Plastic Pollution

A Concept Paper Requirement

for

English for Academic and Professional Purposes

Submitted by:

Dimple Ann B. Loyola

Frenz Yvonne U. Viaje

John Cedrick M. Cayanan

Submitted to:

Ms. Mary Azores

 The Three Elements

Category: Environmental Problems

Concept: Plastic Pollution

Traits:

 Destructive to ecosystem
 Threat to human health
 Harmful to wildlife animals
 Ecological dysfunction
 Risk of Hazards
 Prevention of plastic pollution
 Plastic Pollution

All throughout the world, plastic pollution have been rapidly affecting organisms and even us,
humans. Plastic pollution is the build-up of plastic waste such as water bottles, plastic straw and many
others that were produced by humans that eventually harms the wildlife and the entire humanity. Millions
of people's livelihoods, capacity for food production, and social well-being can all be negatively impacted
by plastic pollution, which can modify habitats and natural processes and reduce ecosystems' capacity to
adapt to climate change.

About 8 million of plastic garbage goes into the ocean, every single day. 73% of that plastic waste
comes from beach litters. Despite the alarming number of plastic waste, humans are still careless about
this issue. Unfortunately, Plastics kill millions of creatures per year, including fish, birds, and other
marine life. It is known that plastics have had an impact on nearly 700 species, including endangered
ones. Even terrestrial animals have been affected by plastic waste. Elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers,
camels, cattle, and other large mammals are the most common victim of plastic waste when they consume
it and later on, causing them to die. The more frightening effect of this pollution is that it slowly but
dangerously affects human health too. Tests have also confirmed liver and cell damage and disruptions to
reproductive systems, prompting some species, such as oysters, to produce fewer eggs. New research
shows that larval fish are eating nanofibers in the first days of life, raising new questions about the effects
of plastics on fish populations. Plastic is consumed by almost all species of seabird. The Plastic Pollution
Prevention and Collection Technology Inventory was created to aid local governments, nongovernmental
organizations, and other stakeholders in identifying technologies that may help to remediate hotspots of
marine plastic pollution. This inventory helps prevent marine plastic pollution from already existing in the
environment. There are several ways to search for technologies in the inventory, including by remediation
method (such as prevention or collection), plastic type (such as macroplastics, microplastics, or both
macroplastics and microplastics), or inventory category. There are also certain laws and regulations that
aims to have proper disposal of waste. On the Republic Act (RA) 9003, otherwise known as the
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, an act providing for an ecological solid waste
management program, creating the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, declaring certain
acts prohibited and providing penalties, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes. This act
helps environment friendly disposal, composting, recycling, and re-use which can help to t least ease the
rapid growth of plastic pollution in the Philippines. Another notable act that should be given more
attention is the agenda of the government of banning single-use plastic at the national level. Single-use
plastic pollutes throughout its lifecycle beginning from extraction, refining, and ending in their disposal in
the oceans and waterways, soil, and in the air we breathe through burning or incineration. With this
knowledge, every single one of us should be aware about how a single plastic bottle can last for a lifetime
because plastics do not dissolve but it only break down into smaller pieces that are being called
microplastics, which kills numerous wildlife animals and even cause humans to have illness.

Nature is the one constant through our human history. It is always there but we should always be
reminded that if we do not act now, nothing will stay. Millions of wild animals die due to plastic waste
that are sadly, produced by humans. If no one will act then who? If now now then when? Scientist have
exclaimed that humans have only limited time to save the earth before the outcome of what we have done
comes for us.