7 Dangers of Plastic Waste to the Environment
Many environmental problems have arisen due to waste. Not only are there long-term dangers, but it is also troublesome in the short term. Friends, have you realized the dangers of plastic waste in everyday life?
The danger of plastic waste is a problem that arises from human behavior when neglecting to process used plastic. Yes, plastic waste can actually be processed or reused so that it does not harm the environment. Here are the dangers of plastic waste that need to be anticipated.
Unsightly
Friends, have you ever felt disturbed by scattered plastic waste? Plastic waste that is difficult to decompose often floats on the surface of rivers or seas. In addition, you must often find remnants of plastic waste that have been trampled on the ground, right?
This certainly makes the environment unpleasant to look at. Plastic waste that is difficult to decompose makes the environment look dirty and shabby. Moreover, if this happens in recreational areas, the natural scenery that should be beautiful is also disturbed.
Pollution for animals and microorganisms
Hard-textured pieces of plastic waste can injure small animals. As living beings that rely on instinct, plastic may also be ingested. Imagine if waste cannot decompose in the digestive systems of animals; it would certainly be very dangerous. Not only that, the chemical materials from plastic that decompose into microplastics also become toxic substances that can endanger microorganisms.
Disrupting the food chain
What is the impact of microorganisms on the environment? This does not only affect plants, you know. When the soil is contaminated by microplastics, plants will also be affected. This can result in barren environments, dead insects, and animals unable to find their own food.
Contaminating water and soil
Piling plastic waste in landfills certainly causes air pollution. However, when its chemicals seep into the soil and interact with water, the quality of the water will also be contaminated. The soil will be contaminated with chemicals, making groundwater vulnerable to contain harmful toxins.
Can cause air pollution
Besides its unpleasant smell, plastic waste can pollute the air through open burning (incineration). According to an article from Kumparan, waste management methods using incineration can produce very high carbon dioxide emissions. The carbon emitted from burning plastic is estimated to be equivalent to coal-fired power plant pollution of 189 watts by the end of 2019.
Potential to cause health problems
Air, water, and soil pollution can certainly impact human health. Friends also need to understand that the chemical content that contaminates marine animals can be dangerous for humans. This can happen because fish contaminated with chemicals also contain toxic substances when consumed by humans.
Draining maintenance costs
It is undeniable that the dangers of plastic waste can impact various elements of the environment. Can all of this be addressed or at least the dangers reduced? Perhaps it can, but the costs required will certainly be very high because advanced equipment is needed to process it. In addition, state revenue can also decline when tourists are no longer interested in visiting dirty recreational places.
If you pay attention, the dangers of plastic waste are not only harmful in the long term, right? The impacts of plastic waste may already be felt as detrimental and are experienced in today's life. Let us take care of the environment to keep it comfortable by being more mindful when using plastic materials, okay!
Author: Rizkita Darajat
