Question

Explain the harmful effects associated with the disposal of plastics.

Answer 1

Plastics are non biodegradable wastes. Disposing plastic wastes into the environment causes adverse effects on the living beings. Some of the harmful effects associated with the disposal of plastics are:
(i) Plastics disposed into the environment clot under the soil as they don't easily degrade, avoiding the rainwater getting absorbed by the soil. This cause harm to the plants as they do not get sufficient water for their growth.
(ii) Burning of plastics produces harmful smoke and vapours, which causes respiratory ailments and other disorders in living beings.
(iii) Disposal of plastics into water sources causes the harm to the aquatic life. The toxic material present in the plastics can cause reproductive failure in fish and may even lead to death of the aquatic animals.