The Dangers of Styrofoam ☣️

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You may not think about it but you use styrofoam a lot. Think about it! You receive your snow cones, corn soup, Chinese food and curry in styrofoam. But where does it all end up?

 Plastic pollution is greatly showcased in the media. However, Styrofoam pollution is quite overlooked. Especially in Trinidad and Tobago. So today I'm going to shed some light on the dangers of styrofoam pollution and the threats posed by styrofoam when emitted into the natural environment.

Styrofoam is widely used as an insulating material in the construction industry, for the production of disposable dishes or packaging, crafts, and in the food industry. 

Photo source: Indiamart
Image showing packing peanuts which are made from styrofoam 

Photo source: Brennan Builders Inc.
Photo showing styrofoam used to insulate a building 
Photo source: DIYwithMe
Photo showing styrofoam balls used for crafts  turned into a decorative snowman
Photo source: Home for Foam
Photo showing styrofoam containers used in the food industry 

Widespread use results in styrofoam waste of various sizes being deposited in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 

When styrofoam is broken down the particles are introduced into the food chain on its various levels, and there are documented cases in which the concentrations of pollutants increased in organisms that were exposed to the influence of plastic debris.

Styrofoam debris may accumulate mercury compounds present in the environment. Therefore styrofoam debris should be treated as a potential carrier of mercury within ecosystems.

 The accumulation of mercury, as well as the introduction of plastic debris into the food chain by many aquatic and probably also terrestrial organisms is an ominous threat.

 I have only talked about a small part of styrofoam pollution so below is a short video showing the many other dangers of styrofoam. 






Haiti passed a decree in 2013 to prohibit the production, importation, commercialisation, and use of, in any form whatsoever, plastic bags and objects made of styrofoam for food purposes, such as trays, bottles, bags, cups, and plates. 


Photo source: HGW/Marc Schindler Saint-ValStyrofoam containers in one of the many drainage canals in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. 


Most, dump into the Caribbean Sea after passing through poor neighbourhoods, like this one in Cité Soleil, where human and animal faecal matter, styrofoam, and other trash regularly flood the zone after heavy rains. Trinidad has recently passed a ban on styrofoam. The ban will come into effect in 2019. 

We as Trinidadians and Tobagonians need to take heed and recycle all our Styrofoam products in order to keep our ecosystem and environment healthy. 

References:

Graca .B et al , (2013) Styrofoam debris as a potential carrier of mercury within ecosystems 

 Styrofoam is out sort of  (August 23 2018) Guardian 
Retried from:http://corp.guardian.co.tt/life/2018-08-23/styrofoam-is-out%2C-sort-of.

 http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/08/despite-two-bans-styrofoam-trash-still-plagues-haiti/

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