Plastic waste management is becoming a challenging task for countries across the globe and India is no exception to it. The use of plastic is increasing daily and its disposal and safe management hasn’t been comparable with the increase in usage. This resulted in the creation of landfills and garbage patches in the ocean.
Landfills Near Dammaiguda Area
The millions and tons of plastic rippling around the world’s oceans have gathered a lot of media attention recently. Despite that plastic pollution potentially possess a bigger threat to the plants and animals which are based not only on the water as well as in the land.
Trash garbage floating on water
Researchers in Germany have warned about the effect of microplastics in soils, sediments, and fresh water and this can have a long-term negative effect on the ecosystem. They also said about terrestrial microplastic pollution is higher than marine microplastic pollution approximately 4 to 23 times higher, depending on the environment.
The microbiologist concludes that although little research has been carried out in this field, the results to date regarding fragments of plastic are present practically all over the world and can activate many kinds of adverse effects.
The study estimates that one-third of all plastic waste is in soil or freshwater. This plastic mostly disintegrates into smaller than 5mm, also known as microplastics, and these break downs further into nanoplastics.
On the left: Artificial turf football field with ground tire rubber used for cushioning. On the right: Microplastics from the same field, washed away by rain, and found close to a stream
Sewage:
Sewage is an essential factor in the distribution of microplastics. Whereas, 80 to 90 percent of plastic particles present in sewage come from fibers that persist in sludge, says the study Microplastics can even be found in tap water.
Toxic Effects :
Chlorinated plastic releases harmful chemicals into the soil, which can seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources, and into the ecosystem. This can cause a range of potentially dangerous effects on the species that drink the water.
Shovel excavator spreading sewage sludge on a field.
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