From the Pacific ocean to National Parks and even rain water, plastic pollution is piling up. Even in places we would consider pristine and unhindered by man, we are finding microplastics in the air and water. In fact, a study released in the journal Science shows how much plastic is landing on protected areas in the West: more than 1,000 tons each year, equal to 123 million to 300 million pulverized plastic water bottles.
How/When was Plastic Created?
While PVC was created in the 19th century, it didn’t really become commonplace until the early 1900’s. Plastic was created in 1907 by Leo Baekeland. He invented Bakelite to be a synthetic form of shellac which was an electrical insulator. The need was great at the time, and eventually other uses were discovered for plastic. Containers for food and beverage items, nylon items, Unfortunately, no molecules in plastic are found in nature.
Due to its’ versatile nature, not to mention that its’ lightweight, flexible, and durable, the demand for plastic skyrocketed overnight. However, what once was thought to be a blessing has turned into a nightmare. Tires degrade into black dust, dryers that dry clothes put off plastic fibers into the filters, spraying industrial pains release microbeads and the list goes on and on.
Why Plastic Pollution is Bad
Plastic pollution has not only created a mass of floating garbage in the Pacific ocean bigger than the state of Texas, but it is known to block the digestive tracks of marine wildlife, like birds, fish and even penguins. It’s being found in our air and rain, which means we humans are ingesting it as well as our children and pets.
There is even plastic being moved around by our jet stream. It’s no question that the microplastic that lands in our cars as we drive, or that we inhale because the size of it is imperceptible to us, is bad for everyone and everything involved.
If that isn’t enough, plastic can be mutagenic, carcinogenic and can disrupt the endocrine system within the body. In essence, plastic is fouling our planet. If the planet is our home, and indeed it is, we at Aquasani feel it is time for some serious housecleaning.
What Can We Do to Stop Plastic Pollution?
For one, we can stop contributing to it. Little things like bringing your own cloth bags to the grocery store and bypassing the plastic bags can make a difference (especially if everyone is doing it).
Recycling is another thing we can all do. Opting for paper straws instead of plastic straws are another thing we can do together as a society. Using glass or steel containers is another way you can minimize your plastic consumption, as well as buying bulk food items and fewer packaged products.
Everything from purchasing detergent in boxes as opposed to plastic containers can help reduce plastic consumption or opting for food items in paper packaging. There are a million ways you can stopor at least reduce your plastic consumption. Have you considered all the options?
About Aquasani in Springfield, Mo.
Aquasani is an authorized dealer for Rainsoft, WaterLogic, & JavaSmart. Based in Springfield, Mo., and at Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Beach in Missouri, Aquasani services areas in the Ozarks including Osage Beach, Camdenton, Aurora and even Jefferson City. In essence, we service Mid-Missouri, Southwest Missouri, and Northwest Arkansas, and have been servicing these areas since 2004. We provide home water softener systems, drinking water filtration systems, whole house air purification systems, and problem-solving water filtration systems for homes and offices.
Aside from our purification systems, we also sell all-natural cleaning products and household items which are environmentally friendly and low-cost.
We specialize in water filtration and purification for both commercial businesses and residential homes. If that isn’t enough, we provide free trials for our water cooler services. If you would like a free estimate, schedule an appointment with us by calling (417) 881-4000 or fill out the form below and one of our Aquasani teammates will sort you out!
