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They are myriad. Plastics are made from petroleum and can leach all kinds of toxins that are released by either heat or cold. Plastic water bottles specifically can leach something called phyto-estrogen, which can distrupt the reproductive organs in fetus and small children. Plastics left unattended in nature can cause severe damage to fish and wildlife. There is currently a plastic bag slick about the size of Texas floating in the pacific. In addition to the phyto-estrogens, the bags can be ingested and strangle fish and ocean creatures. Plastics do not biodegrade and when landfilled have the potential to leach toxins as well. There are plastics on the market now that are not made from petroleum but from a material called PLA or Poly Lactic Acid. These are made from corn starch. There are also plastics made from rice and other bio-resins. Recycle your plastics. You will help bring down the cost of gasoline and keep potentially harmful substances out of our water supply.

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8y ago
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12y ago

Plastics are harmful because they are not biodegradeable (so they can stay in landfills or on streets until someone throws them away for many many many years) and when they melt/burn, they release chemicals into the air.

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15y ago

The most obvious harmful effect would be lack of biodegradability; as plastic is not a naturally-occurring substance, nature has yet to create a solvent for it. It can't be digested by any terrestrial organism (as far as we know). A fairly harmful side effect of plastic production is that it requires a substantial amount of oil and can require other chemicals such as ethylene, styrene and benzene (all of which, to varying degrees, can be harmful or fatal to humans and other animals).

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13y ago

Plastic may take up to 1,000 years to break down and happens to absorb lots of oil. Oil is a source that easily absorbs harmful toxins dumped or spilled from cargo ships and cars, so, when animals, fish, and birds eat this plastic they could get sick or die. When we catch and kill these animals to eat, we could also get sick or die. Plus, plastic is a widely used element due to its light weight, durability, and strength.

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14y ago

It effects the environment because it can't rot when you put them in the soil . It takes thousands of years for the plastic to rot . The only option they have is to burn it . The smoke will make our ozone layer thinner.

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12y ago

the plastics are harmful because:-

1. non-biodegradable

2. harmful gases evolve when they are burnt

3. cause degradation to the soil

4. pollution when dump or burnt to soil or air respectively

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9y ago

Most plastics contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to humans, animals and the environment. Plastic bags especially hurt the ecosystem by polluting waterways.

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11y ago

i know many more infomation about it but dont wanna share with it cause i m searcing a simple answer for an hour and i could not find it yet..hang the Google..lol

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Q: Why are plastics harmful to the environment?
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Related questions

Types of plastics which are harmful to the environment?

jom jim kim is the three types of plastic


Why are plastics harmful to environment?

Because there un natural, non biodegradable and just generally alien if you like to the planet?,


Information on plastic which are not harm the environment that are biodegradable?

This question is not worth answering.The "enviorment" does not exist, "which are not harm" is incorrect grammar.If the question had read "which will not harm the environment" it could be worth answering.Wikipedia says:Biodegradable plastics are plastics that will decompose in the natural environment. Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling microorganisms in the environment to metabolize the molecular structure of plastic films to produce an inert humus-like material that is less harmful to the environment.


What are the negatives of plastics?

they are plastics that can be bad for our environment


Are all types of plastics harmful to environment?

No reason for them to be. Plastic can be recycled or reused. Some are biodegradable, and break down when left exposed to weather and sunlight.


How can you protect environment from plastic?

we can protect our environment by telling our socity about harmful uses of plastics ,by not throwing plastic any where alone ,by using cotton bag instid of using plastic bag etc .


How the plastics are recycled Does the recycling process have any impact on the environment?

how plastics are recycled?does the recycling have an impact on the environment


How are CFC'S harmful for the environment and living beings?

they are not harmful to the environment


Advantages and disadvantages of plastics?

Plastics are cheap and can be molded into many things. One drawback to using plastics is they harm the environment.


What are the harmful effects of plastics on plants and animals?

harmful effects of polythene on animals


What are the disadwantages of plastics?

what plastics? plastic surgery? plastic paper? plastic's influence to hte environment?


1 How can you help plastics be less harmful to the enivirement?

Recycle the plastic