Plastic industry in West Bengal and its impact on public health—An overview

Plastics are synthetic organic polymers. They are light weight, strong, durable, cheap and most preferred material in today's industrial world. The use of plastics and other synthetic materials has expanded at a rapid pace. In West Bengal, the increasing demand of plastic material increases its production hence, the quantity of plastic debris entering the environment shall also increase. Many of these products degrade very slowly. The accumulating debris poses serious threat to the environment and consumer's health. Leaching into the foodstuff from plastic packages, exposures to harmful chemicals at the time of manufacturing causes serious health hazards like cancer, birth defect, reproduction problems, lack of immunity etc. Plastic substitute and proper disposal of it is now the prime requirement.