Plastic Bags: A Main Destruction for the Environment

Most of us have heard that the use of plastics is a big issue for the environment. Plastic bags tend to disrupt the environment in a serious way. There are many health problems with the use of plastic bags. People often use polythene bags to carry goods and food too. When they put the hot food in the plastic bag, it releases the toxic chemicals in the food, and food becomes poisonous. Same as when people carry fruits, vegetables, and groceries in the plastic bags, the chemicals that are on the bags stick with the grocery items or fruits. It causes serious health problems in the lives of people.

                      Plastic bags get into the soil and slowly release toxic chemicals. They remain in the soil for millions of years and cannot decompose. They eventually break down into the soil, with the unfortunate result being that animals eat them and often choke and die. Usually seen that they surround the bird's neck and caused the death of them. It is examined that injured crows found to have 50 or more plastic bags in their digestive tracts. It is also seen that animals who swallow plastic bags can’t digest them rather it filled the intestines of the animals. While livestock and domestic animals are certainly at risk from plastic bags and suffer from serious health issues because they gaze around the plastic pollution all day.

                      It is also harmful to marine life too. The aquatic varieties eat plastic bags and suffer from serious health problems once they do. They get around the fins of the fish and harm them a lot. Small fish face more harm than bigger ones.

                   Plastic bags cause significant environmental damage. Runoff water carries plastic bags and stuck them into the sewage system and block the water flow. Due to the blockage, the roads become flooded. This excess water can damage cars, buildings and other property and it also collects pollutants and spreads them far and wide, where they cause additional damage.

They also harm the environment during the production of the plastic bags because it releases toxic chemicals and gases during the production which mixed up with the air and polluted the whole environment.

                  As plastic bags are a significant environmental concern, we really need to carefully examine the challenges and implement strategies to reduce the damage they cause and address these issues when developing public policy.

Tehreem Choudhry

The author is a blogger and Mission Holder Positive Pakistan.