Assessment Of Plastic Bags And Their Consequences On The Environment Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

The study examines the behaviors of the non- biodegradable and oxo- biodegradable bags (d2w, butchery, Shaheen, London Bakery, AddiFlex) after exposing them in different environments. The bags were collected from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Total number of twenty-seven samples were collected and were dug into the soil, placed into the water and exposed to the open atmosphere in order to determine and observe their degradability using the Handheld X-Ray Fluorescent (HHXRF). The study showed the decreasing trends of the heavy metal concentration present in the plastic bag. Furthermore, the study also showed the massive concentration of heavy metals present in the plastic bags. It was concluded that the plastic bags do degrade but they degrade by leaching out the toxic heavy metals into the surrounding environment which is extremely toxic for the environment and the human health. It is recommended that further experimental research must be conducted to analyze the degradable and oxo degradable plastic bags.