Nagative Effects of Packaging
Negative Effects of Packaging
By Naomi Bolton, eHow Contributor
Plastic packaging receives wide use, but there are negative environmental effects tied to the product.
To obtain consumer products in our modern society, we have become more dependent on packaging. Despite packaging's benefits, many negative implications exist. As global population escalates, the demand for packaging increases and the need to deal effectively with the growing plastic waste is ever present. This is highlighted by the fact that, according to a report by the Berkeley Plastics Task Force, plastic production outstrips plastic recycling, by six to one.
Other People Are Reading * Advantages & Negative Impacts of Food Packaging * What Are the Environmental Impacts of Product Packaging? * * * * Print this article 1. Chemical Migration * According to the International Plastics Task Force, harmful chemicals -- such as acetaldehyde -- can migrate from plastic packaging to the contents of the package. Plastics associated with this concern include polystyrene, PVC and polyethylene.
Plastic Packaging Production * Plastic packaging is produced from natural gas, which strains a resource that could be put to other uses. During the extended process of plastic packaging production, plasticizers are added to alter properties of the plastic, including increasing its resilience. Plasticizers tend to vaporize from the plastic, which can present a health risk, according to the German Marine Insurers' Transport Information Service. A number of other chemical additives that are added during the production of plastics to enhance their properties have negative human health implications. Diethylhexyl phthalate is cancer inducing, while other additives interfere with the human endocrine system and suppress the immune system, also leading to cancer and causing birth defects, according to planetthoughts.org, an environmental watchdog website. Toxic emissions
By Naomi Bolton, eHow Contributor
Plastic packaging receives wide use, but there are negative environmental effects tied to the product.
To obtain consumer products in our modern society, we have become more dependent on packaging. Despite packaging's benefits, many negative implications exist. As global population escalates, the demand for packaging increases and the need to deal effectively with the growing plastic waste is ever present. This is highlighted by the fact that, according to a report by the Berkeley Plastics Task Force, plastic production outstrips plastic recycling, by six to one.
Other People Are Reading * Advantages & Negative Impacts of Food Packaging * What Are the Environmental Impacts of Product Packaging? * * * * Print this article 1. Chemical Migration * According to the International Plastics Task Force, harmful chemicals -- such as acetaldehyde -- can migrate from plastic packaging to the contents of the package. Plastics associated with this concern include polystyrene, PVC and polyethylene.
Plastic Packaging Production * Plastic packaging is produced from natural gas, which strains a resource that could be put to other uses. During the extended process of plastic packaging production, plasticizers are added to alter properties of the plastic, including increasing its resilience. Plasticizers tend to vaporize from the plastic, which can present a health risk, according to the German Marine Insurers' Transport Information Service. A number of other chemical additives that are added during the production of plastics to enhance their properties have negative human health implications. Diethylhexyl phthalate is cancer inducing, while other additives interfere with the human endocrine system and suppress the immune system, also leading to cancer and causing birth defects, according to planetthoughts.org, an environmental watchdog website. Toxic emissions