Plastic Testing – Spectro Blog

Microwaved Food is NOT Good –Don’t expose yourself

Microwaves are the high-frequency radio waves mainly used for broadcasting TV, radar for air, sea navigational aids, signals for telecommunications, processing of medicines and cooking food. Like light waves, microwaves are reflected and readily absorbed by the materials that contain moisture, such as foods and liquids, water molecules are bipolar in nature i.e. having positive as well as negative end. In Microwave oven, microwaves are produced in a magnetron, which is a tube that creating an electromagnetic field with 2450 MHz frequency and causes dielectric heating. In the presence of an electric field water molecules rotate rapidly like millions of times per second, creates molecular friction which is responsible for heating up the food. According to manufacturer’s guidelines, microwave ovens are convenient to use and considered safe for heating and cooking foods, but some precautions to be taken while using in order to reduce exposure of high-frequency radio waves. Microwave oven is a cabinet that contained microwave when this cabinet is switched on and the door is closed. As recommended by the international standards this cabinet should be in good condition and leak proof to the microwaves. Microwave users should follow the instructions given, like the door shuts properly, proper functioning of safety device. Its function is to check the leakage of microwaves from being produced when the door is open. If there is any damage to the outer case of the oven, it should not be used further until it has been repaired by a professional service engineer.

Low blood pressure, slow pulse rate, stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease, headache, dizziness, eye pain, cataract, hair loss, sleeplessness, weakened immune system, and infertility are the main symptoms of Microwave sickness.

Reheating the food in the microwave can destroy the essential nutrients and converts the plate of food into the “dead food” because of dielectric heating of microwaves. The rotation of water molecules present in food creates molecular friction and start heating the food due to high frequencies in the microwave.
Microwaving also changes the nutritional composition of the food, even at low-temperature heating. Different foods like raw beef, pork and milk lost 30-40% vitamin B-12 during microwave heating.
Carcinogenic substances such as BPA, benzene, toluene and xylene are produced, when the heated foods are wrapped in the plastic materials that are being absorbed by the human body while consuming food.
On consuming microwaved milk and recipes, blood changes its composition like, reduction in red blood cells (RBC), increase in white blood cells and total cholesterol level, which affects the functioning of the heart, experiencing chest pain due to irregular heart beat.
Microwave cooking reduces the bio-availability of vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, and other essential nutrients. It also degraded the quality of meat, vegetables as well as frozen fruits and responsible for the production of carcinogenic chemicals thereby reduces the nutritional content.
Packaging material of microwavable foods like pizzas, chips and popcorn has also released several carcinogenic toxic chemicals into the food. These toxic chemicals included polyethylene terpthalate (PET), dioxin, BPA etc.

Spectro Analytical Labs have fully accredited facilities for detection carcinogenic toxic chemicals in air, water, and food products. It also provides training and assistance in this regard.

Biodegradable plastics- A Boon for Planet

Plastics are the polymers of carbons that created artificially and its waste is a huge cause of pollution on the earth that held responsible for disturbing the food chain by choking natural water bodies, killing land, air and aquatic animals. Plastic bags are used to carry goods, food articles, wrapping and disposal things, but the disposal of these plastic bags is very difficult and is a serious issue for the environment because plastics when buried in the soil take about 500 years and many more years for breaking down into the atmosphere and if burnt they release poisonous chemicals like dioxins. Now this is our responsibility to stop the use of plastics such as plastic bottles, bottle caps, carry bags etc.

Start using biodegradable plastic is the best possible way to avoid this huge problem. Biodegradable plastic means, it is fully decomposed within half year or 6 months, but this degradation process starts only when the plastic material comes in contact with soil and landfill. On burning this type of plastic materials release toxic fumes and hence, such practice are always discouraged. There are three different types of biodegradable plastics manufactured from various technologies such as PLA (Poly Lactic Acid based plastic), oxo-degradable plastic and starch-based plastic, that can be used for food storage, transportation, building and construction, that reduce the use of plastics in the daily life. But the use and manufacturing of biodegradable plastics is still in infancy stage and are not belong to our country. So, there is an urgent need to develop some innovative and cost-effective concepts that are based on enzyme technologies.

Microorganisms present into the atmosphere degrade these types of plastics by the process of oxidation and produce humus that further converted into carbon dioxide, moisture, methane and biomass.

It is very important for the government to do complete ban on manufacturing, sale, storage, usage, import, export and transport of all kinds of plastics and plastic carry bags. Further, it is advised to publicize the use and great benefits of biodegradable plastics on human health and the environment by the government. Moreover, people should be encouraged in this regard for implementing such type of products in their lifestyle in order to save the planet, Earth from toxic and hazardous chemicals by organizing workshops, seminars, campaigns etc.

Spectro Analytical Lab offers all the facilities and instruments for chemical and quality testing of the products that contain harmful substances. It also provides training and assistance in this regard.

Plastic Road- A Boon for Indian Climate

In our day to day life plastic is an important packaging material, but proper disposal of plastic waste is a big problem. Plastic waste is a non-biodegradable material due to which it causes environmental pollution, clogging of drains, flooding, and death of animals that eat them. In humans, it leads to serious problems like breast cancer, reproductive abnormalities and even infertility. If burnt it releases toxic fumes such as phosgene, carbon monoxide, chlorine, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, besides deadly dioxin into the atmosphere. It also blocks seed germination in the field and absorption of water from the soil. In India, around 56 million metric tons of plastic waste is generated annually; hence there is an urgent need to develop some innovative concepts that reduces the disposal problems and environmental pollution.

The adverse effects can be partly reduced by utilizing the plastic waste in the construction of plastic roads and pavement in the developing countries. Important material for the construction of plastic roads consists of plastic carry bags, PET bottles, disposable cups and plates that collected from the garbage dumps. The Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment (ICPE) encouraging the use of plastic waste for the construction of Bitumen roads also known as Asphalt that can be used as binder mixed with aggregate particles to produce bitumen based road and these roads are found to be better and the best solution for disposal of plastic waste. Plastic polymers show the adhesion property in its molten state and will increase the melting point of bitumen. This new concept would be a boon for hot and extremely humid climatic conditions of India, where temperature frequently crosses 50°C torrential rains create havoc and big potholes by providing strength to the roads that increases its life expectancy.

Plastic roads can last up to 10 years as compared to normal road, therefore, the Government is now encouraging the people for setting small plants for mixing waste plastic and bitumen for the construction of the road and it is hoped that, in the near future we will have strong, durable and eco-friendly roads which will relieve the earth from all the types of non-biodegradable plastic-waste in future.

Characteristic Features of the Plastic Waste-Bitumen Mix Road

Durability of road is twice than the normal ones.
Better resistance towards rain water so, no potholes developed during rainy season.
Comparatively less bleeding in summers.
Cost-effective
No effect of radiations like UV.
For 1km X 3.75m road, 1 ton of plastic (10 lakh carry bags) is used, and almost a ton of bitumen is saved.
The maintenance cost of plastic road is almost negligible.
Increase load withstanding property.
Lesser road repairs.
Increases employment hence increases the source of income.
Providing a better solution for burying the plastic waste without causing a disposal problem.

Disadvantages of Plastic Roads

Cleaning process- Toxics present in the co-mingled plastic waste would start leaching.
During the road laying process- in the presence of chlorine will release noxious HCL gas.
After the road laying- It is opined that the first rain will trigger leaching. As the plastics will merely form a sticky layer, (mechanical abrasion).
The components of the road, once it has been laid, are not inert.

Spectro Analytical Lab provides all the facilities and instruments for testing the quality of roads, bridges, buildings, load testing and structure stability etc. It also provides training and assistance in this regard.