Burning Trash: A Major Contributor to Plastic Pollution, Study Reveals
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Burning trash a major source of plastic pollution: study
Paris (AFP) - Burning plastic in dumps and open fires is as big a problem for the planet as littering, scientists said Wednesday in a detailed new assessment of how plastic enters the environment. A world-first global register of plastic pollution, published in the journal Nature, identifies India as the biggest source of such trash and burning garbage as a much bigger problem than previously thought. The findings come ahead of key negotiations toward a global plastics treaty and researchers hope it better informs policymakers as they consider how best to tackle the growing crisis. Plastic has been found in snow atop the highest mountains and the depths of the remotest oceans, and tiny particles have been detected in blood and breast milk. Much of the blame is often assigned to plastic litter: bigger pieces like straws that are tossed away and take a long time to break down, blighting ecosystems for generations to come. But at least the same amount of plastic pollution is caused by burning it informally, mostly in poor regions where no alternatives are available, said Costas Velis from the University of Leeds. "This hasn't been historically our perception of marine litter or plastic pollution," said Velis, who led the research. Health hazard His team created a detailed global inventory of plastic pollution down to the city-level by using AI to assist in modelling waste management in more than 50,000 municipalities. They estimated some 52 million tonnes of plastic waste entered the environment in 2020 -- 43 percent as unburned litter, and 57 percent through open fires lit in homes, streets, or dumpsites. Improperly burning garbage and leaving plastic to smoulder in this manner did not make it "disappear" but only spread smaller pieces far and wide around the environment, Velis said. It also worsened air quality and exposed people living nearby to very harmful additives that are released when plastic is burned, he added. "A lot of it is happening very close to vulnerable individuals" but the issue did not get anywhere near the attention it should, he told AFP. "It is something that requires our utter, immediate attention." The main source of plastic waste in Global South nations was uncollected waste, researchers found, with almost 1.2 billion people living without any other means to dispose of trash. In wealthier Global North countries, the biggest culprit was littering. India, not China as suggested in previous studies, was the biggest contributor to plastic waste, followed by Nigeria and Indonesia, all countries with large populations and trash management challenges. China ranked fourth. Final negotiations toward a global treaty on plastic pollution get underway in South Korea in late November.
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Burning Trash A Major Source Of Plastic Pollution: Study
Burning plastic in dumps and open fires is as big a problem for the planet as littering, scientists said Wednesday in a detailed new assessment of how plastic enters the environment. A world-first global register of plastic pollution, published in the journal Nature, identifies India as the biggest source of such trash and burning garbage as a much bigger problem than previously thought. The findings come ahead of key negotiations toward a global plastics treaty and researchers hope it better informs policymakers as they consider how best to tackle the growing crisis. Plastic has been found in snow atop the highest mountains and the depths of the remotest oceans, and tiny particles have been detected in blood and breast milk. Much of the blame is often assigned to plastic litter: bigger pieces like straws that are tossed away and take a long time to break down, blighting ecosystems for generations to come. But at least the same amount of plastic pollution is caused by burning it informally, mostly in poor regions where no alternatives are available, said Costas Velis from the University of Leeds. "This hasn't been historically our perception of marine litter or plastic pollution," said Velis, who led the research. His team created a detailed global inventory of plastic pollution down to the city-level by using AI to assist in modelling waste management in more than 50,000 municipalities. They estimated some 52 million tonnes of plastic waste entered the environment in 2020 -- 43 percent as unburned litter, and 57 percent through open fires lit in homes, streets, or dumpsites. Improperly burning garbage and leaving plastic to smoulder in this manner did not make it "disappear" but only spread smaller pieces far and wide around the environment, Velis said. It also worsened air quality and exposed people living nearby to very harmful additives that are released when plastic is burned, he added. "A lot of it is happening very close to vulnerable individuals" but the issue did not get anywhere near the attention it should, he told AFP. "It is something that requires our utter, immediate attention." The main source of plastic waste in Global South nations was uncollected waste, researchers found, with almost 1.2 billion people living without any other means to dispose of trash. In wealthier Global North countries, the biggest culprit was littering. India, not China as suggested in previous studies, was the biggest contributor to plastic waste, followed by Nigeria and Indonesia, all countries with large populations and trash management challenges. China ranked fourth. Final negotiations toward a global treaty on plastic pollution get underway in South Korea in late November.
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A new study highlights the significant role of trash burning in plastic pollution. This practice, common in developing countries, releases microplastics into the environment, posing risks to human health and ecosystems.
The Hidden Culprit of Plastic Pollution
A groundbreaking study has revealed that burning trash, a common practice in many developing countries, is a major source of plastic pollution that has been largely overlooked. This finding sheds new light on the global plastic crisis and challenges previous assumptions about the primary sources of plastic pollution
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.The Scale of the Problem
Researchers estimate that a staggering 2-7 million metric tons of microplastics are released into the atmosphere annually due to trash burning. This figure is comparable to the amount of plastic that enters the world's oceans each year, highlighting the magnitude of this previously underestimated source of pollution
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.The Process and Its Consequences
When plastic waste is burned, it doesn't simply disappear. Instead, it breaks down into tiny particles known as microplastics, which are less than 5 millimeters in size. These microplastics are then released into the air and can travel long distances, potentially contaminating areas far from the original burning site
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.Global Impact and Vulnerable Regions
The study points out that this form of pollution disproportionately affects developing countries, where waste management infrastructure is often lacking. In these regions, burning trash is frequently used as a means of waste disposal, unknowingly contributing to the global plastic pollution crisis
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.Health and Environmental Risks
The release of microplastics through trash burning poses significant risks to both human health and the environment. These tiny particles can be inhaled, potentially causing respiratory issues, and may also contaminate soil and water sources. The long-term effects of this exposure are still being studied, but initial findings suggest cause for concern
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.Related Stories
Call for Action and Solutions
This research underscores the urgent need for improved waste management practices globally, particularly in developing nations. Experts suggest that addressing this issue will require a multi-faceted approach, including better infrastructure for waste collection and disposal, increased recycling efforts, and public education campaigns about the dangers of trash burning
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.Future Research and Monitoring
The study's findings open up new avenues for research into plastic pollution. Scientists are now calling for more comprehensive monitoring of airborne microplastics and further investigation into their long-term environmental and health impacts. This new understanding of plastic pollution sources may also influence future policy decisions and international efforts to combat the global plastic crisis
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