Styrofoam Research Paper

Every time you ask for a styrofoam hot cup to hold your cold drink in during the summer, you are putting your comfort before the health of every marine and land wildlife, as well as yourself. Styrofoam has known chemicals, such as styrene, that has a direct correlation to carcinogenic health hazards, vision loss, and nervous system breakdown. Many people hear or read about how styrofoam is bad for the environment but rarely do they change the way they live their lives simply because they are not fully aware of the reasons behind the cause. Due to styrofoam’s chemical makeup, the product is borderline immortal and can last in any ecosystem for hundreds of generations. With a product that never biodegrades, the hazardous chemical by-products
In the ocean, fish and other marine life sources often cannot tell the difference between actual food sources and broken down pieces of styrofoam floating in the sea so, they begin taking in our waste products. Almost effortlessly, the styrofoam, obviously not made for consumption, can damage any species digestive systems and or become a choking hazard. On the other hand, if a species does not directly eat the styrofoam waste, they are still consuming and being exposed to the chemicals within styrofoam. Styrofoam is produced using various hazardous chemicals, none of which should be exposed for any lifeforms to digest. However, once the styrofoam spends time in the sea, through natural processes of the ocean and light exposure from the sun, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. Here, the product photo-degrades into a chemical dusting which can accumulate on the surface of the sea floor or other food sources. The marine life then unknowingly eats from the source, taking in the chemicals it
Foremost, when foods or drinks are carried in styrofoam products, be it a hot drink or take-out food, chemicals such as styrene can wear off into whatever product touching the styrofoam. Overtime, this allows for increased human contact and consumption exposure to the chemicals, almost always without awareness of what is happening. Furthermore, humans are being indirectly exposed to the dangers of styrofoam chemical by-products once they are released during the manufacturing process. The 57 different chemical by-products that are released all have a direct impact on polluting the air, and waterways. When manufactured, the chemicals being produced contain different hydorflurocarbons which are chemical compounds that has the ability to deplete the ozone layer and play a role in affecting global warming for worse. More so, the production of polystyrene produces high quantities of excess liquid, solid, and foam waste that is wrongfully disposed of into the water systems. Due to the low cost of production, light weight travel, and various functionalities, styrofoam may seem like a superior method of living. However, knowing the impacts and implications it causes, using styrofoam is a rather inconsiderate and unhealthy way of