Plastic is a synthetic or semi-synthetic material in which polymer is the primary ingredient. Plastic can be shaped when soft and hardened to form a specific shape. 

Plastic is bad for our environment in many different ways. It can harm plants, animals, and even humans. Take this, for example, a fish in the sea. If the fish eats a piece of plastic, the toxins in the plastic may harm or even kill the fish. Now think about what will happen if a seagull, or even a human, catches the fish and ingest it. Plastic toxins are now in both a human’s body and an animal’s body. And keep in mind, plastic doesn’t break down so easily! It can take hundreds or even thousands of years for plastic to break down.

Sometimes, plastic is made with a chemical known as Bisphenol A, or BPA for short. BPA is a chemical that is used to make certain plastics and resins. You can usually find BPA in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Containers that store food and beverages, water bottles, and other plastics may have this chemical. If plastics made with this chemical are not disposed of properly, it can affect growth, reproduction, and development in organisms on land or sea.

Plastic can affect our health in so many different ways. Cancers, diabetes, and even congenital disabilities can be caused by plastic. Ingesting or inhaling microplastics can cause many complications, such as genotoxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, to name a few. These complications can lead to more severe problems, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and even stroke. 

The chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA for short), is used to make some plastics. BPA can have effects on the brain, and it can also affect child behavior. This toxic chemical is also linked to causing neurological and immunity problems. Bisphenol A also increases the chance of having  childhood asthma, hypertension, metabolic disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even Alzheimer's disease.

When plastic is left on the ground or ocean, the sun can release excessive heat that can cause the plastics to emit extremely toxic gases. These gases are known as greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gases rise into the atmosphere and block out UV rays from the sun. These gases also contaminate oxygen we use. 

We don’t want Atlantic City’s beautiful beach and city to be polluted with plastics. People don’t realize that they use plastic bags even for small items, such as prescription bottles. We urge every resident to do their part and opt for reusable items instead of plastic ones.