Hazards to Plastic Polymeric Bags and Their Effects on Humans and the Environment in Basra Governorate \ Iraq
Main Article Content
Abstract
Plastics are materials that are indispensable and persistent in daily life and can be broken down into micro- or nanoplastics. They consist of lengthy polymer chains combined with additives that, when in touch with various species, may be harmful. The polymer matrix, additives, breakdown products, and pollutants that have been adsorbed can all cause toxicity. Plastics are manufactured from nonrenewable resources, are nonbiodegradable by nature, and can endure in the environment for a long time, So one of the main causes of the risks to the environment and public health is the use of plastic and polythene bags. This study was conducted to determine the present level of awareness among residents of the Basra Governorate of Iraq of the environmental and health risks associated with the use of plastic bags. In Basra Governorate, a survey was carried out in January and February of 2019. Data was collected by questionnaire e survey to any adult person. The majority of participants (76.82 %) were aware of the risks to their health and the environment but continued to use the product since it was so readily available and durable.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
I. A. H. Elewa, S. Hassan, and A. El, “Occupational Hazards as Perceived by Nursing Interns and Protective Measures,” IOSR J. Nurs. Heal. Sci., vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 107–118, 2016, doi: 10.9790/1959-050601107118.
II. U. D. Markus K., David G., Andreas P., Cecilia H., “Everything you (don’t) want toknow about plastics. Report by; Aturskyddsforeningen.,” no. 1, p. 2014, 2014.
III. Shaheen, Haitham, Tayoub, Mahmoud, Ahmed, & Safa Hikmat. (2015). The role of environmental awareness in municipal solid waste management, a field study in Lattakia Governorate. Series of economic and legal sciences ISSN: 2079-3073, 36(5)
IV. M. Klar, D. Gunnarsson, A. Prevodnik, C. Hedfors, and U. Dahl, “Everything you (don’t) want to know about plastics,” 2014. [Online].
V. European Commission, “Science for Environment Policy In-Depth Report. Plastic Waste: Ecological and Human Health Impacts,” p. 2011, 2011.
VI. D. . Saharan B. S., Ankita, “Bioplastics-For Sustainable Development,” Int. J. Microb. Resour. Technol., vol. 1(1), pp. 11–23, 2012, [Online]. Available: https://dspace.ups.edu.ec/bitstream/123456789/5224/1/UPS-QT03885.pdf.
VII. S. Thiruketheeswaranathan, “Usage of Plastic Bags and Environment , Health Hazards : A Study to Access Awareness Level Among a Small Population of Trincomalee Town,” vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 42–44, 2019, [Online]. Available:
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3446353.
VIII. M. O. Rodrigues, N. Abrantes, F. J. M. Gonçalves, H. Nogueira, J. C. Marques, and A. M. M. Gonçalves, “Impacts of plastic products used in daily life on the environment and human health: What is known?,” Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol., vol. 72, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2019.103239.
IX. Ellen MacArthur Foundation and World Economic Forum, “The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics,” Ellen MacArthur Found., no. January, p. 120, 2016.
X. P. L. Corcoran, K. Jazvac, and A. Ballent, “Plastics and the anthropocene,” in Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene, vol. 1–5, 2017, pp. 163–170.
XI. C. Dris, R., Imhof, H., Sanchez, W., Gasperi, J., Galgani, F., Tassin, B., & Laforsch, “Beyond the ocean: contamination of freshwater ecosystems with (micro-) plastic particles.,” Environ. Chem., vol. 12, pp. 539–550, 2015.
XII. G. Lithner, D., Larsson, Å., & Dave, “Environmental and health hazard ranking and assessment of plastic polymers based on chemical composition,” Sci. Total Environ., vol. 409(18), pp. 3309–3324, 2011.