CAPSTONE PROJECT 2018
Lisa D'Angelo
WHAT IS PLASTIC?
Plastic is a synthetic material that has been used in popular production since the 1950’s. It is something every American touches in their daily lives. It fills up the shelves at the grocery stores, it is under our fingers whilst typing on a computer, it is on the cap to almost every product we use. Plastic is so abundant in our lifestyle that we rely on its presence each day, which makes taking it away difficult
Leo Baekeland discovered the first “plastic” or synthetic polymer and it was commonly known as “Bakelite”. Mass production of plastic didn’t really start until the 1950s when other plastics were created and started replacing everyday household items (Thompson, 2009). In the 1940s Earl Tupper invented food storage containers that were unbreakable and did it all. This is what we know at Tupperware. Women started selling them as modern and glamorous must-have items through Tupperware parties in their homes. This played a huge part of changes of gender roles for this generation (Bax, 2010). After the 1950s, the production of plastic rapidly increased and continues to increase through every decade (Cozar, 2014).
WHEN WAS IT
INVENTEDAND WHY?
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WHAT IS IT MADE OUT OF?
Plastic is non-biodegradable (cannot break down organically) so that we can use it repeatedly without breaking down. Each plastic type has different chemicals in them that enhance different features (Engler, 2012).Mixtures of chemicals are used to create the material so it lasts for eternity. Even though plastic is made for long-term use, items like plastic bags are used for, on average, 5-12 minutes (Schultz, 2017). Many plastics like non-reusable water bottle contain a chemical called Bisphenol A or BPA (Vogel, 2009). BPA has endocrine disrupting properties, which means it mimics certain hormones in the body and can lead to future problems like being infertile (Leeson, 2016). Even though BPA is being removed from items like reusable plastic water bottles and materials like silicon, there are still thousands of harmful chemicals used in the making of the plastic (Leeson, 2016). BPA is used in plastics to give it strength and stability (Ruxon, 2016). Phthalates, like PCBs, are chemicals that give plastic transparency, like in water bottles. Other general toxic chemicals are commonly known as PBTs (Engler, 2012).
We incorporate plastic into our everyday lives more than we think. We live in what is called, “The Plastic Age” (Thompson 2009). With a wide range of material, we can feed into any trend and benefit that plastic is able to bring to us. It can be molded, made into coatings, cast, spun and have different properties such as durability, flexibility, cheap, lightweight, strong and so on. Plastic brings us a synthetic life full of colors and diverse applications. It is so incorporated into out lifestyle that we sometimes forget it is even there and how it’s affecting ourselves, the environment, and wildlife.
WHERE IS IT USED?
WHO IS AFFECTED BY IT?
This material made by man has found its way negatively impacting marine wildlife, the environment, environmental justice communities and us. Chemicals like phthalates, BPA, PCBs etc. are not only entering our bodies but species that live in the ocean as well. From microscopic pieces of plastic to water bottles and larger pieces waiting to be broken down, it all takes a toll in some way or another. Environmental justice communities in developing countries that do not have proper garbage disposal face the effects of pollution first hand. Our environment cannot physically break down plastic organically and rests on the Earth for as long as we will know.
Cózar, A., Echevarría, F., González-Gordillo, J. I., Irigoien, X., Úbeda, B., Hernández-León, S., ... & Fernández-de-Puelles, M. L. (2014). Plastic debris in the open ocean. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(28), 10239-10244
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Engler, R. E. (2012). The complex interaction between marine debris and toxic chemicals in the ocean. Environmental science & technology, 46(22), 12302-12315
Ruxon, J. (Producer & Leeson, C. (Director). (2016). A Plastic Ocean [Motion Picture]. Netherlands
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Schultz, S. (2017). Reducing Plastic Pollution: The winning story for this year's Young Reporters for the Environment Award demonstrates how we can change our habits. Alternatives Journal, (2), 68.
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Thompson, R. C., Swan, S. H., Moore, C. J., & Vom Saal, F. S. (2009). Our plastic age.
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Vogel, S. A. (2009). The Politics of Plastics: The Making and Unmaking of Bisphenol A "Safety". American Journal Of Public Health, 99(S3), S559-S566.
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