While many environmental activists are primarily focused on taking action against plastic, there is still one man made creation that falls under the one of many subcategories of plastic and is equally as dangerous. Styrofoam.
Styrofoam is composed of polystyrene foam that is used every day. Businesses use it as take-out containers, to store coffee in, packing peanuts are even made of styrofoam! It's used globally and serves purpose in our every day life.
However, using the non-biodegradable product comes with a price. It's been said the chemical benzene used to produce styrofoam is likely to cause cancer, otherwise known as a carcinogen (Kinhal).
The production and use of styrofoam arises all sorts of new problems. For starters, the production of styrofoam itself is beyond hazardous to not only our planet, but the workers involved too.
Styrofoam is composed of many chemicals such as benzene, dioxins, pentane, and carbon dioxide (Kinhal). Our workers who are extensively exposed to these chemicals are at risk. Health complications are more likely to arise in those who work with these chemicals.
The pollution from the production of this harmful product is just as detrimental to the earth's health as our own. The manufacturing of styrofoam pollutes our air with toxic emissions along with the liquid and solid remains being disposed of on our planet (Kinhal). Due to styrofoam being non-biodegradable, the remains either soak into the earth or stay there and remain on earth only to sit there and never decompose.
On top of styrofoam being harmful to our planet, it has the potential to take a toll on its consumers. Extensive use and exposure to the body has been linked to many heath complications. This includes complications such as your liver, kidney, nervous and respiratory being negatively impacted along with an increase found in spontaneous abortions (Kinhal). Extensive styrofoam use has also been linked to the occurrence of leukemia and lymphoma cancer, pushing researchers to classify it as a carcinogen (Kinhal).
There are plenty of alternatives available that we can use instead of styrofoam. As more people begin to explore those options, impactful changes are being made.
A recent ban has been made on the use of styrofoam in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The ban was approved in 2019 but will be effective starting in 2020 (Ropeik), Distribution of single use plastic containers, styrofoam, and plastic straws in the city of Portsmouth will result in a fine that has yet to be determined (Ropeik). This is the first step we've taken in order to help save our planet and it certainly won't be the last.
The European Parliament voted to ban the different types of single use plastics in 2018. The ban not only includes styrofoam, but also bans single use items such as plates, stubs of cigarettes, utensils, and even cotton buds (EU Lawmakers Back Ban on Single-use Plastics)! The ban was placed in hopes of encouraging manufacturers to increase their efforts when it comes to recycling (EU Lawmakers Back Ban on Single-use Plastics).
This ban isn't the only action the European Parliament plans on taking against plastic. The EU is devising plans to recycle an estimated 90 percent of plastic bottles by 2029 along with requiring tobacco companies to pay for the damage of the collection of cigarette stubs found in the public (EU Lawmakers Back Ban on Single-use Plastics).
We've take the baby steps needed in order to begin creating serious change. We as a community have the potential and power to help preserve our planet from this hazardous, non-biodegradable invader, the only thing stopping us is ourselves.
The production and use of styrofoam arises all sorts of new problems. For starters, the production of styrofoam itself is beyond hazardous to not only our planet, but the workers involved too.
Styrofoam is composed of many chemicals such as benzene, dioxins, pentane, and carbon dioxide (Kinhal). Our workers who are extensively exposed to these chemicals are at risk. Health complications are more likely to arise in those who work with these chemicals.
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| ("A young man sifts through the trash in a canal near downtown Port...") |
On top of styrofoam being harmful to our planet, it has the potential to take a toll on its consumers. Extensive use and exposure to the body has been linked to many heath complications. This includes complications such as your liver, kidney, nervous and respiratory being negatively impacted along with an increase found in spontaneous abortions (Kinhal). Extensive styrofoam use has also been linked to the occurrence of leukemia and lymphoma cancer, pushing researchers to classify it as a carcinogen (Kinhal).
There are plenty of alternatives available that we can use instead of styrofoam. As more people begin to explore those options, impactful changes are being made.
A recent ban has been made on the use of styrofoam in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The ban was approved in 2019 but will be effective starting in 2020 (Ropeik), Distribution of single use plastic containers, styrofoam, and plastic straws in the city of Portsmouth will result in a fine that has yet to be determined (Ropeik). This is the first step we've taken in order to help save our planet and it certainly won't be the last.
The European Parliament voted to ban the different types of single use plastics in 2018. The ban not only includes styrofoam, but also bans single use items such as plates, stubs of cigarettes, utensils, and even cotton buds (EU Lawmakers Back Ban on Single-use Plastics)! The ban was placed in hopes of encouraging manufacturers to increase their efforts when it comes to recycling (EU Lawmakers Back Ban on Single-use Plastics).
This ban isn't the only action the European Parliament plans on taking against plastic. The EU is devising plans to recycle an estimated 90 percent of plastic bottles by 2029 along with requiring tobacco companies to pay for the damage of the collection of cigarette stubs found in the public (EU Lawmakers Back Ban on Single-use Plastics).
We've take the baby steps needed in order to begin creating serious change. We as a community have the potential and power to help preserve our planet from this hazardous, non-biodegradable invader, the only thing stopping us is ourselves.
Works Cited
"EU Lawmakers Back Ban on Single-use Plastics, Set Standard for World." CNBC, 28 Mar. 2019, www.cnbc.com/2019/03/28/eu-lawmakers-back-ban-on-single-use-plastics-set-standard-for-world.html. Accessed 9 Dec. 2019.
Kinhal, Vijayalaxmi. "How Styrofoam Is Bad for the Environment." Love to Know, greenliving.lovetoknow.com/How_Styrofoam_is_Bad_for_the_Environment. Accessed 6 Dec. 2019.
Ropeik, Annie. "Portsmouth City Council Approves Ban on Styrofoam Disposables." New Hampshire Public Radio, 8 Oct. 2019, www.nhpr.org/post/portsmouth-city-council-approves-ban-styrofoam-disposables. Accessed 4 Dec. 2019.
A Young Man Sifts through the Trash in a Canal near Downtown Port-au- Prince Two Days after Tropical Storm Isaac Blew through in August. among the Trash Are Styrofoam Lunch Containers That Will Be Banned Starting Monday. Tampa Bay Times, www.tampabay.com/incoming/haiti-to-ban-black-plastic-bags-polystyrene-foam-items/1253891/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2019.
I really like how you included examples of places have began banning styrofoam. What are some of the alternatives?
ReplyDeleteIs this a widespread issue? How does the rest of the country respond to these ideas? I believe that we can benefit from this, but what is there to take the place of a material like single use plastics. Is there research and money going into this problem?
ReplyDeleteYou've done a nice job discussing the various plans to deal with styrofoam. Do you think it is the responsibility of the cigarette companies to pay for cigarette waste?
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Laclair! I personally think it is the companies responsibility to pay for the cigarette stubs. It is just as much the publics fault for littering, but I think fining the companies could quite possibly inspire them to change how they're producing the stubs and maybe make an eco-friendly version? If they were to make the stubs environmentally friendly then the fees could be removed.
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