Question

Incineration of plastics causes:
A. nitrogen emission
B. sulfur emission
C. carbon emission
D. all of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high-temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas and heat.

Complete answer:
Burning plastic waste is a common practice among the various countries around the world. It is considered a quick and easy solution to reduce overflowing garbage. Though the waste is reduced in terms of volume, the method reportedly causes newly discovered problems deemed dangerous to health and the environment. Burning plastic creates harmful dioxins and if incinerators are inefficient, these leak into the environment. The consultancy Eunomia says plastics burned in incinerators set up to generate only electricity create heat at \[25\% \] efficiency. This is much lower than the \[55\% \] efficiency for new gas-fired power stations.
When plastic is burned in the atmosphere, it releases various harmful gases which affect the human health hazardously. Incineration of plastic increases the concentration of nitrogen, carbon and sulfur gases in the atmosphere. This is a matter of concern because these gases affect the lungs of the human body and cause severe respiratory disorders, skin irradiation, eye itching, cough, etc.

Thus option D is the correct answer.

Note:
The burning of plastics releases toxic gases like dioxins, furans, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (better known as BCPs) into the atmosphere, and poses a threat to vegetation, and human and animal health. Burning plastic also releases black carbon (soot), which contributes to climate change and air pollution.