Karachi:
World Environment Day is observed worldwide on June 5, with the theme of this year, “Beat Beat Contamentution”, calling attention to the growing crisis of plastic waste. Environmental experts have warned that without an immediate intervention, the consequences of contamination without control could be catastrophic both for human health and the ecosystem.
While talking to The Express PAkGazette, Dr. Amir Alamgir, an assistant professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Karachi, said that plastic pollution has become one of the most serious environmental challenges in recent decades. “Plastic products are economical and widely available, which encourages excessive use without taking into account its harmful effects,” he added.
Dr. Alamir emphasized the health hazards that pose the use of plastic, particularly during the summer. “Storing drinking water in plastic bottles and cooling can release microplastics that enter the human body,” he said. “These microscopic particles can seriously damage respiratory and digestive systems, blood vessels and other vital organs. Prolonged exposure can even lead to fatal diseases such as cancer.”
It also warned against the generalized practice of the burning of waste, particularly plastic waste, which releases toxic gases in the atmosphere. “These gases are absorbed in the lungs and blood torrent, which affects human health in a way that is still understood, but we know that they represent serious risks,” he said.
Karachi, one of the most densely populated cities in the country, is in the center of the environmental crisis of Pakistan. The city generates approximately 14,712 tons of solid waste daily, of which only 50 percent is transported to landfills. The rest is ruled out in open spaces, bodies of water and streets, polluting air and water sources.
According to Dr. Alamgar, 60 percent of Karachi’s solid waste are composed of plastic, much of which ends in the Arabic sea, endangering marine life. “If the current trend continues, Karachi could face irreversible ecological damage in the next 15 years,” he warned.
