End to toxic plastic: Chhattisgarh bans cancer-causing PVC used in carry bags

The Chhattisgarh government has banned the use of chlorinated plastic and short-life Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in the state.

The recent decision taken by the Chhattisgarh government comes as a relief for the environment. It may not solve the problem but it is bound to do its bit as the chemical used to make PVC is a known human carcinogen, according to the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

CHHATTISGARH BANS PVC

A lot of advertisements and promotions make use of materials like PVC banners, flex and hoarding and Chhattisgarh has banned them with immediate effect.

The chemicals dispensed from PVC and chlorinated plastic contaminate the water, soil and air and the state government has also banned the manufacture, storage, import, sale, transport and use of such plastic-borne goods.

The latest notification in this effect has been issued by the Department of Housing and Environment.

"From the Article 48-A of the Constitution of India, it is expected that every state will try to conserve and improve the environment. But these plastic-borne goods cause blockages in drains and gutters, leading to serious environmental problems," the notification read.

PVC IS THE MOST TOXIC PLASTIC

The manufacture and incineration of PVC is known to create and releases dioxins.

The released dioxin causes a wide range of health effects including cancer, birth defects, diabetes, learning and developmental delays, endometriosis, and immune system abnormalities.

The dioxin end up in the food that animals eat, the food we eat.

They accumulate in animal fats and then they end up accumulating in human fat as we eat the meat and dairy products from the animals.

It may come as a surprise because food accounts for 95 per cent of human exposure to dioxin.