ABSTRACTIn developing world, plastics pays a major role in everyone’s life. It has been used throughout worldwide. It has numerous applications in various products. But it also play a major role in contributing health problem to human as well as to animals. This study examines the health issues raised due to the use of plastics in Tirunelveli District. It aims to study the health problems faced by the respondents, reason for the health issues and suggestions to avoid such health problems.
The data was collected from 75 respondents in the area of Tirunelveli city and analysed using SPSS package.KEYWORDS: health issues, use of plastics, burning of plastics.INTRODUCTIONToday, plastic is all around us. We can see the plastic in the farm of food and beverage containers, pen, bags, and packaging etc. plastics are made up of different chemicals. Burning of the plastics will make the toxic ingredients to evaporate into the air and be breathed in. They will absorb into the skin.
Burned plastics also creates the breathing problem. New plastic items will have a strong odour, long period usage of plastic water bottles, eating the hot food in a plastic container or storing the hot food or drink in the plastic covers or container will make the chemicals to absorb easily into the body. It will create harmful effects on the health of the human being. It may cause cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, and other ailments. Animals also eat it and the meat, milk of such animals also affects the health of human beings.As of 2018, about 380 million tons of plastics is produced worldwide each year said Wikipedia. Some of the researchers suggest that by 2050 there may be chance for more plastics than the fish in the ocean.Many of the people use the plastics without knowing the problems or they may not have the awareness about the pollution caused due to the plastics. Burning of plastics cause the irritation to the eyes and also cause air pollution. Such smog are the reason for many accidents. By strict rules and regulations will reduce the effects of the plastics in human health. The study concentrate on the health problem caused due to the plastics. For that 75 respondents were selected on the basis of the conveyance sampling methodOBJECTIVES To study the demographic profile of the respondents. To analyse the health problems faced by the respondents To identify the reason for the health problems. To provide suggestions in this regard.METHODOLOGYThis paper is mainly concentrate on the health problems faced by the respondents due to the use of the plastics in Tirunelveli city. It contains both primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected through the questionnaire. The secondary data relating to the plastics and health issues were obtained from text books, journals and websites. The primary data were collected from 75 respondents. The collected data were analysed by the statistical tool like percentage analysis and rank test for making the findings.ANALYSIS The analysis was made for fulfil the objectives of the study. The first table shows the demographic profile of the respondents and the second and third table shows the diseases caused due to the plastics and factors which are the reason for the health issues caused due to the plastics.TABLE 1Table 1 shows the demographic profile of the respondents.VARIABLE CATEGORY NUMBERS PERCENTAGEGENDER Male 52 69.33 Female 23 30.67 TOTAL 75 100AGE BELOW 25 29 38.7 26-30 10 13.3 31-35 20 26.7 ABOVE 35 16 21.3 TOTAL 75 100EDUCATION Higher secondary 8 10.7 Under graduate 28 37.3 Post graduate 27 36.0 Others 12 16.0 TOTAL 75 100INCOME Below 25000 16 21.3 25,001 ” 50,000 25 33.3 50,001 ” 75,000 19 25.3 Above 75,000 15 20 TOTAL 100 100 MARITAL STATUS Married 27 36 Unmarried 48 64 TOTAL 75 100 Source: Primary dataFrom the above table 1 it is clear that 69.33 percentage of the respondents are male and 30.67 percentage are female. 38.7 percentage of the respondents are below 25, 13.3 percentage of the respondents are 26 ” 30, 26.7 percentage of the respondents are 31 ” 35 and 21.3 percentage of the respondents are above 35. 10.7 percentage of the respondents are having higher secondary as their qualification, 37.3 percentage of the respondents are under graduates, 36.0 percentage are post graduated and 16 percentage of the respondents are completed other courses. 21.3 percentage of the respondents are earning below 25,000, 33.3 percentage of the respondents are earning 25,001 ” 50,000, 25.3 percentage of the respondents are earning 50,001 ” 75,000 and 20 percentage of the respondents are earning above 75,000. 27 percentage of the respondents are married and 48 percentage of the respondents are unmarried.TABLE 2Table 2 shows the health problems caused due to the plastics.S.NO FACTORS MEAN SCORE RANK1. Eye irritation 289.51 I2. Asthma & allergies 286.73 II3. Liver dysfunction 263.13 VI4. Skin diseases 285.61 III5. Birth effect 283.22 IV6. Lungs problem 280.51 VSource: primary dataTable 2 shows that most of the respondents have given first rank to eye irritation with Garrett mean score 289.51, second rank was given to asthma and allergies with the Garrett mean score 286.73, third rank was assigned to skin diseases with the mean score of 285.61, fourth rank was allotted to birth effect with the mean score of 283.22, fifth rank was given to lungs problem with the mean score of 280.51, finally sixth rank was given to liver dysfunction with the mean score of 263.13.TABLE 3 Table 3 shows the reasons for the health issues.S.NO FACTORS MEAN SCORE RANK1. Using low quality plastics 384.3 III2. Burning of plastics 406.5 I3. Throwing plastics in water 381.8 IV4. Plastics eaten by the domestic animals 372.88 V5. Chemical content in plastics 385.2 II6. others 370.166 VISource: primary dataTable 3 shows that majority of the respondents had given first rank to the burning of plastics as the reason for health issues with mean score of 406.5, second rank was given to chemical contents in plastics with Garrett score of 385.2, third rank was assigned to using low quality plastics with the mean Garrett score of 384.3, fourth rank was given to throwing plastics in water with the mean score of 381.8, fifth rank was assigned to plastics eaten by the domestic animals, sixth rank was given to other reasons with the Garrett mean score of 370.166.FINDINGSThe following are the findings done by the researcher. Majority of the respondents of the respondents are male (69.33%). Most of the respondents come under below 25 in age wise classification with the percentage of 38.7. 37.3 percentage of the respondents are completed undergraduate. Majority of the respondents are earning income between 25,001 ” 50,000 (33.33) 64 percentage of the respondents are unmarried Eye irritation is the major health issue with the Garrett mean score of 289.51 Burning of plastics is the major reason for health issues.SUGGESTIONSThe following are the suggestions made from the findings. Many of the people not know about the problems raised due to the plastics, lack of awareness is the major problem among the people. Many times government are taking steps to reduce the plastics waste but because of lack of knowledge and ignorance many health issues are raised because of plastics. There should be more programs taken place to create awareness about plastics. People should reduce the burning of plastics. Plastic burning is the major reason for the health issues. Problems like eye irritation, allergies and asthma, skin disease are caused mainly due to the burning. Though government are taking steps it should increase the awareness and penalties, punishment should extend in order to save the people from the unwanted diseases. Stop using plastic straws, use a reusable produce bag, buy boxes instead of bottles, avoid plastics for beverages, use matches instead of plastic lighters. CONCLUSIONMany of the people are affected unknowingly by the plastic waste. The solution is possible only when we are try to work of it. Environment health is very much essential for the health of the common people. Nature is a greatest gift given by god. Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.