INTRODUCTION:

The early twentieth century saw an invention that has gone to effect the ecology of our earth more than its inventors probably imagined. The invention of plastic, which undoubtedly gave man an easier life but also left him with a burden to carry that of protecting his environment from the myriad damages caused by this material, is virtually unthinkable today¹

Plastic is all around us, it forms much of the packaging for the food and drink. For many of us it is throughout our home, our work place, our cars and the buses. It can be in our clothes, eyeglasses, computers, dishes, utensils and toys.²

Plastic is versatile, light weight, flexible, moisture resistant, durable, strong and relatively less expensive. Plastic plays an important role in our life on earth, but the wide spread use of the plastic is also causing unprecedented environmental problems and carries serious health risks. Plastic can be used wisely with caution, when suitable alternatives do not exist or are not available.³ Plastic is one the most used material in our lives. It is everywhere; it is convenient, easy to use and usually inexpensive. But there is mounting research to suggest that everyday use of certain plastic food and beverage containers may threaten our health. In addition, they pose environmental and toxicity concerns related to their production and disposal that we are trading health for convenience.⁴ Several organizations including the Washington toxics coalition, the institute for children’s environmental health (ICEH) and the institute for agriculture and trade policy (IATP) have developed guidelines about possible hazards from plastic, especially when used with food and beverages. The plastic and chemical industries say that it has not been proven that small amount of plastic substance in people’s bodies will do any harm. But most of us would prefer to limit the accumulation of these chemicals especially in our children.⁵ National health survey conducted a study on plastic and its possible ill health on humans and stated that there are about 50 different groups of plastics, with hundreds of different varieties. All types of plastics are recyclable and the industry that the toxic chemicals that make up plastic do not come out. But sometimes some quantity of chemicals are excreted out of substances which cause no harm, but people need to understand that chemicals can have many different deleterious health effects at low doses and the harm caused by plastics cannot be repaired and the damage is permanent. Some plastics contain some harmful chemicals which are used in the manufacture of the plastics to make them softer or more sensible and additives may include, lead, cadmium, phthalates, fungicides and bisphenol-A. The manufacture of plastic which release waste materials during its production from these industries pollute the air, land and water, and the workers who are exposed to these toxic chemicals including carcinogens.

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

World Health Organization in 2006 conducted a study to assess the levels of attitude towards ban on plastic in Ireland. The results revealed that 65% of the rural people are ready to stop the plastic use where as 73% of the urban population are saying that they will use plastic till the ban on plastic comes into action.⁶ The national-toxicological programme(NTP) conducted a recent case-control study of 251 cases and one to one matched controls in Oslo, Norway, indicated that the presence of polyvinyl chloride and other plasticizer containing surface materials in the home increases the risk of bronchial obstruction during the first two years of life.⁷

According to the environmental California research and policy center, which received 130 studies on the topic plastic and health hazards, bisphenol-A has been linked to the breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage and decreased levels of testosterone levels. Most experts agree that the amount of BPA that would leach into food and drinks through normal handling is probably very small, but there are concerns about cumulative effects of small doses.⁸

Researches from Britain and the University of IOWA examined a US government health survey of 1455 American adults, who gave urine samples in 2003-2004 and reported whether they had any of the common diseases: participants were divided into four groups based on BPA urine amounts. More than 90% had detectable BPA in their urine. A total of 79%had heart attacks, chest pain or other types of cardio-vascular diseases and 136 had diabetes. There were more than twice as many people with heart disease or diabetes in the highest BPA group than in the lowest group. The study showed no connection between BPA and other ailments, including cancer.⁹

Marla cone conducted a study on relationship between plastic compound and reproductive problems and transmit the information that the information that the compound or bisphenol-A (BPA) has been linked to female reproductive tract disorders including fibroids, endometriosis, cystic ovaries and cancers.¹⁰

Srivastava DI, in the study on chemical exposure and health effects reported that plastic used in food containers stimulate growth of certain prostate cancer cells. An estrogen like chemical commonly used to synthesize plastic food containers has showed to encourage the growth of specific category of prostrate cancer cells and it also shows that early breast development and the greater the risk of breast cancer.¹¹

Emler, Carton conducted a study on diabetes by food and beverages in plastic containers show that repeated exposure to bisphenol-A causes resistance to insulin production at cell level, which leads to type-2 diabetes, tissues lose their sensitivity to insulin causing the pancreas to produce even more insulin, further increasing insulin resistance and diabetes.¹²

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on the knowledge of hazards in plastic use among school children at Subash Memorial High School, Banglore.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To assess the level of knowledge of school children regarding hazards of plastic use.

2. To evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on the knowledge of school children regarding hazards in plastic use.

3. To find the association between pre-test level of knowledge with selected demographic variables regarding hazards of plastic use among school children.

HYPOTHESIS:

H₁: The mean post test knowledge scores of school children will be significantly higher than their mean pre-test knowledge scores at 0.05 level of significance

H₂: There will be statistically significant association between pre-test scores and selected demographic variables.

DELIMITATIONS:

The study was limited to only boys and girls of 10 to 12 years of age, studying at Subash Memorial High School, Bangalore.

The study was limited to the students who were willing to participate in the study.

METHODOLOGY:

Research approach and design:

An evaluative approach was used with one group pre-test and post test design, which was a pre-experimental design.

VARIABLES:

Independent variable:

structured teaching programme on the hazards in plastic use.

Dependent variable:

knowledge scores measured by structured knowledge questionnaire.

Attributable variables:

personal characteristics which include age, sex, educational qualification, mother’s occupation, family income etc.

Research setting:

The research study was conducted at Subash Memorial High School, Bangalore.

Population:

The target population was students studying at Subash Memorial High School, Bangalore.

Sample:

The sample comprised of about 50 students between 10-12 years of age studying 6Std to 8Std at Subash Memorial High School, Bangalore.

Sampling techniques: The sampling technique used was random sampling by lottery method.

Description and development of the tool:

After an extensive review and discussion with the experts, the structured teaching programme was developed.

The tool comprised of two sections.

Section 1:

contained demographic data on six items, age, sex.etc

Section 2:

consisted of structured questionnaire on knowledge regarding hazards and control and plastic use which consisted of three parts.

Part 1. consisted of general information related to plastic (10items).

Part 2. consisted of knowledge of hazards of plastic use (13 items).

Part 3. consisted of control and prevention of plastic use (12 items).

Scoring key:

Scoring key was prepared by using demographic variables. Each question had three options and the score was categorized.

Good Score >75

Average score 51-75

Poor score < 50

The content validity and reliability: of the tool was established and the data was gathered from about 50 samples and the pre test and the post test was conducted.

RESULTS:

The collected data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics and the results were interpreted under the following findings related to:

Section A: Distribution of sample characteristics according to demographic variables of respondents.

Section B: Percentage distribution of Knowledge of school children regarding hazards of plastic use in pre-test and post- test

Section C: Comparison of pre-test and post-test scores regarding hazards of plastic use

Section D: Association of demographic variables with post test scores

Section A: Distribution of sample characteristics according to demographic variables of respondents:

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of sample characteristics according to demographic variables of respondents

N=50

S. No	Demographic data	Frequency (f)	Percentage (%)
1.	Age
	a. 10 years	18	36
	b. 11years	16	32
	c. 12 years	16	32
2.	Gender
	a. Male	26	52
	b. Female	24	48
3.	Grade/ Class of study
	a. 6th standard	22	44
	b. 7th standard	16	32
	c. 8th standard	12	24
4.	Family income/rupees/month
	a. <5000	26	52
	b. 5000-10,000	10	20
	c. 10,000-15,000	12	24
	d. >15,000	2	4
5.	Mother’s educational status
	a. Non- literate	14	28
	b. Primary	18	36
	c. Secondary	13	26
	d. Graduate	5	10
6.	Mother’s Occupation
	a. House wife	25	50
	b. Employed	21	42
	c. Unemployed	4	8
7.	Type of utensils used to carry food
	a. Steel	15	30
	b. Aluminium	10	20
	c. Plastic	25	50
8.	Do you have any health problem?
	a. Yes	21	42
	b. No	29	58
9.	Have you attended any health awareness programme?
	a. Yes	0	0
	b. No	50	100
10.	Do you use plastic items in your house?
	a. Yes	47	94
	b. No	3	6

Section B: Percentage distribution of Knowledge of school children regarding hazards of plastic use in pre-test and post- test

Fig 1: Percentage distribution of Knowledge of school children regarding hazards of plastic use in pre-test

Fig 2: Percentage distribution of Knowledge of school children regarding hazards of plastic use in post-test

Section C: Comparison of pre-test and post-test scores regarding hazards of plastic use

Table 2: Mean, SD difference, and ‘t’ value of pre-test and post-test scores regarding hazards of plastic use N=50

S. No

Group

Mean

SD difference

‘t’ value

Pre-test

10.82

3.5

23.1**

df49

Post-test

24.4

2.9

Section D: Association of demographic variables with post test scores:

There was statistically significant association between post test scores regarding hazards of plastic use with the selected demographic variable geographical background.

CONCLUSION:

The present study assessed the knowledge of school children regarding plastic use and found that only 40% (20) had good knowledge while the rest of the study subjects had either average or poor knowledge in the pre-test and a maximum of 96% (48) of the study subjects had good knowledge in the post test. It showed that there was a significant improvement in the knowledge of school children after the teaching programme.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The following recommendations were made based on the result of the study.

1. A similar study on a larger and wider sample for a longer duration would be more applicable in making broad generalization.

2. A similar study can be replicated in different settings.

3. A follow up study can be done to determine the effectiveness of structured teaching programme in terms of change in practice regarding usage of alternatives or dangerous type plastic material.

4. A descriptive study can be done on knowledge, attitude and practice on hazards of plastic use.

REFERENCES:

1. Garg T.B Hazards of Plastics: The Hindu Online Edition of India’s National News Paper, 2004 March 13(Col 5).

2. International consumer products and safety commission empower yourself. Become Plastic aware![online] 2001 Dec 3, (Cited 2001 Dec 10) available from: URL:http://www.cpsc.gov/phth/dinp.html

3. Environmental and Research Group. Combustion products of plastics as indicators of refuse burning in atmosphere. PIMD 2005 Sep 15, 39(18): 6961-6970.

4. Rita Chetarji: Concern on Plastic usage. Times of India 2008 Sep 16: P 2.

5. Wiberg S. Consumer Hazards of Plastic: Environmental Health Perspective, 2001 oct,17: 221-5

6. World health Organization. Attitude Towards Ban on Plastic WHO J, Ireland 2006; 35:290-5.

7. Galvez M. Plastics Exposure in Childhood: American Journal of Public Health: 1970; 797.

8. Environmental California research center. Plastic and health hazards: BPA has been linked to breast and uterine cancer. Brj Pharmacol. 2004:141:209-214.

9. Fredrick Vom Saal, The Hindu Online editions of India’s National Newspaper, Wednesday Sep.17, 2008.

10. Marla Cone. Relationship between plastic compounds and reproductive problems- Biochemical Pharmacol 2001 Jul-Aug: 10(6); 10-20.

11. Srivastav D ,Yues, Kennedy, Chemical exposure and health effects, 2001:276:31883-31890.

12. Emler M Cranto. Remilliard, Buncenj. Linking dioxins to diabetes: epidemiology and biologic possibility. Environ. Pev. 2002; 110: A703-A7.

Received on 29.12.2019 Modified on 03.02.2020

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2020; 8(3):341-345.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2660.2020.00073.3