Now, in the era of COVID-19, have you ever thought about what is in your mask? If you are using a disposable mask, it may contain plastic.* Other personal protective equipment (PPE) like face shields and gloves may also have plastics. In addition, the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 resulted in the oil market collapsing, making plastics cheaper than ever. And we all know what cheap means! More usage :(
But what exactly is plastic? A plastic is defined as a synthetic material derived from polymers that can be molded into different forms. It is used in many different items and industries. Look around you. How many items near you contain plastic? Plastic is essential to life as we know it. It is used for medical supplies, construction, clothing, electronics, and many other everyday items. While in some cases plastic is helpful, in other cases it is a waste, and can harm the environment. Other than filling up the oceans and being mistaken for food by some animals, plastic may also have toxic chemicals. These toxins can harm animals, or the predators that eat them, which can even include humans.
The ways to tackle this problem range from the large-scale clean-ups and innovations to the small, individual activities we can do ourselves. In California, there is Coastal Cleanup Day, when people are encouraged to go out and pick up plastic waste from shorelines. Regarding innovations, a bio-based thermoplastic called polylactide (PLA) shows promise in terms of replacing current plastics in mainstream use.
But you might be asking, well, Wednesday Science, what on Earth can I do? Many individual activities to reduce pollution include recycling, trying to avoid choosing plastic over other options, buying second-hand items (you also save money this way!), and not getting takeout from restaurants as often. All of these actions help to decrease the amount of plastic that is needed, or that gets thrown away.
*THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU SHOULD NOT WEAR A DISPOSABLE MASK.
Post By: Roshni P. M. and Hannah W.
Photo credits: Naja Bertolt Jensen, Unsplash, https://unsplash.com/photos/Jk1ESCc5i-I
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