How does plastic affect our health?

Microplastics entering the human body via direct exposures through ingestion or inhalation can lead to an array of health impacts, including inflammation, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necrosis, which are linked to an array of negative health outcomes including cancer, cardiovascular diseases.

Why is plastic in the ocean bad?

In the ocean, plastic debris injures and kills fish, seabirds and marine mammals. Because persistent organic pollutants in the marine environment attach to the surface of plastic debris, floating plastics in the oceans have been found to accumulate pollutants and transport them through ocean currents.

What are the causes of littering?

Various Causes of Littering

• Presence of Litter in an Area.
• Construction Projects.
• Laziness and Carelessness.
• The Belief That There is no Consequence For Littering.
• Lack of Trash Receptacles.
• Improper Environmental Education.
• Low Fines.
• Pack Behavior.

What is litter and why is it a problem?

Litter Causes Pollution As litter degrades, chemicals and microparticles are released. These chemicals aren’t natural to the environment and can, therefore, cause a number of problems. For example, cigarette butts can contain chemicals such as arsenic and formaldehyde.

What does plastic pollution do to humans?

Endocrine disruptors like bisphenol A (BPA) will increase our risk of certain cancers, can cause hormonal issues, and even increase risk of infertility and birth defects. Ingesting plastic can also negatively impact the immune system over time.

Where does littering occur most?

Recreational Areas – Parks, beaches, courts, and open areas where people congregate for leisure activities create lots of opportunities for littering. Construction sites – Active residential or commercial construction are a trap for cigarette butts, paper, and plastic.

Is plastic the problem?

But the problem with plastic is that most of it isn’t biodegradable. It doesn’t rot, like paper or food, so instead it can hang around in the environment for hundreds of years. Each year, 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced and 40% of that is single-use – plastic we’ll only use once before it’s binned.