gulp, it’s plastic!
It’s choking the environment as you gasp for life
dubai — We are living on a plastic planet. A recent research by Orb says microscopic plastic fibres are flowing out of taps in many countries. From the halls of the US Capitol to the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda, women, children, men, and babies are consuming plastic with every glass of water.
Tap water samples from more than a dozen nations were analysed by scientists and overall, 83 per cent of the samples were contaminated with plastic fibres. Plastic is non-biodegradable and has a long-term effect on health as well as the environment.
Though the UAE was not included in the countries that were tested, the country has always been in the forefront of the war against plastics.
Authorities have been looking at ways to minimise the effect on human health and the environment.
The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) responded to the eyeopening study and said, “With this alarming growth rate of plastic pollution, it makes us very concerned. We should look at the numbers and ask as a society: how can we help sustain the environment that we are living in?”
Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of the group said that plastic is considered one of the most polluting substances in the world today and pollutes lands and water and contributes greatly to climate change as it also utilises non-renewable resources of energy for its production.
“In UAE, 12 million bottles are sold each year. Plastics make up around seven per cent of the average household trash. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Water in 2013, 30 per cent of the residents in the UAE use 20 plastic bags a week! It is said that a typical useful lifespan of a plastic bag is 12 minutes,” she told Khaleej Times in an interview. So should it be banned? “Plastic is also one of the most abundantly used man-made substances. Industries ranging from construction to packaging use it extensively. Unfortunately, this inexpensive material is also endowed with qualities such as water resistance and versatility. However, a lot of people do not truly understand the long-term effects the substance has on our environmental if improperly disposed,” she said.
Once thrown out, a plastic bag reaches the landfill where it takes almost 1,000 years to decompose. To get around this, many people burn plastic instead — a process that is very dangerous as it infuses the atmosphere with toxic gases. Plastic does not completely biodegrade, it simply photodegrades into smaller toxic pieces.
“Having said that it is not possible to ban all types of plastic. The problem does not lie with the material (plastic) itself, but the behaviour and attitudes of those using it. Most people are oblivious on how and where to recycle their plastic and end up throwing it, which in turn pollutes the environment,” Habiba said.
The key to the issue is good environmental
plastic is also one of the most abundantly used man-made substances. industries ranging from construction to packaging use it extensively Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group
management and recycling. “We must follow the three Rs — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Banning such a versatile material is not just impractical but will also adversely affect economies around the world.
So what happens when plastic is mixed in water and ingested by humans, animals and sea life?
“We, as humans, carelessly dispose of plastic in our water bodies every day. According to the Science journal and the most comprehensive study on plastic pollution, eight million tonnes of plastic was thrown into oceans in the year 2010,” said Habiba.
The study also shockingly reported that 192 nations across the world produce 275 million tonnes of plastic waste.
Latest figures claim there are over 51 trillion particles or 236,000 tonnes of plastic waste that is being dumped in oceans. These pollutants break down into smaller fragments that are ingested by marine life. This causes death, suffocation, congestion of the digestive tract, blockages of the gut and perforation of the intestine of these animals.
Plastic containers used for heating emit toxic substances such as Bisphenol A, promotes the growth of cancer cells, especially among young children. It is also linked to miscarriages in women.
Each year, camels, cows, and sheep; and marine life such as turtles and dolphins perish as they consume plastic bags or pieces, mistaking them for food.
Ingestion of plastic is very dangerous for human health too. Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are the direct toxins that affect humans. Some plastics also consist of a toxic carcinogen known as Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). Other toxins in plastic have known to cause grave birth defects, cancers and developmental disorders. BPA (health-bisphenol-A) along with those toxins mentioned previously can alter and affect human hormonal functions.
Plastic items and bags strewn around adversely impact tourism and fishing industries. They clog sewage systems and waterways, resulting in increased maintenance costs.
“Clean drinking water is our basic need. However, we have been careless in our attitude towards the environment for decades now. And the worst has happened — our drinking water isn’t safe anymore” said Habiba.
Proper management, disposal and recycling of plastic is the only way out before it is too late.
Dr Sanjeev Kumar Rastogi, Specialist Gastroenterology, Canadian Specialist Hospital said that plastic products get their desirable properties by the addition of harmful chemicals which have negative effects on environmental and human health. “Microplastics are harmful due to the combination of intrinsic toxicity, chemical composition and the ability to absorb and release environmental pollutants. They are also known to harbour and carry pathogens,” he said. Ingesting microplastics over a long period of time can lead to release of chemicals in the human body. Chemicals can have various effects on human health depending on their type.
Dr Sanjeev said that the level of human exposure, chronic toxic effect concentrations and underlying toxicological mechanisms by which microplastics elicit effects are still too poorly understood to make a full assessment of the risks to humans.
Dr Anita Das Gupta Clinical Dietitian, Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi said: “Studies on animals using these chemicals have been found to result in insulin resistance, decrease in sperm production and senility.”
Effect on the development of the brain and hormones have also been reported. Some toxins in plastics are directly linked to cancers, birth defects, immune system problems and childhood development, she added.
“Even though humans do not directly consume plastic they get it indirectly from the food they eat and the air they breathe. Probably humans can be exposed to these effects.”
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com