Theme: “Beat Plastic Pollution”
By Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto.
I personally see plastic pollution as harmful rubbish, and the dangers that come with it cannot be overemphasized. Although all wastes are rubbish, however, plastic seems to be of great major concern.
There are millions of garbage (rubbish) today in our environment, oceans and water channels; majority of this garbage are plastics.
The major challenge is that plastics are not bio degradable; they don’t decompose, and can stay for 1000 years and even more.
The effects of plastic pollution are numerous; it is not just about littering the environment or blocking water channels; it goes beyond that. Plastic pollution also affects soil quality, as most plastics contain toxins that affect soil productivity.
This harmful rubbish (plastics) also cause air pollution when it is burnt, as the process of burning it releases carbon monoxide, which is the major cause of asthma, and emission of lungs and heart related diseases into the atmosphere.
We really can’t shy away from the dangers of plastic pollution, as most plastic containers, bowls electronics and toys contain an additive called Bisphenol A which affects our reproductive system, as well as bring about impaired brain, and even causes cancer. One will now understand why cancer, which was rarely common, is now a major health challenge in the world.
The next question to ask is “How do we then consume these deadly chemicals?” A straight forward answer is, “By direct use of some of these plastics which contain harmful toxins, and the consumption of marine animals that fed on them”.
It is a “Vicious Cycle”; whatever affects the quality of water, quality of soil and quality of air affects us directly, as we depend on Air, Soil and Water for our survival.
Therefore promoting knowledge and awareness such as this should be a continuous activity.
Finally, we should not fold our hands and wait until Government comes up with policies on matters that affect our wellbeing and the environment. Environmental hazards affect both the rich and the poor; it is not a respecter of persons; on a lighter note, there is no special fish market for the rich, or special air, or special stream. We can say no to plastic pollution by reducing the use of plastics; encourage bulk buying; rejecting what we already have and preparing our drinking water instead of buying! Let us go back to the basics and practice the 3 Rs… Reduce Recycle and Reuse…
– Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto is the Project Coordinator, Kogi State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), and is an Environmental Enthusiast
