PLASTICS- PISA Competency Based Question in Chemistry

 

PLASTICS

The advent of fuel-based plastics has revolutionized the industrial world and there is no area of manufacturing which is untouched by plastics. Convenience and cost factors have pitch forked plastics as the most preferred material of choice till recently, a rethinking about its impact on environment and sustainability is slowly putting a brake on its continued use. While cheap petroleum fuels from which most plastics are derived was once justified to introduce them in place of traditional materials like glass and metals, this plea cannot hold any more since the cost of non-renewable fossil fuels increased several folds during the last 3 decades. 

Research based on plastics proves their injurious nature towards human health in many direct or indirect ways. Phthalates or phthalate esters are esters of phthalic acid mainly used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility) in Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC). PVC is a widely used material, including extensive use in toys and other children's products such as chewy teethers, soft figures and inflatable toys. Di (2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-isononylphthalate (DINP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), benzyl - butyl - phthalate (BBP) and di-n- octyl- phthalate (DNOP) are phthalates mainly used in converting polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from a hard plastic to a flexible plastic. Phthalates migrate into the air, into food and into people including babies in their mother's wombs. Phthalates can be released from soft PVC by surface contact, especially where mechanical pressure is applied e.g., during chewing of a PVC teether). Release of phthalates during manufacture, use and disposal of PVC products, in addition to their use as additives in ink, perfumes etc. has lead to their ubiquitous distribution and abundance in the global environment.[1]

Growing literature links many of the phthalates with a variety of adverse outcomes, including increased adiposity and insulin resistance,[2] decreased anogenital distance in male infants,[3] decreased levels of sex hormones,[4] and other consequences for the human reproductive system, both for females and males,[5] Infants and children may be especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of phthalates given their increased dosage per unit body surface area, immature metabolic system capability and developing endocrine and reproductive system.

Question 1.1

 

Mention two reasons of popularity of plastics.

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Question intent:

Context: Science and Technology

Situation: Global

Process: Identifying plastics

Theme: Ill effects of plastic 

Level: Medium

Question format: short constructed response

 

Full credit: mentioning two reasons

Partial credit: mentioning one reason

No credit: For no reason or wrong answer

 

Question 1.2 

 

Plasticizers are used to -

1. make plastic strong
2. make plastic flexible
3. make plastic durable
4. make plastics colour

 

Question intent:

Context: Science and Technology

Situation: Global

Process: Demonstrating knowledge and understanding plastic

Theme: plastic 

Level: Medium

Question format: MCQ type.

 

Full credit: B. make plastic flexible

No credit: For other responses or missing

Question 1.3

Plastic has ill effects specially in human

A. Respiratory system

B. Circulatory system

C. Reproductive system

D. Excretory system

Question intent:

Context: Science and Technology

Situation: Global

Process: Demonstrating knowledge and understanding plastic

Theme: plastic 

Level: Medium

Question format: MCQ type.

 

Full credit: C Reproductive system

No credit: For other responses or missing

 

Question 1.4

Name two phthalates used to make PVC flexible.

 

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Question intent:

Context: Science and Technology

Situation: Global

Process:  understanding plastics

Theme: Ill effects of plastic 

Level: Medium

Question format: short response

 

Full credit: mentioning two

Partial credit: mentioning one

 No credit: for no answer or wrong answer 

Question 1.5

Phthalates migrate into –--------, ----------– and in human body to make its distribution global.

Question intent:

Context: Science and Technology

Situation: Global

Process:  understanding plastics

Theme: Ill effects of plastic 

Level: Medium

Question format: fill in the blanks

Full credit: mentioning two (air, food)

Partial credit: mentioning one (air or food)

No credit: for no answer or wrong answer