Manhood and the environment commonly face the challenges created with the technologicalcommodities and innovations, referred to as the development, is accepted as a result of intellectual human development.At present humankind faces the feasible as well as non-feasible impacts, and finding accelerated solution to those non-feasible impacts has become a global challenge.Owing to the competency andcomplexity of the society powered by the technology,human tendency to lead a sophisticated and easy lifestyle is inevitable. The threat imposed on the environment and the self-sustenance of humankind,due to these sophisticated and easy lifestyle and consumption pattern is decisive and challenging.
Entering of micro-plastics to the environment as a pollutant, is more suitable to define, as a by effect of this pattern of consumption.The reason for the popularity of plastic items in the common society can be identified due to their lightweighted nature and easiness in handling and moving, attractiveness, colorfulness, low cost and convenient in disposing.As a result, it has imposed health impacts as well as short term and long term impacts on the environment, since the plastics are being disposed to the environment as waste in improper manner and also due to enter to the human body, while using them.It has to be seriously taken into account that micro-plastics are currently used as raw materials in production processes.This may create a challenge to sustainable future, by its impacts on the human health and the environment.
Therefore it is important to identify the threat of micro-plastics and to look for remedial action, locally and globally.
Micro-plastics are …
Plastic particles polymers, ranging from less than 5 millimeters in size, are known as micro-plastics. They are artificial and high molecular weighted compounds.Their insolubility in water, and the low rate of bio-decomposition creates persistence to a great extent in the environment ,while damaging the human well -being. Micro-plastics can be categorized as primary and secondaryconsidering its base and the size of the molecules. Plastic components produced as components of customer protection products such as detergents, cosmetics, or industrial products are known as primary micro-plastics, and also known as mico-pebbles.Further, plastic wastes and fibers, which are decomposing after exposure to the environment, are known as secondary micro-plastics.
Micro-plastics exists as pieces, fibers, films, foams, pebbles/ balls, crystals, grans, of polymers of high or low density polyethylene (PE), poly-propylene (PP), poly-propylene terephthalate (PET), poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) and poly-vinyl alcohol.
Common Challenges created by micro-plastics.
The quantity of micro-plastics enter to the environment, and the challenge of the huge disaster which may create in the future, has been revealed by different studies conducted by many countries, while emphasizing the necessity of taking hurried steps to abstention from thishazard.It is very important to pay attention on the pollution of marine environment which has been identified as a great environmental threat. 80% out of the total requirement of oxygen for earth, is supplied by the oceans, and hence pollution of such eco-system in turn, may impact negatively on the entire biotic and abiotic systems, or in other words, may cause a threat on balanced ecosystems by the adverse effects on the marine environment. It may create a threat upon the entire living component, as well as the non-living component of the environment.
Micro-plastics –threat to human health….
Direct or indirect entering of micro-plastic particles, by using of plastics in day-to day life, and some threats on the human health caused by that, has been identified as irremediable. Chronic and acute health effects could be possible including in the respiratory system, digestive system, and reproductive system and endocrine system, by entering of micro-plastics via mouth, skin and by inhalation.
And by entering of micro-plastics to food chain in the environment eventually may enter the human body through food, and cause various complicated deceases in the digestive system such as nausea, vomiting, stomach irritation, stomachinflammation etc. Health disorders are also possible due to the imbalance caused on useful and harmful bacteria in the human body.
Especially, compared to the plastic particles, the amount of micro-plastics in the environment is high, and by possible chemical reactions within the environment, and it is not an easy task to prevent them entering the human body through inhalation.It has been revealed that chronic deceases such as respiratory deceases, cardio-vascular problems, and cancer, andother acute health issues such as cough due to infection in the lungs, sneezing, respiratory issues caused by changes of oxygen levels in blood, fatigue, nausea may caused .Studies on epidemic conditions have identified that there is a direct relationship between exposure to micro-plastics and the harmful health impacts.It has alsobeen revealed on the chronic respiratory problems of the workforce exposed to polymer based production sector of the Netherlands, and lungs and associated respiratory system issues of workers at Nylon production factories in Canada and United States.
Furthermore,the extent of the impacts of micro-plastics on human health is such that, its critical interference on the fate of the human resource has been manifested.According to the recent research studies, presence of micro-plastic particles in embryonic placenta and breast milkhas been revealed, and due to possibility of abortions, lowering of fertility and birth defects, it may lead to a very pathetic, critical social aspect.
Studies have revealed that not only the commodities used in day today life, but in certain type of salts used in food and detergents, contain micro-plastics.Apart from that, as raw materials inclusive of micro plastic particles in cosmetic products used in beauty culture, it is worth to pay attention on the use of such products. It is required to think twice on the final results of using such products.
Deterioration of Ecosystems
Biotic and abiotic components and the bio diversity are important and essential factors in maintaining of the balance of the biosphere. Accordingly, it is beyond doubt that existence of ecosystems and the living components are vital.However,deterioration of such ecosystems at different levels are often noted as a result of anthropogenic activities. It is a globally accepted and identified fact on the presence of micro-plastics as one of the major environmental issues. Existence of materials in the environment without decaying, is an issue and thereby the extent of the jeopardy is beyond evaluation.
In the event of production of plastic has been increased rapidly, disposal of such products has become a globally challengeable matter. It is revealed that heaps of plastics are being deposited at the marine environment.It obstructs the supply of oxygen to earth by causing impacts on the planktons, and the on the food chain.
Furthermore, fish and other aquatic animals, birds, feed upon these micro-plastic particles are exposed to the damages in the digestive system, and choking which make both internal and external risks, possible.
Clean Water and air, soil and such other indicators of sustainable development are adversely effected due to the influence of the micro-plastics and hence it is important to identify and pay due attention on finding sustainable solutions for these environmental issues.
Impacts on the soil by deposition and existence of micro-plastics on the earth without decompose over 500-1000 years, i.e.; soil infertility, may eventually lead to have negative impacts on food production, and a social issue. Similarly, by entering the micro-plastic particles to water bodies and water sources may cause water pollution, and water becomes unsuitable for human consumption, aggravate the water scarcity which is already being experienced by many countries of the world by now.
At this juncture, it is important to pay attention on taking remedial action on hindering the addition of micro-plastics to the environment with immediate effect. Attention on this regard has to be paid by all the countries of the world, since micro plastics produced in one country and distribution among other countries in the present day society is common phenomena.
Facing the challenge; Sri Lanka’s intervention
According global context, humans and of society of our country,and the environment cannot be exempted from the adverse effects of the micro-plastics .Therefore to face the challenge of creating a sustainable future for the society and environment, steps have to be taken by Sri Lankan society, without further delay. Individual and, institutional intervention is essentially required for this, since having a proper regulatory system for micro-plastics, is an inevitable factor. Accordingly, the Central Environmental Authority as the national regulatory body on the subject of environment, has now taken regulatory initiatives to prohibit and control single use plastics, and it is believed to be effective.
The Central Environmental Authority has taken steps at various instances, to control the production, distribution, trading and related activities pertaining to single use plastics and is in the process of planning such initiative for the future.
Production, use, and trade of Polythene with thickness 20 microns or less than that is prohibited within the country. Under this regulationsproduction,trade and use of polythene food wrapping sheets, open burning of high density polythene (HDPE), shopping bags, plastics and plastic waste, and production, trade and use of expanded polystyrene food containers are prohibited within the country.
Further the Central Environmental Authority has taken initiatives to prohibit PET, PVC sachet packets of net volume less than 20 milliliters/ net weight equal or less than 20 g (except for food or medicine containers), inflatable toys ( balloons/floating toys/ other than toys used in swimming pools and water sports equipment), cotton ear buds with plastic stems( except for cotton buds used in the surgical and clinical applications and procedures) and single use drinking straws, airers, except at air travels use of single use food containers, plates, cups, forks, spoons/ plastic garlands, string hopper trays, usage or processing within the country, trading or use of those items in any other industrial activities.
Micro-plastics effects the individuals, environment and also the entire society, the economic activities, while challenging the global sustenance.Therfore it is the duty of all citizens to comply with the regulatory processes, while identifying the risk. If not the long term impacts on the wellbeing of the whole society would be crucial.
It is believed that all the responsible initiatives taken either individually or institutionally, would be effective and fruitful to find remedial actions for various environmental problems such as climate change,increase of global temperature, desertification, deforestation, and degradation of the bio diversity.
Accordingly, it can be stated that the regulatory control measures, and the educational and communication strategies through media, while awakening the human psyche, would be effective measures towards identifying the risk of micro plastics and to guide for a sustainable lifestyle and a sustainable future.
Sujeeva Perera
Senior Environmental Officer
Environmental Promotion Unit
Central Environmental Authority
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