The Disastrous Effects of Human Invention

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In the modern world, we as despicable humans have consumed the most raw materials of

all the living organisms of Earth. We also have produced the most waste of all the living

organisms of Earth. From food scraps to plastics to carbon dioxide, we have polluted this planet

to its limit. The existence of the human race has turned our home into a giant landfill. Of the

many pollutants we put into the environment, one type stands out: plastics. Plastic was created to

be a convenient and cheap material for domestic use, but it has caused many problems like the

deaths of animals and the contamination of soil and water. One specific type of plastic that has

affected the community is polystyrene. Polystyrene, more commonly known as Styrofoam, has

created serious issues including problems connected waste disposal, global warming, and cancer.

From its original use as an industrial material in the early twentieth century to its use in

packaging currently, polystyrene has been proven to cause cancer, pollute the environment, and

cause a myriad of issues in the environment and community

The history of polystyrene began in 1839, when polystyrene was discovered by a German

apothecary named Eduard Simon who was completely unaware of the various effects the

chemical and physical composition of polystyrene would cause. Polystyrene, also known as

Styrofoam is an aromatic polymer made of styrene monomers. When it was discovered, Eduard

Simon isolated it from natural resin a well-known source of natural plastics. Later in 1922,

Hermann Staudinger had published his research on the rubber and plastic like structure of

polystyrene, which earned him a Nobel Prize in chemistry. The complete chemical and physical

characte...

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...foam cups

as reported in 2012 by Go Green In Asia especially, the lack of bans and regulates accelerated

the accumulation of polystyrene in the environment. In all Polystyrene is a major issue around

the world affecting regions from Asia to North America.

Figure 1

With 25 billion Styrofoam cups thrown away each year (Go Green, Green Living),

Styrofoam poses a problem to the entire world. From its health effects to its accumulation in

landfills, Polystyrene is a major pollutant. It is used in packaging, insulation and food storage

and its light weight and cheap price makes it easy for business. It leaks Styrene, contaminating

water, affecting humans and animals, and it is not easy on the environment. From its discovery

in 1839 to its widespread usage in the early twenty-first century, it has been a gift to businesses

but a curse to the environment.

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