POLYTHENE POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION

1 million plastic bags are used worldwide every minute Pollution from Polythene in this age of computers and Internet, Use and Throw culture is the order of the day. We use anything and after using it, throw it away. Polythene pollution has drastically disturbed everymans life style. Polythene material can be seen spread over in the streets, in the neighborhood, in the rivulets, river-banks of the small or big rivers. Even Ganga, Yamuna and other rivers all are covered with a thick layer of polythene material. Degradation of polyethne is a great challenge as the materials are increasingly used.

HISTORY Polyethylene (otherwise known as polythene) was first synthesized by the German chemist Hans von Pechmann who prepared it by accident in 1898 while heating diazomethane. When his colleagues Eugen Bamberger and Friedrich Tschirner characterized the white, waxy, substance that he had created they recognized that it contained long -CH2- chains and termed it polymethylene. The first industrially practical polyethylene synthesis was discovered (again by accident) in 1933 by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson at the ICI works in Northwich, England. Upon applying extremely high pressure (several hundred atmospheres) to a mixture of ethylene and benzaldehyde they again produced a white, waxy, material. Because the reaction had been initiated by trace oxygen contamination in their apparatus the experiment was, at first, difficult to reproduce. It was not until 1935 that another ICI chemist, Michael Perrin, developed this accident into a reproducible high pressure synthesis for polyethylene that became the basis for industrial LDPE production beginning in 1939. POLYETHYLENE Polyethylene is a polymer consisting of long chains of the monomer ethylene (IUPAC name ethane). The recommended scientific name polyethene is systematically derived from the scientific name of the monomer. In certain circumstances it is useful to use a structure-based nomenclature; in such cases IU PAC recommends (poly(methylene) (poly(methanediyl) is a

non-preferred alternative). The difference in names between the two systems is due to the opening up of the monomer's double bond upon polymerization .In the polymer industry the name is sometimes shortened to PE in a manner similar to that by which other polymers like polypropylene and polystyrene are shortened to PP and PS respectively. In the United Kingdom the polymer is commonly called polythene, although this is not recognized scientifically. The ethene molecule (known almost universally by its common name ethylene) C2H4 isCH2=CH2, Two CH2 groups connected by a double bond. SYNTHESIS OF POLYETHYLENE "Polythene seemed a great boon, not least to the food industry, when it was first invented. But it is now increasingly being seen as a mixed blessing. It has helped improve food hygiene at the cost of environmental degradation. It is a classic example of a short-term fix now unraveling," said Professor Tim Lang, a commissioner for natural resources and land use at the Sustainable Development Commission, of polythene's discovery. Subsequent landmarks in polyethylene synthesis have revolved around the development of several types of catalyst that promote ethylene polymerization at more mild temperatures and pressures. The first of these was a chromium trioxide-based catalyst discovered in 1951 by Robert Banks and J. Paul Hogan at Phillips Petroleum. In 1953 the German chemist Karl Ziegler developed a catalytic system based on titanium halides and organoaluminium compounds that worked at even milder conditions than the Phillips catalyst. The Phillips catalyst is less expensive and easier to work with, however, and both methods are used in industrial practice. Biodegradable plastics are plastics that will decompose in natural aerobic (composting) and anaerobic (landfill) environments. Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling microorganisms in the environment to metabolize thermonuclear structure of plastic films to produce an inert humus-like material that is less harmful to the environment. They may be composed of either bioplastics, which are plastics whose components are derived from renewable raw materials, or petroleum-based plastics which utilize an additive. The use of bio-active compounds compounded with swelling agents ensures that, when combined with heat and moisture, they expand the plastic's molecular structure and allow the bio-active compounds to metabolizes and neutralize the plastic. Biodegradable plastics typically are produced in two forms: injection molded (solid, 3D shapes), typically in the form of disposable food service items, and films, typically sold as collection bags for leaves and grass trimmings, and agricultural mulch.

THE PROBLEM OF PLASTIC Since the development of plastic earlier this century, it has become a popular material used in a wide variety of ways. Today plastic is used to make, or wrap around, many of the items we buy or use. The problem comes when we no longer want these items and how we dispose of them, particularly the throwaway plastic material used in wrapping or packaging. Plastics are used because they are easy and cheap to make and they can last a long time. Unfortunately these same useful qualities can make plastic a huge pollution problem. The cheapness means plastic gets discarded easily and its long life means it survives in the environment for long periods where it can do great harm. Because plastic does not decompose, and requires high energy ultra-violet light to break down, the amount of plastic waste in our oceans is steadily increasing.

Studies done locally show about 3 500 particles of plastic per square kilometer of sea off the southern African coast. Surveys of 50 South African beaches from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town show that in five years to 1989 plastic pollution has increased by 190%. More than 90% of the articles found on these beaches contained plastic. Plastic is now found on virtually all South African beaches, even the most remote, and researchers are now also finding plastic rubbish in Antarctic regions. The plastic rubbish found on beaches near urban areas tends to originate from use on land, such as packaging material used to wrap around other goods. On remote rural beaches the rubbish tends to have come from ships, such as fishing equipment used in the fishing industry.

USAGE OF PLASTIC BAG Every year, around 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. 500,000,000,000. Five hundred followed by nine zeros. That's a lot of bags. So many that over one million bags are being used every minute and they're damaging our environment. Big numbers can be daunting so let's put it another way. Every man, woman and child on our planet uses 83

plastic bags every year. That's one bag per person every four and half days. Of those 500 billion bags, 100 billion are consumed in the United States alone.

CAUSES OF PLASTIC POLLUTION Our planet is becoming increasingly contaminated by our unnecessary use of plastic carry bags. Plastics are used because they are easy and cheap to make and they can last a long time. Unfortunately these same useful qualities can make plastic a huge pollution problem. Because the plastic is cheap it gets discarded easily and its persistence in the environment can do great harm. Urbanization has added to the plastic pollution in concentrated form in cities. Big black bin liners, plastic carrier bags carrying advertising logos, clear sandwich bags, vegetable bags and a variety of other forms used to carry our daily food items and other items are all polluting our environment. Just take a look around you. Plastic bags can be seen hanging from the branches of trees, flying in the air on windy days, settled amongst bushes and floating on rivers. They clog up gutters and drains causing water and sewage to overflow and become the breeding grounds of germs and bacteria that cause diseases.

EFFECTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

WILDLIFE Animals and sea creatures are hurt and killed every day by discarded plastic bag. Plastic thrown on land can enter into drainage lines and chokes them resulting into floods in local areas in cities as experienced in Mumbai, India in 1998. It was claimed in one of the programmes on TV Channel that eating plastic bags results in death of 100 cattles per day in U.P. in India. Hundreds of cows die in New Delhi alone every year when they choke on plastic bags while trying to eat vegetable waste stuffed in the garbage. In stomach of one dead cow, as much as 35 kg of plastic was found. Because plastic does not decompose, and requires high energy ultra-violet light to break down, the amount of plastic waste in our oceans is steadily increasing. More than 90% of the articles found on the sea beaches contained plastic. The plastic rubbish found on beaches near urban areas tends to originate from use on land, such as packaging materials used to wrap around other goods, remote rural

beaches the rubbish tends to have come from ships, such as fishing equipment used in the fishing industry. This plastic can affect marine wildlife in two important ways: by entangling creatures, and by being eaten. Turtles are particularly badly affected by plastic pollution, and all seven of the world's turtle species are already either endangered or threatened for a number of reasons. Turtles get entangled in fishing nets, and many sea turtles have been found dead with plastic bags in their stomachs. Turtles mistake floating transparent plastic bags for jellyfish and they eat them. Plastic clogs in their intestine and leads to slow starvation. In one dead turtle found off Hawaii in the Pacific more than 1000 pieces of plastic were found in the stomach. A recent US report concluded that more than 100000 marine mammals die each year in the world's oceans by eating or becoming entangled in plastic rubbish, and the position is worsening World-wide, 75 marine bird species are known to eat plastic articles. This includes 36 species found off South Africa. A recent study of blue petrel chicks at South Africa's remote Marion Island showed that 90% of chicks examined had plastic in their stomachs apparently fed to them accidentally by their parents. South African seabirds are among the worst affected in the world. Plastics may remain in the stomachs, blocking digestion and possibly causing starvation. Many animals such as dolphins, turtles, whales, penguins are killed every year due to plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for food, and therefore die. And worse, the ingested plastic bag remains intact even after the death and decomposition of the animal. Thus, it lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.

Environment Loss of soil fertility: Due to the careless disposal of the "plastics" in the country, the areas where they have been deposited in large quantities have lost soil fertility. This is mainly because they cannot rot and decompose and therefore cannot lead to the formation of good soils. The polythene bags have also got an acidic combination which with time disturbs the chemical formulas of the soils. The poor disposal of the polythene bags can also lead to the spread of diseases. This is because the polythene bags can easily block the sewerage and water pies which can eventually lead to the spread of the Diseases for example the break out of cholera in Kampala in 1997.They cannot also cause water logging since the water cannot

percolate through them and this can be a good breeding ground for some of the vectors which spread diseases. It also causes poor soil erosion and drainage. This is because the polythene bags cannot allow the water to pass through them so easily. As a result the soil is not well aerated, this is because they are non-biodegradable and water cannot easily percolate through them. When the polythene bags enter into the soil, they block further passage of mineral salts and oxygen to the soil. When blocked the soil is unable to yield crops properly this can cause several problems to the peasant farmer and consumers. UNPLEASANT SCENERY The scenery of the various places where wastes are disposed can only best be defined as improper for human settlement and as such , when wastes are poorly disposed, we end up having the beautiful natural environment losing its beauty this may scare away many tourists and visitors in an area. PLASTIC BAGS CHOCK DRAINS Every bag that's washed down a drain during rainfall ends up in the sea every bag that's flushed down a toilet (many mall bags are), ends up in the sea - every bag thats blown into a river will most likely end up in the sea. Besides choking drains, plastics are highly toxics. When burned they release cancer-causing gases. Lying in the garbage, polythene bags also find their way in gut of cattle, asphyxiating the animals. The cheap bags contain chemicals such as cadmium- or lead-based chemicals that are harmful to health. They leach into vegetables, meat and food.

An estimated 15 lakh computers and 30 lakh mobile phones are disposed of every year in India. Computers, mobiles and other electronic items generate hazardous e-waste like lead, brominated flame retardants and chromium which can cause cancer, There is another problem: India has more to deal with than just the waste generated at home. The Environment Protection Authority of Britain recently said 23,000 tonnes of e-waste was dumped in India, China and Pakistan. CONTROLLING PLASTIC POLLUTION

PROPER DISPOSAL OF POLYTHENE WASTE

Education should be given to people on the proper disposal of the polythene waste. The people should be aware about the dangers of the improper disposal of the polythene bags. Local Action projects should be emphasized by the students whereby the students move to the neighboring communities to have them cleaned up and carry out the seminars to create awareness about the dangers of improper waste disposal .Laws and legislations should be put in place regarding the improper polythene waste disposal. The people who are seen throwing away the polythene bags careless while moving should be penalized and this should be done by lobbying the parliament to pass these laws.

REDUCED USE AND RECYCLING There is growing concern about the excess use of plastics, particularly in packaging. This has been done, in part, to avoid the theft of small objects. The use of plastics can be reduced through a better choice of container sizes and through the distribution of liquid products in more concentrated form. A concern is the proper disposal of waste plastics. Litter results from careless disposal, and decomposition rates in landfills can be extremely long. Consumers should be persuaded or required to divert these for recycling or other environmentally acceptable procedures.

Marine pollution arising from disposal of plastics from ships or flow from storm sewers must be avoided. Disposal at sea is prohibited by federal regulation. Recycling of plastics is desirable because it avoids their accumulation in landfills. While plastics constitute only about 8 percent by weight or 20 percent by volume of municipal solid waste, their low density and slowness to decompose makes them a visible pollutant of public concern. It is evident that the success of recycling is limited by the development of successful strategies for collection and separation.

Recycling of scrap plastics by manufacturers has been highly successful and has proven economical, but recovering discarded plastics from consumers is more difficult. It is well recognized that separated plastics can be recycled to yield more superior products than possible for mixed ones. Labeling plastic items with symbols has been employed, which enables consumers to identify them easily for placement in separate containers for curbside

pickup. However, success depends on how conscientious consumers are in employing such standards and the ability of collectors to keep various types of plastic separate.

Even a small amount of a foreign plastic in recycling feedstock can lead to the appreciable deterioration of properties, and it is difficult to achieve a high degree of purity. Manual sorting at recycling centers helps, but even trained sorters have difficulty identifying recyclables. Furthermore, manual sorting is an unattractive task and retaining labor willing to be trained for this is problematic. Automatic sorting techniques have been developed that depend on various physical, optical, or electronic properties of plastics for identification. Such methods prove difficult because of the variety of sizes, shapes, and colors of plastic objects that are encountered. Although in principle it is possible to create devices that can separate plastics with varying degrees of success, the equipment generally becomes more expensive with increasing efficiency. Technology for this continues to improve, and it is becoming possible to successfully separate mixed plastics derived from curbside pickup using such equipment.

ALTERNATIVE MEASURES BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS Several countries have already banned their use and more will doubtless follow. Several Indian states such as Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Goa etc. banned their use. Mumbai's storm water drainage choking with accumulated plastics waste, making the floods unmanageable, is an old story. The Environment Ministry has banned manufacture and uses of plastics carry bags less than 8 inches X 12 inches in size 20 micron in width. The ministry has also asked State Governments to register all plastics manufacturing unit, so that these can be regulated. However, the implementation of the order has been tardy, evident from the large number of polythene bags strewn in every major town and city. The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water made its recent announcement banning plastic bags completely by 2013.

SUBSTITUTE FOR POLYTHENE BAGS Emphasis should be put on the use of paper bags. This is because the paper bags are also light and they can easily decompose. They should therefore act as the substitute for the polythene bags. Jute is one of the strongest natural plant fibers which is durable and re-usable. It is a 100 % natural material that consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen into the atmosphere. Fabrics made of jute fibers are therefore carbon dioxide neutral and are naturally decomposable. The alternative to plastic bags is paper bags, jute bags and cloth bags. Paper, Jute and Cloth are eco-friendly. Jute bags are most suitable substitute then paper and cloth, because it is cheaper then cloth and reusable. Though paper bags are cheaper then jute bags but less durable. The West Bengal Government, which has decided to ban plastic bags in Kolkata and other prominent towns and cities in the State, intends to make use of jute bags mandatory through suitable legislation.

FACT A former chemistry student in Vietnam, 61-year old Le Loc spent $85,700 (1.5 billion Dong) to invent a biodegradable bag all on his own. He had little support. Le Loc said he couldnt get a loan from the bank, because they didnt believe that the project would succeed. Over the last five years he devoted himself to finding a solution to Vietnams plastic bag problem. He mortgaged his house. With the help of technology from the US, he has developed a biodegradable packaging product that will biodegrade after 49-103 days if exposed to direct sunlight, natural bacteria or high humidity. His bags are now available at different localities nationwide and in foreign markets. He is the director of Phuc Le Gia Trade and Service Co. Ltd. In May, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment granted Locs bags the Environment Green Label title. He has also passed quality assurance inspection by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

CONSERVATION ACTION The problem of plastic pollution is serious and requires further urgent study. Immediate action is also required such as: Reduction of the amount of plastic used in packaging which is usually thrown away. Re-use of plastics should be encouraged.

 Plastic wrapping and bags should carry a warning label stating the dangers of plastic pollution, and shoppers should be encouraged to use their own bags, or recycled paper bags. WHAT WE CAN DO Buy products with less Plastic packaging and tell store Personnel why you are doing so. Shoppers should use their own bags or recycled paper bags. One should support recycling schemes and promote support for the one in your local area. Fishermen throughout the world should not throw away waste line, net or Plastic litter - this causes huge suffering and many deaths. Practice and promote proper disposal of plastics in your home and at the beach. Always remember that litter generates litter. Never dispose of plastics in the sewage system. At the beach dispose of plastics and other litter in the bins provided. If these facilities are inadequate, contact the local authority responsible and lodge a complaint. We can take our litter back home if there are no receptacles on the beach. Pick up any plastic litter that we may see on the beach or in rock pools in the vicinity in which you are sitting or walking. Encourage young children to do likewise. In the street never throw plastic or other litter out of your car or drop it on the pavement or in the gutter. Set an example to others and encourage them to help. Plastics are not themselves a problem. They are useful and popular materials which can be produced with relatively little damage to the environment. The problem is the excessive use of plastics in one-off applications together with careless disposal

CONCLUSION By refusing to use plastic bags, we can make a huge difference to the pollution problem. Remember that each person uses about 83 bags a year. If there are four people in a family, that's 332 plastic bags less every year. That's 332 bags that will: Release toxins into the ground water from landfill sites Stay in the environment for hundreds of years while they break down Get into the food chain through animals that ingest small particles of plastic Waste energy during the manufacturing process Kill any of the estimated 100,000 marine animals that die each year of plastic pollution These are all-important factors that have a profound effect on our environment and the creatures we share our planet with. We shouldnt really put our own selfish needs before the needs of everything around us now and the lives of future generations.

WEBSITE REFERENCES http://www.scribd.com/doc/20526079/Polythene-Pollution-Final-Submission http://www.googobits.com/articles/p4-1604-plastic-bag-pollution.html http://www.greenhopes.in/?p=26

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION HISTORY POLYETHYLENE SYNTHESIS OF POLYETHYLENE THE PROBLEM OF PLASTIC USAGE OF PLASTIC BAG CAUSE OF PLASTIC POLLUTION EFFECTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION CONTROLLING PLASTIC POLLUTION ALTERNATIVE MEASURES CONCLUSION