10th grade
Environmental Impacts
of Plastics and polymer
chemistry
Massa Futainah, Delnia Saeedi & Tala Ahdab
Introduction
What are Polymers?
● Definition: Polymers are large molecules composed of many repeated subunits
called monomers. They can be natural or synthetic.
● Examples:
○ Natural Polymers:
■ Proteins: Essential for biological functions, made of amino acids.
■ Cellulose: Found in plants, provides structure and strength.
○ Synthetic Polymers:
■ Plastics: Such as polyethylene (used in plastic bags) and
polypropylene (used in containers).
■ Rubber: Used in tires and seals.
Plastics :
● Definition of Plastics: A type of synthetic polymer that can
be molded into different shapes and forms.
● Common Uses:
○ Packaging: Food wrappers, bottles, and containers.
○ Consumer Goods: Toys, furniture, and electronics.
○ Construction: Pipes, insulation, and roofing
materials.
Importance of the Topic
● Everywhere You Look: Plastics are found
in almost every part of our daily lives,
making them very useful but also a
problem.
● Environmental Issues: The heavy use of
plastics has caused big problems for the
environment, which makes it important to
understand their effects and find solutions.
● Role of Polymer Chemistry: Learning
about polymer chemistry helps us create
eco-friendly materials and better recycling
methods to reduce plastic waste
Environmental Impact of Plastics
Many conventional plastics don’t biodegrade, which means they don’t break down naturally
over time.
Common plastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene can take hundreds, or
even thousands, of years to break apart. This is because microorganisms find it difficult to
break down these man-made materials.
Even when they do start to degrade, plastics tend to fragment into smaller pieces, known as
microplastics, rather than fully decomposing into safe substances.
Examples of Decomposition Durations:
● Plastic bottles: Can take up to 450 years to fully break down.
● Plastic bags: Generally take between 10 to 20 years, though some last much longer.
● Fishing lines: These can persist in the environment for over 600 years.
Plastic pollution in Landfills and oceans
Accumulation: Ocean Pollution:
○ Plastic waste is rapidly filling up ○ Annually, around 8 to 10 million tons of
plastic waste are dumped into the
landfills. Since plastics don’t break
oceans, creating massive garbage
down, they remain in these spaces
patches like the Great Pacific Garbage
indefinitely, potentially releasing
Patch, which is now twice the size of
harmful chemicals into the
Texas.
surrounding soil and groundwater.
○ Marine life is at great risk due to plastic
○ In 2019, the world produced about waste, such as discarded fishing nets and
368 million tons of plastic, with a packaging. Many animals, like sea turtles,
significant portion of it ending up in often mistake plastic bags for food, such
landfills. as jellyfish, and consume them, leading to
dangerous consequences.
○
Other Environmental Issues Related to Plastics
● Climate Change Contribution:
Plastic production requires a huge amount of energy and relies
heavily on fossil fuels, which release significant amounts of
greenhouse gases. For every ton of plastic made, up to 2.5 tons
of CO₂ are emitted, contributing to global warming. Burning
plastic is just as harmful—it releases carbon dioxide, methane,
and other toxic chemicals, further worsening climate change
and polluting the air we breathe. The entire plastic lifecycle,
from production to disposal, leaves a damaging carbon footprint
on the planet.
Wildlife Disruption:
Plastic waste is a critical threat to wildlife on both land and in the
ocean. Many animals, like sea turtles, often mistake plastic for food
such as confusing plastic bags for jellyfish. This can lead to severe
injuries or starvation when the plastic blocks their digestive systems.
Additionally, animals can become entangled in plastic debris, like
fishing nets, resulting in injury or death. Shockingly, more than 90%
of seabirds and nearly half of all sea turtles have ingested plastic,
putting their survival at grave risk as plastic pollution continues to
rise.
Plastic waste Management
Only around 9% of plastic waste is actually recycled, which means that the vast majority
ends up in landfills or pollutes our oceans. This pollution poses serious threats to marine
animals and ecosystems, as many sea creatures mistake plastic for food, leading to
injuries and death.Recycling plastic can be difficult due to issues like contamination or the
use of mixed materials, which complicate the recycling process. Even though burning
plastic might seem like an easy way to get rid of it, this method releases harmful
chemicals and greenhouse gases into the air, creating additional environmental problems
and risking public health.
What can we do?
Cut Down on Plastic Use:
Try to use fewer single-use plastics, like straws, plastic bags, and disposable
utensils. Instead, choose reusable options that can help reduce plastic waste.
Join Recycling Programs:
Get involved in local recycling efforts and make sure to sort your waste
correctly. This helps ensure that more recyclable materials are reused instead
of ending up in landfills or the ocean.
Raise Awareness:
Talk to others about the harmful effects of plastic pollution on the environment
and animals. Encourage your friends and family to adopt eco-friendly habits,
like using less plastic and choosing sustainable products. The more people
know, the more we can work together to protect our planet.
Thanks!
Do you have any questions?
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