plastic hazards

JKG SAN JOSE

IntroductionPlastic

Types of PlasticsResin Number

Hazards of Plastic

Plastic is a bi-product of petroleum. Every year we are producing thousand of tons of plastic products in the form of packing materials, disposable items

like toys, cigarette lighter, torches, etc. Hazards of plastic is a growing

major concern of environmental researchers worldwide.

INTRODUCTION

What is plastic?

Plastics are polymers (meaning

"many parts" in Greek), which are basically substances or molecules

made up of many repeating molecular units, known as

monomers (meaning "one part" in Greek).

What is plastic?

ethylene

polyethylene

monomer

What is plastic?

polymer

The term "plastic" derives from the Greek "plastikos,"

meaning fit for molding, and "plastos," meaning

molded.

A plastic is made up principally of a binder

together with plasticizers, fillers, pigments, and other

additives.

What is plastic?

PIGMENTS are used to impart various colors.

FILLERS are added to improve particular properties, e.g., hardness or resistance to shock.

 PLASTICIZERS are added to a binder to increase flexibility and toughness.

The BINDER gives a plastic its main characteristics and usually its name. Binder materials consist of very long

chainlike molecules called polymers.

Thermoplastics

ThermoplasticThermosetting

Types of plastic

THERMOPLASTICScan be repeatedly softened and remolded by heat and pressure.THERMOSETTINGcannot be resoftened after being subjected to heat and pressure

Thermosettings

Resin number

The SPI resin identification coding

system is a set of symbols placed on

plastics to identify the polymer type.

The primary purpose of the codes is to allow efficient

separation of different polymer types for recycling. Separation must be efficient because the plastics must be

recycled separately. Even one item of the wrong type of

resin can ruin a mix.

PET

Resin number

HDPEVLDPEPPPSOTHER

RESIN NUMBER

RESIN NUMBER

PLASTIC HAZARDS

Plastics are NON-BIODEGRADABLE materials. Their molecular structure is too large for

microorganisms to consume.

PLASTIC HAZARDS

Burning plastics releases toxic chemicals like hydrochloric acid, which releases chlorine, which is then available to form dioxins.

PLASTIC HAZARDS

Workers in the plastic industry run an increased risk of getting various

health hazards including cancer.

PLASTIC HAZARDS

Millions of animals, sea birds, and sea mammals die each year after

ingesting plastic or getting entangled by plastic debris.

PLASTIC HAZARDS

Drainage and sewage system get blocked by plastic wastes.

Plastic hazards

Economically damaging to the tourist industry.

So what can we do?

Act now before it’s too late!