Harmful effect of plastics?
Due to their insolubility in water and relative chemical inertness, pure plastics generally have low toxicity in their finished state, and will pass through the digestive system with no ill effect (other than mechanical damage or obstruction). However, plastics often contain a variety of toxic additives. For example, plasticizers like adipates and phthalates are often added to brittle plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to make them pliable enough for use in food packaging, children's toys and teethers, tubing, shower curtains and other items. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of the plastic when it comes into contact with food. Out of these concerns, the European Union has banned the use of DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate), the most widely used plasticizer in PVC. Some compounds leaching from polystyrene food containers have been found to interfere with hormone functions and are suspected human carcinogens. Moreover, while the finished plastic may be non-toxic, the monomers used in its manufacture may be toxic; and small amounts of those chemical may remain trapped in the product. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recognized the chemical used to make PVC, vinyl chloride, as a known human carcinogen. Some polymers may also decompose into the monomers or other toxic substances when heated. The primary building block of polycarbonates, bisphenol A (BPA), is an estrogen-like hormone disrupter that may leach into food.Research in Environmental Health Perspectives finds that BPA leached from the lining of tin cans, dental sealants and polycarbonate bottles can increase body weight of lab animals' offspring.[citation needed] A more recent animal study suggests that even low-level exposure to BPA results in insulin resistance, which can lead to inflammation and heart disease.[citation needed] Bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, present in plastic wrap based on PVC, is also of concern, as are the volatile organic compounds present in new car smell. Toxic chemicals allegedly released by the reuse of water bottles have been the subject of urban legend. Plastics are durable and degrade very slowly. The molecular bonds that make plastic so durable make it equally resistant to natural processes of degradation
Is plastic or aluminum more harmful?
Neither is great, but aluminum is worse (especally when heated). Also you can't put aluminum in the microwave since it sparks (technically it should not be used for cooking), but plastic leaches stuff info food, especially if it's via ceranwrap on top (in a microwave). Storing things in platic tupperware in the fridge is fine since the temperatures are cold enough that no reactions can happen, but for cooking and eating, ceramic is preferable. Aluminum on the other hand should just be avoided (for baking pyrex glass/ceramic is better). Out of all the forms of aluminum, aluminum foil is the most likely to leech stuff. Hope that helps!
Why is it harmful to use a plastic bottle more than once?
If you refill a bottled-water bottle with tap water, rather than buying another bottle of water, it is harmful to the profit margins of bottled water companies.Edit: since this (smartass) answer got popular, I should add: no, there is no additional harm from reusing plastic bottles that isn't there on the first use. You might want to avoid drinking liquid that has gotten hot in a bottle, but that is true on first use as well.
For my triops is it okay to use a plastic container that i washed out with soap?
I already had triops before 3 times but kept them in a jar then switched them to a bowl after the jar got two big. after they died i got hermit crabs but know i think on getting triops again. I was going to use a plastic container (not food container) but then i remembered i washed it out with soap. will this be harmful to my triops. Also here is what i plan to use for my triops *that cage *the hermit crab sand at pet co (any other you would recamand) *spring water i have eggs left and a little food. thank you to whoever helps me! :)
Paper bags are useful as well as harmful for environment. how?
Paper bags are readily recyclable. Plastic or water-resistant coatings or layers make recycling more difficult. When they are buried, paper bags becomes compost for the soil. It is harmful because it is made up of trees and, when recycled, uses up a lot of water. read more here: http://www.angelfire.com/wi/PaperVsPlast...
Is plastic harmful to the environment? What would you replace it with?
Plastic bags now already have the reputation of being fairly destructive for the environment. They are made from crude oil, and the implications of that are several. For starters, it’s not a renewable resource, making it hard to understand why we are so dependent on that product. Secondly, extracting it causes an incredible amount of pollution, no matter how it is done. According to the Natural Environment website, it takes up to 100 million barrels of oil to manufacture a year’s worth of plastic bags worldwide.Then, there is the time it takes to degrade. Since most are not biodegradable, they don’t actually completely disappear. Instead, they leave a form of ‘plastic dust’, which is a very small particle of plastic. What we need to know is that not all plastic bags end up in landfills. Several are found in forests, lakes, rivers and oceans. As a matter of fact, there is a ‘plastic soup’ patch in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of continental USA, and it is not going to disappear due to the makeup of the bags.Although most people know about the devastating effects of plastic, there are still quite a lot of people who refuse to throw their garbage in the right locations (bins) or reduce their consumption of bags and disposable products. This affects the wildlife in every location that the plastic is contaminating.For example, approximately 100,000 sea turtles and other marine mammals die each year from ingesting pieces of plastic since they mistake it for food. Jellyfish are apparently prone to this as well as the albatross and other endangered species. Land wildlife do the same thing, and this could have dire consequences on humans in the long run, since most people on the planet still eat meat.Some suggest recycling as an alternative, but this is not reliable since the resource is still being used, and we need to use more energy to convert the plastic into a new item. Reusing it as a doggie-doo bag is nice, or for the garbage bins, but this still means we are using plastic. The best solution is to purchase reusable bags, or better yet, make your own from scrap materials…Thank you..!
How can i reduce plastic pollution?
You can start it by yourself with the little thing. First, if u go shopping just use paper bag avoid plastic. Then, if u have many plastics u can recycle or make it to be a new thing. Sometimes it's better and more expensive than before. Or u can reuse the plastic that u have. Next, if u go traveling u should fill the water into the container so u don't have to buy plastic bottle. Finally, u have to ask ur friends and family to do the same. Slowly or quickly it will spread, influence each other, and make the change for our life and for the environment. Thanks