(VOVworld) – Plastic products are helpful to human life but also pose serious health hazards to population. A wide range of countries have taken measure to limit the use of plastic bags.

Each year, more than 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the oceans (Photo: www.earth-policy.org)

Each year, from half a billion to one billion plastic bags is used. According to the UN Environment Program, each year, more than 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the oceans, wreaking havoc on marine wildlife, fisheries and tourism. Up to 80 per cent of all litter in our oceans is made of plastic.

According to some estimates, by 2050 oceans will carry more plastic than fish and an estimated 99 per cent of seabirds will have ingested plastic.

The production of plastic bags is hazardous as it uses oil and gas and major additives such as plasticized compound, heavy metals, and coloring, which pollute the environment and damage people’s health. The production of plastic bags creates CO2, increasing greenhouse gas emission and worsening climate change. The plastic bags are made from substances that are difficult to decompose. So they prevent O2 from intruding into the soil, causing erosion and infertility.

Many plastic bags are made from crude oil and if a large volume of them are buried, the soil and water conditions will be affected. When they are burnt, the smoke will cause risks of poison, cancer, immunity reduction, and birth defects. It takes from 500 to 1,000 years for plastic bags to decompose.

Many countries are seeking strong measures to ease the danger of plastic bags. At least 16 African countries ban imports and production of plastic bags. In Europe, Demark has imposed taxes on the use of plastic bags for 20 years. Currently, each Danish citizen uses only 4 plastic bags a year. Since the Irish government charges a fee for using plastic bags in 2002, the number of plastic bags has reduced by 90%. In October 2015, major shops in the UK began charging a fee of 5 pounds for each plastic bag. Some regions in Canada ban plastic bags and fine 1,000 USD on an offender.

The taxation of plastic bag use has paved the way for developing environmentally-friendly bags, including biodegradable plastic bags. But the cost of this product is 2 or 5 times higher than an ordinary plastic bag.

As the world is facing climate change challenges, saying-no to plastic bags will contribute to environmental protection.