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POTENTIAL DANGERS OF PLASTICS, AND HOW THE WAYS TO AVOID THEM 

 

Gülşən HAQVERDİYEVA 

Qafqaz University 

[e-mail] 

 

Polyethyleneis a type of polymer that is thermoplastic, meaning that it can be melted to a liquid and remolded as it 

returns to a solid state. It is chemically synthesized from ethylene, a compound that's usually made from petroleum or 

natural gas. It is used in making other plastic compounds much often than it's used in its pure form. Though it has a wide 

variety of uses, it can be harmful to humans and to the environment. 

Depending on the compounds it's bonded with, PE's level of toxicity and varies considerably. The effects of plastic 

bags on the environment are quite devastating. 

1. Plastic bag dangers. We know plastics are not biodegradable and thus where it lands it tends to stay for long period 

of time. They often end up in the land or the waterways. It's dangerous for the life of the animals which by mistaken eat the 

plastics as a food. It can cause many animals to be killed in this way. Thinking that recycling is solution to that problem is 

good idea but unfortunately studies have proven that there are very few plants that actually recycle them. That is because it 

can be expensive to recycle this type of plastic. It doesn't melt down easily and is often not realistically able to be reused 

from its original form without considerable overhaul to the facility. So it's still remaining as a problem. My approach is that 

we have to take care of the animals live on Earth, so by reducing usage of bags, replacing them with paper bags and most 

important thing, make sure not throwing the plastics to environment, we can save at least a few life of animals.  

2. Some people, doctors have claimed that women shouldn't drink water in heated bottles, because bottles have certain 

chemicals (dioxin, some also call DEHA) that can lead breast cancer. 

Actually, it all depends on the plastic you use. Not all of the plastics contain dioxin, also not all of the plastics are safe. 

You have to look the bottom of the plastic caps, or toys you buy for children. There's recycling symbol and a number which 

classifies the type of the plastic.  

#1, #2, or #4 is fine. if the plastic has a #3 or the letters “PVC” on the bottom or isn’t sporting a “PVC-free” label, stay 

away from that. It contains harmful chemicals, as vinyl chloride, dioxin, and phthalates, which are linked to asthma, 

allergies, and reproductive problems. If we look to #7 on a plaything, it probably contains BPA (bisphenol A) and is not a 

safe baby toy. It can cause harmful developmental effects in infants and is linked to attention disorders, cancer-cell growth, 

early onset puberty, and obesity. 

We should be aware when buying plastic cups or toys for children, that meets US standards, stay away cheap and poor 

quality Chinese products and it would be better to find alternative products instead of plastics. For example instead of using 

plastic cups, we can use mugs. (in ancient times mugs were made from wood or bone or shaped of clay. But most modern 

ones are made of ceramic material), or instead of plastic toys, make wooden or bamboo (from natural and renewable 

materials) toys. These all are both harmless to our health and environment. 

We live in a polymer world. But we should take advantage of that, not destroy our health, life of animals and 

environment while utilizing them. We are human beings. We are able to find better, alternative ways every time. 

1. Plastics do leach toxins into your food. Producing paper bags is alternative way though. Reused flour bags, for 

example, are good for freezing stuff. 

2. Producewax coated wraps for food storage; these could be great alternative to plastic sandwich bags. 

3.Produce stainless steel water bottles. I would suggest trying to find one without a plastic mouth piece though, since 

that plastic will degrade into your mouth bit by bit. 

4. Researches in these directions should be provided; we have to find such chemicals that can decompose plastics in 

environmental friendly way. 

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