Page 55 - Plastics News March 2018

in the news

Goa’s beaches most littered in the country

oa’s beaches have the highest concentration of plastic Measuring less than 5mm in length — or the size of sesame
Gdebris in India, says a study by the Central Marine seed — microplastics are created when large plastic debris
Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi.Every metre of degrades into tiny pieces.
beach sand in Goa has an average 25.47g of plastic. The “When microplastics float in the sea, they get ingested
total litter, including nylon fishing nets, glass, e-waste,
especially by filter feeders such as clams, krill, baleen
whales and flamingos. Plastic debris also sits on the sea
bed, and can release toxic chemicals like polychlorinated
biphenyls due its interaction with water,” said Kaladharan.
“Plastic bags in the ocean appear as floating jelly fish,
which is consumed by sea turtles, choking them since they
cannot throw it out.” A 2016 study also found that all seven
species of turtles are known to ingest or get entangled in
plastic debris in the sea, while more than 700 species of
marine organisms are in danger of extinction.

Styrofoam and thermocol, is 205.75g/m2 — the highest in
the country.The 12-member team analysed the distribution Kerala Roads to get more plastic
of six categories of litter on 254 beaches, including 12 in and rubber
Goa, across 11 states and Union Territories, which share
India’s 7,516km coastline. After Goa, the 33 beaches in he use of rubber, waste plastic and geo-textiles
Karnataka are contaminated the most with plastic, with Tas ‘ingredients’ has been made compulsory in
a concentration of 21.91g/m2 followed by 12 beaches in road construction in Kerala, Works
Gujarat at an average 12.62g/m2. The quantum of litter Minister G Sudhakaran said in the
on Karnataka’s beaches was 178.44 g/m2 and 90.56g/m2 Assembly. “Instructions have been
in Gujarat. given to the effect that the use of
Plastic is also a concern on the beaches of Andaman and either of these materials or all three is
Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, which have 8.97gms compulsory. We have so far built 1,200
(total litter 19.23 g/m2) and 4.37g/m2 (10.97g/m2) of km using these materials in the past
plastic per square metre of sand. The lowest average 21 months,” he said, adding the use
quantity of plastic litter was recorded in Odisha at 0.08g/ of these materials along with bitumen will increase the
m2. Plastic items comprise sheets and single-use carry quality and longevity of roads. The government has also
bags, sachets of detergents, containers used to pack milk, decided to increase the defect liability period in road
cosmetics, oil, toothpaste and PET bottles. Experts said contracts from three years to seven, he said. With this,
apart from beaches, plastic debris is a threat to marine the contractor will be accountable for maintenance of
life – from whales to turtles and coral reefs to sea birds – roads for seven years. In certain city road projects such
and potentially humans through the food chain.
as the Thiruvananthapuram City Road Improvement
With grocery and other household essentials coming Project, the concession period is 15 years.The question
increasingly wrapped in plastic, P Kaladharan, principal hour of the Assembly also witnessed the Works Minister
investigator, CMFRI, said, “Humans belong to a throwaway lamenting that Keralites utterly lack a “road culture”.
culture where we use and throw plastic that finally reaches While new and wider roads are being constructed, the
the sea through river or land run-offs. Under hot and tendency for haphazard parking and encroachment
humid conditions, plastic litter on beaches becomes brittle causes difficulties to motorists, he said.
and reaches into the sea in the form of micro plastics.”

55 March 2018 Plastics News