene. That would be the very reason the poly bags have become popular among the people.
- They come in different colours and are much easier to use. They are cheap and
disposable. - They do not tear off easily as the paper bags.
- Usage of polythene brings many disadvantages.
- Polythene is, not biodegrade able, and if dumped in the soil causes harm to the plant
life, as the toxic substances of polythene get blocked among the soil particles. - Polythene threatens the life in the water bodies. The chemicals in polythene affects
the survival of flora and fauna of the aquatic and marine eco systems. - Polythene is also likely to clog the drains causing problems in he water flow of the
pipes. The pipe blockages would cause flooding and the free flow of water is disturbed. - Polythene is harmful for animals if swallowed. It solidifies inside the abdominal cavity
which ultimately becomes lethal to the animal. - In most households poly bags are used to preserve food items. It has been found out,
the colourful poly bags contains lead and cadmium which are toxic and cause adverse
effects to human health. - If polythene is burnt in open air Hydrogen Cyanide which is carcinogenic (cancer
causing) is released.
Hydrogen Cyanide causes environmental pollution and health hazards. In order to reduce the damage caused by polythene there are many options which the attention could be drawn for
- Paper bags or cloth bags could be used.
- They recycling and reusing should be enhanced.
- When burning polythene it should be done in closed chambers or any other
environmentally Friendly manner. This reduces pollutants escaping into the
atmosphere. - Use of polythene in food preservation should be discouraged.
- Disposal of polythene into soil or water bodies should not be allowed. New laws got
to be implemented.
Many developed countries have banned polythene completely. It’s a blessing to live in a polythene free nation.
VISHAKA SENADHIRA
Kalutara.
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