Plastic pollution ruining life.

KARACHI -- About 100 million tones of plastic are produced every year all over the world and production of plastic is growing about nine percent annually. The use of plastic is very common and used in a variety of ways ranging from household appliances to industrial and commercial products.

These views were expressed by the Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Karachi, Dr Anjum Nawab on Wednesday. She was giving lecture during the seminar held on Professor Dr Mustafa Shameel Memorial an approach to the solution of plastic pollution organized by the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization at the Arts Auditorium.

'However, major chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastic are highly toxic and cannot be digested by the earth even in centuries and that is why it poses a serious threat to living beings of all species on earth.

'In the environment, plastic breaks down into smaller particles that absorb toxic chemicals and ingested by wildlife on land and in the ocean and later enter into the human food chain. Plastic is creating a negative impact on land and reducing soil fertility by lessening the growth of plants and trees by blocking absorption of minerals, water and other nutrients and also spoils environmental aesthetics and hygiene,' she added.

She said that effects of plastic on marine life include entanglement and ingestion of plastic debris by marine vertebrates. Over a million sea birds and mammals die annually from the ingestion of plastic which is taken mistakenly for food by birds, turtles, seals and whales. It...