At
the begining of 2013, Jakarta was attacked by flash flood. Many people in
Jakarta suffered. Over than 10 years, Jakarta always attacked by flash flood.
Roads were drowned by flood. Hundreds of houses were broken. Schools were
closed and children couldn’t study as well. Foods, clean water and
transportation were limited. Thousands people were evacuated. People were sick,
worse some of them lost and died. Even, geodetic and environmental experts
estimate that Jakarta will sink in 2030 to 2050.
How
it could happened? Whether it was the anger of God or it was human error? Many
factors cause flood. One of the most common causes is overflowing water of
rivers or lakes. This overflow mainly caused by siltation of rivers, lakes, and
ditches. Trash dumped to rivers, lakes, and ditches are major causes of soil
erosion problem. Most of waste are plastics, so I believe that limitation to
use plastics should crystallize. Limitation of it is a must because it can
prevent another disaster may happen. Furthermore, plastics consist of
substances which are difficult to decompose. It is harmful for environment and
human also. Many people don’t have much awareness of this issue, so I would
like to talk about 3 reasons why we should reduce the using of plastics.
First
of all, plastics extremely harm human health. Plastics are easily found in
almost every goods from household tools, office tools, until bottles. Every day
people increase the using of plastics. In consequence, tons of plastics waste
are produced. Whether people have realized or not, their deeds are very
dangerous for them. Plastics have many kind of dangerous substances. First,
Polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC) is the most difficult substance to be recycled.
This substance can be found on the plastic wrap (cling wrap), and bottles of
shampoos. PVC contains DEHA which is used in plastic wrap. It can leak into the
greasy food when heated. PVC has big potential to harm kidneys, liver and body
weight. Second, Polystyrene (PS) included in a kind of styrofoam which usually
use to save foods, disposable drinking places, etc. . This materials can leak
into food when they have a contact. It is very harmful to the brain and nerve
system. Beside that, it is also obtained in cigarette smoke, fumes and building
construction materials. This material should be avoided. China and many states
in U.S have banned the using of this material. Third, Polycarbonate usually
found in food containers or bottles. Polycarbonate produces main substances
called Bisphenol-A. It possibly damage hormonal system of human body if it
mingle to foods or drinks. If plastics are burned and the burning process are not
complete, it will produce toxic fumes which breaks down air as dioxins. This
substances are completely harmful if inhaled by human. It probably lead to
cancer, hepatitis, liver swelling, nervous system disorders, and trigger to
depression. Avoid using plastics to keep your foods or drinks are the best way
to prevent all of these disorders.
Second,
plastics break the balance of environment. Particles in plastics will
contaminate environment typically soil and groundwater when it is decomposed.
Plastics bags which are thrown up carelessly lead to flooding as well. When
plastics are thrown to rivers, ditches, or lakes, it will hamper water flows
and creat siltation of riverbed. Since production until disposal stage at
landfill, plastics release emission gases of greenhouse to the atmosphere. In
addition, residual substances of burning process such as carbon dioxide support
destruction of ozon layer. It means that Plastics contribute in destruction of
nature, climate change and global warming problems.
Third,
using of plastics is a waste. As predicted, 500 millions – 1 billion plastics
bags are used every year. We could imagine that it can cover the surface of
earth at least 10 times. Every people use 170 plastic bags and more than 17
billions of it are distributed freely by supermarket. Production of plastics
needs at about 12 million barrels of oils and 14 million of trees each year. If
we calculate it with cost to manage plastics waste, it is not a small amount to
be used. It certainly spend a lot of cost.The using of energy and cost are not
efficient at all.
Nowadays,
a number of countries start to limit the using of plastic bags such as
Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Hongkong, Taiwan, Ireland, Scotland, France,
Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and South
Africa. Some countries even legally banned the using plastics like Kenya,
Uganda, and China. Start from April 2007, Singapore make a campaign “Bring Your
Own Bag” to reduce the using of plastic bags. In China, government have already
released draft of laws which prohibit to use plastic bags in department store
and buyers will pay extra charge if they want to use plastic bags. They will do
standardization for plastic bags products too.
In
concusion, plastics have many disadvantages not only for human, but for
environment and financial condition too. Some people doesn’t pay much attention
to this issue. Therefore, we should start to aware with reduce using plastics
from now, start from ourself, although it just a little action. Reducing,
reusing, and recycling plastics are highly recomended for us to keep our
environment in the right balance.
Sources:
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