Common Image for Earth Day – Kashmir Reader

Earth Day: a wake-up call and a reminder to take action to protect the environment

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year with the aim of raising awareness about various issues and challenges faced by planet Earth and discussing possible interventions to reduce the impact. Thanks to ‘Silent Spring’, written by Rachel Carson, a New York Times bestseller in 1962, and the inspiration gained from the student anti-war protests in the US, which played a crucial role in raising public awareness about the environment, living organisms, pollution and human health. Followed by relevant developments, the movement eventually culminated in the celebration of Earth Day in 1970. Since then, this day has been celebrated every year around the world and the theme for this year is ‘Planet vs Plastics’. The stated goal is to reduce the production of all plastics by 60% by 2040. That’s a challenge, but dedication and innovations can make it possible, as we’ve seen dramatic changes in other areas of science and technology.
Who could have imagined the revolution that information technology brought to our lives and turned the entire world into a global village? Likewise, we may see changes in tackling plastic pollution in the near future. This article aims to raise awareness about the problem of plastic pollution and inspire us to play our part in reducing the damage it causes to our environment.
Plastic pollution, as we know, is one of the biggest threats to the earth, the environment, ecology and health. Because they are cheap and durable, manufacturers prefer plastic over other materials. However, the composition of plastic makes it resistant to degradation, causing it to accumulate in the environment over the years and pollute the ecosystem and food chain. Global plastic production has reached an estimated 460 million tons in recent years, and currently between 75 and 199 million tons of plastic are in our oceans. About five trillion polybags are used worldwide every year and about a million plastic bottles are purchased every minute. Half of the plastic produced is intended for single use and disposal.
Based on the trends, global primary plastic production in 2050 is estimated at approximately 1,100 million tons. Mishandling such a large amount of plastic will certainly have very serious consequences for the environment, society, economy and health. Because they are man-made polymers, their breakdown is difficult, resulting in plastic products fragmenting and remaining in our environment for decades. Even incineration cannot be proposed as a solution because it releases a variety of toxins, such as polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans, into the atmosphere that can harm human health and the environment. We are also seeing an unprecedented increase in the use of plastic in agriculture due to its ease of production, transportation, physical properties and lower tariffs. It is widely used for greenhouses, mulching, irrigation pipes and drip lines, silage films, pesticide and fertilizer bottles, bags, and so on. The use of plastic in agriculture has helped increase yields and input efficiency, but at the same time, its mismanagement can lead to serious problems in crop production, human health and the ecosystem.
According to environmentalists, there are two main channels through which plastic can enter the agricultural ecosystem: a) leakage from non-agricultural sources and b) leakage from agricultural activities. According to an FAO report, agricultural value chains used 12.5 million tons of plastic products in plant and animal products and 37.3 million tons in food packaging in 2019. This does not include data on storage, processing and distribution use, as per the report. According to the report, only a small proportion of agricultural plastic is collected and recycled, and the build-up of plastic mulch residues in surface soil has resulted in a reduction in yields. In our area we also see plastic pollution in apple orchards, where plastic containers and bags are thrown into the orchards or into the water streams, creating a double risk. One is the plastic itself and the other is the pesticide that sticks to the container. This indicates that the benefits of plastic in agriculture can be negated if not handled properly. Another problem is microplastics from agricultural plastic products, which can negatively affect human health.
According to the FOA document ‘Assessment of Agricultural Plastics and Their Sustainability, A Call for Action’, microplastics are vectors for the long-range spread of pathogens and toxic chemicals in oceans, and some plastic resins may also contain additives such as phthalates and bisphenols, which are toxic are for humans. According to the researchers, these toxins can disrupt neurological development, endocrine functions and reproductive functions. In addition, the report says that the impact of microplastic has been traced at the cellular level and affects not only the individual organism, but also entire ecosystems. Scientific evidence confirms the presence of microplastics in human feces, and transmission of nanoplastics from mother to fetus is reported in the case of rats.
Research shows that microplastics affect soil properties, including density, aggregation and water availability. Studies also show that agricultural mulch film residues left in the soil can increase salt concentrations in topsoil, reduce seed germination and stunt root growth. Similarly, the use of high amounts of plastic (>240 kg/ha) has been reported to reduce yields of a range of crops by 11 to 25 percent.
In view of this, there is an urgent need for plastic pollution to be recognized at the grassroots level as a threat to sustainability, and steps should be taken to tackle the problem holistically and extend the life cycle of plastic products (production, transportation, storage) to cover. , use and management after end of life) and circularity. There is an urgent need to find alternatives, and the FAO proposes the 6R model: Refuse, Redesign, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover. Environmentalists and all parties involved in environmental research must intensify their research efforts to quantify the fate of the plastic used in their area.
It is essential to know the amount of plastic used, the composition of the final product, how it is used in everyday life, what happens to it throughout the supply chain and at the end of its life. Comparing the suitability in terms of advantages and disadvantages of currently used and proposed alternatives for specific agricultural applications, from sowing crops to marketing and subsequent disposal of material into the environment, could also be an area of ​​research are for agricultural scientists and environmentalists.
The Indian government’s initiatives in waste management are encouraging steps towards reducing environmental pollution and recycling waste. For example, the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban -2.0, launched by the Indian government in 2021, aims to provide three-star certification to all urban local bodies based on the Zero Waste Cities Assessment Protocol. The action plan includes door-to-door collection, separation at source, waste processing, etc. Similarly, under Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen Phase II, guidelines have been issued to the states and union territories for solid waste management activities at the village level. A detailed overview of the schemes, programs and guidelines is available on the website dedicated to the Swachh Bharat Mission.
I believe public awareness is critical to limiting the extent of the damage plastic pollution causes to our environment and our health. It is high time to join hands in this noble cause of saving our environment and look for solutions at all levels, from global to the local community, to reduce the impact. A simple practice of using carry bags for everyday purchases such as fruits, vegetables and other solid items can go a long way in minimizing the use of plastic in our daily lives. Let us at least adopt this practice to play our part in the war against plastic pollution.
The writer is Chief Scientist (Agronomy) MRCFC, SKUAST-Kashmir. He can be reached at (email protected)

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