plastic pollution

 BONA FIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that. Name:- -------- of class XI, Roll No:---- Sec: --- , Registration No :- --- has completed  his/her project file on " Plastic Pollution: A Rising Global Threat " under my supervision. He/She has taken proper care and shown utmost sincerity in the completion of this project.

I certify that this project work is up to my expectation and as per the guidelines issued by WB.C.H.S.E

This is to certify that this project report entitled "  Plastic Pollution: A Rising Global Threat " by --------  class:- ---- , Roll no:- ---- , Registration No :- ----- submitted during the academic year 2024-25  is a bona fide record of work done under my supervision.

Signature of the project guide with date

Name

Designation

Department

School

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The project on "  Plastic Pollution: A Rising Global Threat "  has given me an extensive scope of learning through group activities. I consider myself lucky to work under  -------- whose support made our project quite interesting. We are thankful to him.

Last but not least, I am thankful to all my friends and family members who helped me to complete the project.

Signature of the student

CONTENT 

● INTRODUCTION .

● METHOD & TECHNIQUE .

● AIM OF THE PROJECT .

● OUTCOME OF THE PROJECT.

● CONCLUSION.

● REFERENCE.

INTRODUCTION 

As per the new syllabus , project work has been included as a part of the curriculum . We have made the choice according to the availability of work. We have chosen " Plastic Pollution: A Rising Global Threat " for out academic activity .Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the environment, which can harm humans, wildlife, and their habitats. Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing the ability of ecosystems to adapt to climate change, directly impacting the livelihoods, food production capacity and social well-being of millions of people.

 METHOD & TECHNIQUE :- 

On the first day, we discussed some environmental issues . After many discussions and based on the availability of works we chosed " Plastic Pollution: A Rising Global Threat "  for our project topic.

On the second and third day, we went through the text a number of times to have a better understanding of Plastic pollution , its causes and effects. 

On the fourth and fifth day, we thoroughly revised our script and made certain changes where necessary ad   submitted the final draft for evaluation.

AIM OF THE PROJECT :-

The aims and objectives are as follows:

a. A project develops deeper understanding of a particular topic. We can use our language skill in presenting the Environmental issues. 

b. A project develops imaginative faculty. We learn about the environment problems and the effects of plastic pollution .

c. It develops practical knowledge through experience. It develops communication skill and power of organisation.

d. We learn about plastic pollution and understand out dutiess to protect the plastic pollution .

OUT COME OF THE PROJECT :- 

Plastic Pollution: A Rising Global Threat" 

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of  plastic particles and objects in the Earth’s  environment that adversely affect humans, wildlife and wildlife habitat.  Pollutants are substances that  adversely affect the health, activities or survival of a population. Every day, thousands of tons of  pollutants are discarded into the air by natural events and human actions. Far more damaging are the substances discharged into the atmosphere by human actions.  Plastics acting as pollutants can be  classified based on their sizes into three aspects  which are: micro debris plastic, mega debris plastic,  and micro debris plastic. According to, mega  plastics and micro plastics have accumulated in  highest densities in the Northern Hemisphere, which  is concentrated around the current carrying the debris, plastic can be found off the coast of some islands.  Mega-plastics and micro-plastics are normally used  in the manufacturing of packaging materials (such as  plastic bottles, plastic bags etc.), footwear and other  domestic items. These are later found being washed off of ships or discarded in landfills. Some of the  items used in fishing activities are also found around remote islands. All these are still known as microplastic, meso-plastic and macro –plastic.

■ Causes of Plastic Pollution

The proliferation of plastic pollution is influenced by various interconnected factors. Here are some key factors. 

● The mass production of plastic :- 

particularly single-use plastics, contributes significantly to pollution. The ease of production and versatility of plastic have led to its pervasive use in various industries, exacerbating the pollution problem. Insufficient waste management systems, especially in many developing countries, result in  improper disposal of plastic waste. Lack of recycling facilities, landfill space, and incineration capabilities means that a significant portion of plastic  waste ends up in oceans, rivers, and natural environments . 

● Plain Old Trash: 

Plastics are found everywhere  along the streets and roads of every cities and  towns in India making them to be untidy. The cartons of some products such as can-milk, canbeverages, can-tomatoes are lined with plastics so as to allow proper packaging. Plastic drinking  bottles, water bottles, straws and stirrers used for  soft drinks in hotels, restaurants and events centres for entertainment during conferences,  seminars, symposiums, wedding receptions, etc are  disposed/discarded littering everywhere by the  participants and invited guests ignoring the environmental consequence.

 ●  Disposing of Plastic and Garbage: 

Plastics have complex chemical composition. This makes  plastic to be durable and do not break down  easily. Plastics and resins have different  properties related to contaminant absorption and  adsorption depending on their chemical  composition. The polymer degradation takes a  long period of time due to saline environments and cooling effect of the sea. These are  contributory factors to the persistence of plastic  debris in certain environments. Findings carried  out by the marine experts have made them to  predict the rates of decomposition of different plastic products.

●  Over-utilisation of Plastics:

 This refers to  plastics being over-used. It is less expensive and  durable. These enable both the priviledged and  less priviledged people in the society to afford  patronising plastic materials/items. It is one of  the most widely available and over – used item  in the world today. When plastic is disposed/ discarded, it does not decompose easily there by  polluting the land or air nearby when burnt in the  open air. Also, plastic items that are not properly  discarded can be carried to oceans through storm  waters.

● Fishing Nets: Fishing is an agricultural activity normally practised all over the world. The commercial aspect of fishing is an economic necessity in which people consume fish for their daily survival and maintenance of good balanced  diet. The ocean has faced different problems of  plastics pollution created by the fishing industry. The nets used for large scale fishing activities are  usually made of plastic. At the initial stage, these  fishing nets become submerged in water, on  spending much time it releases toxin at will.  

■ EFFECTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

Plastics consist of major toxic pollutants  having the potential to cause important harm to the  environment in the form of water, land and air  pollution. Plastic is a material that is nonbiodegradable, hence it can wreak havoc on natural  environment resulting into long-term issues for animals, plants and humans. Among the effects  plastic pollution has on our environments are  groundwater pollution, upsetting of the food chain,  killings of animals, land pollution, poisonous ability,  air pollution, expensiveness.

●  Groundwater Pollution: 

Groundwater is water  that is present in rocks or unconsolidated materials below  the  Earth’s surface. Groundwater forges a link between surface water  systems and the material in Earth’s Crust According to groundwater in its natural state  tends to be relatively free of contaminant in most  areas. Because it is a widely used source of drinking water, the contamination of  groundwater can be a very serious problem. 

● It Upsets the Food Chain:

 A food chain is a linear sequence of who eats whom in an  ecosystem. Most species belong to more than one  food chain, especially when they are at a low  feeding level. An ecosystem consists of one  or more communities of organisms interacting  with one another and with the physical  environment though a flow of energy and a  cycling of materials .  According to each  species in an ecosystem has its own position in a hierarchy of feeding levels.  A key  factor in how any ecosystem functions is the  transfer of energy from one of its feeding level to another . The food chain consists of  producers, consumers and decomposers. Most of  the organism in the food chain feeds on the  plastic wastes. The plastic wastes come in  different sizes be it large or small. 

● Killings of Animals: 

The availability of plastic  wastes such as plastic bags and containers, sixring plastic can holders etc in the crannies and  nooks of the environment that are being  discarded each day has resulted in the death of  some animals such as duck, dolphins, fish, fowl,  turkey, tortoises etc in the environment when  they become trapped in them or poisoned from  the toxins released by plastics wastes.  According to   many marine organisms such as fish, turtles,  birds etc have become entangled in plastic debris  which is responsible for their deaths. 

● Land pollution:

 Plastic waste are normally  dumped in landfills. When this takes place, there  is interaction with water there by forming  hazardous chemicals. When these chemicals seep  underground, the quality of water become  degraded. Wind has contributed to plastic  pollution thereby carrying and depositing plastic  from one place to another, increasing the land  litter. The plastic wastes can also get stuck on  trees, fences, towers, poles, traffic lights, roofs  etc and the animals coming in contact with them  in the surrounding and might suffocate them leading to death. ● Poisonous Ability: 

The plastic pollution is  poisonous. Plastic pollution has the potential to  poison animals, which can then adversely affect  human food supplies. A number of toxic  chemicals are artificially used by man to produce  plastic. Generally, the use of and exposure to plastics has been linked to numerous health  concerns which is affecting people all over the world. The plastic pollution is highly detrimental to large marine mammals. It poses single greatest threat to them. Some marine species, such as sea  turtles, have been found to contain large proportions of plastics in their stomach. 

● Air Pollution:

 It is the presence of chemicals in the atmosphere in concentrations high enough to  harm organisms, ecosystem, or human made materials, or to alter climate . Today, air pollution is a global problem; areas far from the  polluting source may be adversely affected as at atmospheric, circulation moves pollutants freely  without regard to political boundaries. When plastics are burnt in the open air, landfills or  incinerators, poisonous/toxic chemicals are released thereby causing environmental pollution.

■ PREVENTION OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

The rate at which plastic waste grows in the world today is discouraging and uncalled for. These ecosystems need to  be protected from future damage and actions need to be taken to establish a world with free-plastic wastes. 

● Reuse:

 Reusability refers to the use of materials  more than once in their original form instead of  throwing away after each use. This does not  only ensure the maximum use of the material life  span but also reduces waste. Reuse has increasingly been accepted as playing a vital part  in addressing a wide range of social challenges  related to poverty, health and well-being. 

● Reduce:

 In order to reduce plastic pollution, there is need to reduce our usage of plastic. This  translates to changing our daily attitudes and  avoiding the use of plastic when there is a better  alternative to it and only using plastic when it is  seriously needed. Plastic packaging need to be avoided. 

● Recycle: 

Recycling of plastic involves collection  of plastic waste and reprocessing it into new  products, in order to reduce the amount of plastic  in the waste stream. It is known that plastic does not break down easily, so to recycle plastic mean  it is still plastic, but it can be used for another  purpose entirely. 

● Educate Businesses: 

Education is an important  solution in order to increase awareness and  behavioural/attitudinal change. People need to be  guided and advised on plastic disposal so as to  prevent the occurrence of plastic pollution. Thereis need to speak to operators/owners of local  restaurants and businesses about that the  alternatives that they can divert to for stokinr, packaging items. 

● Government Intervention: 

The lawmakers and  government need to arise and get involved in the  prevention of plastic pollution so as to create fear  in public and allow strict adherence to preventive  measures to take place. Presently, awareness and  sensitization is on-going all over the globe on  plastic pollution. 

CONCLUSION :- 

Plastics are destroying nature due to their harmful effect and plastic bags have become the main cause of land pollution today. The plastic bags entering into the water bodies are a major cause of water pollution and these are deteriorating our environment in every possible way. Plastic pollution is a complex and multifaceted issue with far-reaching ecological and health consequences. Addressing this challenge requires concerted efforts at individual, community, corporate, and governmental levels to reduce plastic consumption, improve waste management infrastructure, and promote sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. Such actions are crucial to mitigate the detrimental impacts of plastic pollution on ecosystems, wildlife, and human population. 

REFERENCE:- 

● Paul Sujit : Environmental and Population Education , Aaheli Publication , 2023.

● Duff & Dutt : Elixir an English Companion , Tulshi Prokashani ,  Kolkata , 2024.

● Ray & Martin : English Companion , Kolkata , 2024.

● Das Dulal: Adhunik Bhugal , Book India , 2011.

● Ghosh Taranidhar : Aims English Companion , Book India , 2024.

● Google & wikipedia .