Title: How Does Plastic Cause Air Pollution? | rePurpose Global Blog
Headings: How Does Plastic Cause Air Pollution?
How Does Plastic Cause Air Pollution?
1. The Extraction of Plastic’s Raw Material: Oil
2. The Impact of the Recycling Industry on Air Quality
3. Incineration of Plastic Materials
4. Plastics Ability to “Off-Gas”
Breathe In, Breath Out: What next?

Content: 3. Incineration of Plastic Materials
Plastic’s slow decomposition rates is a major obstacle for the rapidly filling landfills all over the world. Researchers estimate that over 40% of the world’s garbage is burned. Burning plastic and other wastes releases dangerous substances such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POP), and other toxic chemicals into the air and persist in ash waste residues. These chemicals have been linked to the development of asthma, endocrine disruption and cancer. Furthermore, POPs move around our planet via wind currents, which means that plastic burned in Germany could easily affect the air quality in Italy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, burning plastics is notably the worst possible end-of-life management approach for plastics from a climate perspective. 4. Plastics Ability to “Off-Gas”
Phthalates are chemicals that are added to plastic, which give structural qualities like flexibility and heat resistance. Unfortunately, they are also endocrine disruptors that have been linked to many health problems such as the development of lower testosterone levels, decreased sperm counts and reduced female fertility, and many more.