塑料不会消失

塑料须经过数百年才分解，对生态系统造成广泛和长期的破坏。要了解塑料污染，必须先了解塑料是一种以碳（化石燃料）和化学物作为原料的物质。

塑料并不安全，其惰性材料本身，是一组复杂的混合物，包含数千种化学物，许多是毒素。已被确认的化学物超过1万种，超过2400种是受关注物质（还有其他数百种塑料化学品的危害数据不完整或没有资料） 。

塑料经数百年才分解有4个原因：

1.塑料是以源自石化产品的长链合成聚合物组成。这些聚合物能承受物理、化学和生物降解，保障使用寿命和稳定性。它对产品好，却对环境构成危害。

2.塑料不会快速分解，却会进行物理降解，如光降解和机械磨损。长期暴露在阳光下，聚合物中的化学键会分解，产生碎片和微塑料。风、水和物理力引起的机械磨损，进一步分解这些碎片，但它仍旧不会消失

3.环境条件会影响塑料的分解速度。深埋在填埋场可以延长塑料的寿命。塑料在水生环境常暴露于紫外线辐射和物理力，仍需数百年才彻底分解。其中一些添加剂，如紫外线稳定剂，让塑料具有光照保护。

4.有机材料可以被微生物分解成更简单的物质，重新吸收到生态系统中，塑料没有自然分解剂。细菌和真菌无法有效分解塑料中的合成聚合物，它即分碎成更小的碎片或微塑料，但没有完全分解。

了解塑料持久存在的因素，可以通过减少塑料使用、改善废物管理和使用可持续替代品去解决这个环境问题。

我们希望正在拟定的《全球塑料条约》可以减少塑料污染，保护全人类的健康与安全。

参考:

An Introduction to Plastics and Toxic Chemicals | IPEN. (2022, November). IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network).
https://ipen.org/documents/introduction-plastics-and-toxic-chemicals

Frequently asked questions on plastics and chemicals | IPEN. (2024, March). IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network).
https://ipen.org/documents/frequently-asked-questions-plastics-and-chemicals

Plastics, EDCs & Health | IPEN. (2020, December). IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network).
https://ipen.org/documents/plastics-edcs-health

How the Plastic Pollution Resolution Relates to Chemicals and Health | IPEN. (n.d.). IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network).
https://ipen.org/documents/how-plastic-pollution-resolution-relates-to-chemicals-and-health

Ghost Nets: Why they endanger Marine life – Plastic Soup Foundation. (2020, May 1). Plastic Soup Foundation.
https://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org/en/plastic-problem/plastic-environment/ghost-nets/

Tribune, Z. E. C. D. (2019, January 7). Why is it so hard to decompose plastic? Columbia Daily Tribune.
https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/lifestyle/family/2019/01/07/why-is-it-so-hard/98492007/

Centre for International Environmental Law. (2022, February 1). Plastic and Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet – Center for International Environmental Law.
https://www.ciel.org/plasticandclimate/

Lai, O. (2024, March 4). The detrimental impacts of plastic pollution on animals. Earth.Org.
https://earth.org/plastic-pollution-animals/

Swaters. (2023, April 14). New Study Shows Plastics Release Greenhouse Gases, Contributing to Climate Change. Surfrider Foundation.
https://www.surfrider.org/news/new-study-shows-plastic-as-source-of-greenhouse-gases-potentially-contribut