Environmental Effects of Plastics, Rubbers, Chemical and Radioactive hazards Flashcards
Why are rubbish dumps thought to be a bad thing? Describe one way to make your rubbish dump useful?
Thought to be bad due to:
1. Health hazards: Attraction of pest and vermin
2. Aesthetic Issues:
3. Environmental Impact: greenhouse effect
Usefulness
Can convert waste to energy through burning of waste at high temperature to generate heat and electricity.
What does recycling mean?
Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new products in order to reduce waste and conserve resources.
Provide three fields where plastics can find applications and mention the properties of plastics that were exploited in each example/field (at least one)
Packaging - lightweight
Medicine - corrosion resistant
Construction - durability
Transportation - lightweight
Electronics - aesthetics, durability
Briefly Explain why and how plastics were introduced in the automobile industry, stating two car parts where they can be found?
The need for light fuel efficient vehicles as well as desire for improved aesthetics and functionality in car design.
Car parts:
Bumpers
Dashboards
fuel tanks
Engine covers
Analyze the relationship between plastics and resins while highlighting their differences in terms of origin, texture, level of purity and environmental impacts.
Origin: Plastics are synthetics materials made from petrochemicals, while resins are typically derived from natural sources, such as tree sap
Texture: Plastics are typically solid and have a uniform texture, while resins are usually more viscous and have a sticky or gooey texture
Level of purity: Plastics are highly purified materials that are produced from a chemical refining process. Resins are often less pure and contain impurites.
Environmental impacts. Plastics have significant environmental impacts e.g greehouse, landfills. Resin are often considered to be more environmentally friendly cuz there are biodegradable.
Analyze the relationship between plastics and resins while highlighting their differences in terms of origin, texture, level of purity and environmental impacts.
Origin: Plastics are synthetics materials made from petrochemicals, while resins are typically derived from natural sources, such as tree sap
Texture: Plastics are typically solid and have a uniform texture, while resins are usually more viscous and have a sticky or gooey texture
Level of purity: Plastics are highly purified materials that are produced from a chemical refining process. Resins are often less pure and contain impurites.
Environmental impacts. Plastics have significant environmental impacts e.g greehouse, landfills. Resin are often considered to be more environmentally friendly cuz there are biodegradable.
List four plastic processing methods and five range of plastic products.
Blow molding
Extrusion
Thermoforming
Injection molding
Ranges
Packaging products
Building and construction products
Automotive parts
Electronic and electrical components
Medical products.
Mention five of the top-10 countries with the largest plastic wastes and list the three largest contributors to aquatic plastic wastes.
Largest plastic wastes:
U.S
India
China
Brazil
Indonesia
Aquatic plastic wastes
India
China
Indonesia
Brazil
Thailand
Give one use each of five different types of polymers
Polyethylene: plastic bags
Polyester: clothing bags
Nylon: raincoats, underwears
Polyvinyl chloride: Bottles, construction materials: pipes and window frames
Polypropylene - fibers, bottles
Give one use each of five different types of polymers
Polyethylene: plastic bags
Polyester: clothing bags
Nylon: raincoats, underwears
Polyvinyl chloride: Bottles, construction materials: pipes and window frames
Polypropylene - fibers, bottles
When you recycle a hazard, you create a hazard”, Analyze this statement using plastic for illustration.
When it comes to plastic recycling, there is a potential for hazards to be created during the recycling process. For example, some types of plastic contain toxic chemicals that can be released into the environment if the plastic is not properly handled during recycling
When you recycle a hazard, you create a hazard”, Analyze this statement using plastic for illustration.
When it comes to plastic recycling, there is a potential for hazards to be created during the recycling process. For example, some types of plastic contain toxic chemicals that can be released into the environment if the plastic is not properly handled during recycling
Briefly describe 2 environmental effects and 2 human health effects of plastics
Marine debris: Plastics that end up in the ocean can harm marine wildlife and ecosystem.
Landfill pollution: Landfills are designed to contained waste, but they can generate a range of eco problems. it takes hundreds of years to decompose and they release harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater.
Human health
Chemical Exposure: plastics contain toxic chemicals that can leach into food and beverages stored in plastic containers.
Air pollution
Plastics can constitute chemical hazards, list three substances/chemicals that makes plastic a potential health threat?
phthalates
lead
mercury
bisphenol A
Why are Polyvinyl chlorides, PVCs usually considered the most toxic plastic for health and the environment.
They contain chemical additives, chlorine content and are hard to recycle.
PVCs contain chlorine, which can release toxic substances into the air and water during the production, use, and disposal of the plastic. This can harm both human health and the environment.
Discuss four measures for mitigating the large volume of global plastic wastes
Reduce, Reuse and recycle: The most effective way to reduce plastic waste is to reduce the amount of plastic that is produced and used in the first place. this can be done by reusing plastic product and packaging and by recycling plastics materials whenever possible.
Improved waste management: improving the way that plastic waste is managed can also help reduce the amount of plastics waste that ends up in the environment
Better product design: Create products that are durable, reusable and recyclable.
Education and awareness
Briefly explain source reduction and describe two methods that can be employed to ensure source reduction? Employing a suitable example, provide one application of source reduction that you know.
Source reduction refers to the practice of reducing the amount of waste that is generated at the source, before it becomes waste
Methods that can be employed:
Product design:
Substitution: using alternative materials that are less hazardous and more eco friendly.
Discuss three processes involved in postconsumer recycle (PCR)? Explain two of the challenges that can be associated with PCR?
Collection
Sorting
Shredding
Melting
Challenges
Contamination: refers to the presence of non- recyclable materials such as food waste mixed in with the recyclable materials
Cost: recycling can be more expensive than producing new products from raw materials, cost of process of PCR can add to the overall cost
Lack of infrastructure:
Provide meanings for the following terminologies – comingle recycle, degradation, and thermoplastic and thermoset.
Commingle recycle - refers to the practice of collecting recyclable materials in a single container, without separating them by type
Degradation: Refers to the breakdown of a material into pieces or molecules over time due to exposure to heat, moisture or other eco factors
Thermoplastics - Thermoplastic is a type of plastic that becomes soft and moldable when heated and re-solidifies when cooled.
Thermoset: Thermoset is a type of plastic that sets or cures when heated and cannot be melted or reshaped after curing.
Briefly describe one scenario where you are required to use a non-biodegradable polymer/plastic and another where it is justifiable to use a biodegradable plastic/polymer
Scenario for using non-biodegradable polymers: Medical field; prosthetics
Scenario for using biodegradable polymers: production of single use packaging materials.
Briefly describe one scenario where you are required to use a non-biodegradable polymer/plastic and another where it is justifiable to use a biodegradable plastic/polymer
Scenario for using non-biodegradable polymers: Medical field; prosthetics
Scenario for using biodegradable polymers: production of single use packaging materials.
State three advantages and three disadvantages of recycling plastics?
Environmental benefits
Energy conservation
Economic benefits: job opportuintes
Disadvantages
Contamination
Cost
Reduced quality
Limited market demand
State three advantages and three disadvantages of recycling plastics?
Reduction of waste volume
Energy recovery
Disadvantages
Air pollution
Ash disposal
Do you think that recycling reduces the strength and versatility of the plastic over time? Why do you think so?
the recycling process can introduce contaminants and impurities into the plastic, which can further reduce its quality and performance.
Employing suitable examples differentiate between carcinogenic and teratogenic substances
