Investigation on the environmental pollution caused by chewing gum
Purpose of a survey
Nowadays, chewing gum is considered as a fashion by some people. No matter in the
parks, theaters or schools, ladies, gentlemen, students and children can often be seen chewing "smartly" and "comfortably". After enjoying it, the problem comes, and these residues are sticky in their mouths. The walls are also very sticky. So, they stick tightly to the ground, and then people step on them, causing pieces of pollution. This kind of pollution is not as obvious as the atmosphere, water quality and noise, and it is not as obvious as waste paper and dirt, and it is removed. It is inconspicuous, but sometimes it will take a head and make you sick (I once accidentally sat in a public * * * This is indeed a kind of pollution. For this reason, we have investigated this kind of chewing gum that everyone can eat and hardly pay attention to its whereabouts. We want to know the degree of environmental pollution caused by chewing gum in public places at present. What are the properties of chewing gum and discuss the methods to solve the environmental pollution caused by chewing gum. Put forward some practical suggestions.
2. Investigation method
1. Investigation time: May-October, 1996
2. Experimental place: Xicheng District Youth Science and Technology Museum, Beijing
3. Experimental method:
(1) Effect of acid on chewing gum
Put chewing gum into a test tube and drop 3 ml of concentration. Heating.
Put the chewing gum into a test tube and drop 3 ml of 98% sulfuric acid to heat it.
(2) Effect of alkali on chewing gum
Put the chewing gum into a test tube, drop 3 ml of sodium hydroxide and heat it.
Put the chewing gum into a test tube and drop 3 ml of sodium hydroxide+ammonia water and heat it.
(3) Effect of carbon tetrachloride on chewing gum. Drop 21 ml of carbon tetrachloride
(4) Effect of acetone on chewing gum
Put the chewing gum into a test tube and drop 3 ml of acetone
(5) Effect of temperature on chewing gum
Hold a small piece of chewing gum, Burning with fire.
4. Questionnaire survey
(1) Questionnaire design
(2) Survey object: junior high school students
(3) Survey number: 111 people
5. Shooting: for the public * * * Shooting the pollution caused by chewing gum in the workplace
Shooting instrument: Fuji STX-2 camera
Shooting film: Fuji film
Photo: Attached
6. Investigation
(1) Location:
A. School category: Xicheng District Youth Science and Technology Museum, Tieer No.2 Middle School, Beijing No.35 Middle School
B. Fuxing Shopping Mall, Urban and Rural Trade Center
C. Station category: Beijing West Railway Station
D. Park category: yuyuantan park, Yuetan Park
E. Student family
(2) Walking for 2 kilometers, cycling for about 16 kilometers
(3) Measuring the area of the investigated place and counting the number of gum stains
7. Boys and girls magazine, TV program: Zhengda Variety Show
III. Survey results
(1) The nature of chewing gum
Chewed chewing gum can't be swallowed, because the raw material of chewing gum is something that can't be eaten. 121 years ago, the inventor Adams made "Chewing Gum No.1" from sugar gum in Mexico, but the source of gum was always limited. Later, people used synthetic resin instead of gum. Adding some additives such as refined white rubber and solvent white wax, the gum base of chewing gum is made. When making chewing gum, starch syrup, spices and powdered sugar are added to the gum base, and after processing, slicing and exquisite packaging, the chewing gum comes out. The syrup, spices and powdered sugar in chewing gum can be swallowed with human saliva, and the rest is a gum base that is neither chewy nor edible. The gum base has strong viscosity. The gum base is firmly adhered to the ground or other attachments, which can't be swept away by broom, dragged off by mop cloth, and insoluble in water, making it difficult to remove, thus becoming a pollutant.
1, the gum base and dilute reaction (21%H2SO4)
1) basically do not react at room temperature, and if it is left for a long time (for example,
one day and one night), the surface is slightly yellow. However, it was not
until the violent reaction occurred. Only the solution changed from colorless to yellow to brownish red to black. The surface of the gum base was slightly yellow. After the solution boiled, the gum base was still sticky and could still be drawn.
2. The reaction between the gum base and concentrated sulfuric acid (98%H2SO4)
was not seen, but the outer layer of the gum base turned red, and the acid solution could dissolve the gum base, but it was a toxic substance. It can burn to ashes at high temperature.
(2) Questionnaire survey on chewing gum for junior high school students
Topic:
1. Do you think chewing gum pollutes the environment?
(1) Yes (2) No (3) Not clear
2. What is your attitude towards the production and sale of chewing gum?
(1) Not supported (2) Supported (3) It doesn't matter
3. Do you often buy chewing gum?
(1) Often (2) Sometimes (3) Don't buy
4. What do you think of throwing away chewing gum casually?
(1) You can throw away (2) You shouldn't throw away
5. How many pieces of chewing gum do you buy at a time?
6. What do you think makes chewing gum not pollute the environment?
(3) Statistics of gum stains on the ground in public places
(4) Home of 111 students: No pollution
4. Analysis and discussion
1. A long time ago, people had a habit of chewing non-nutritive substances in their mouths. Archaeologists found a human skull 9,111 years ago in Sweden. Among the teeth of this skull, there are More than 111 years ago, Mexican chewing gum was a mixture of sugar gum and gum; The main component of modern chewing gum is a synthetic resin instead of gum and additives such as refined white rubber and solvent white wax. Chewing gum is a mixture of synthetic substances and latex products. In the production process, this mixture is first melted and filtered, and then some spices are added to make chewing gum.
The gum base of chewing gum is acid-resistant and alkali-resistant, and it is difficult to remove in natural environment (such as soil), although it can be burned. However, if it is scattered and stuck in public places, it is actually difficult to destroy, so it forms a special kind of pollution, which is very difficult to remove. It can be dissolved by soaking in carbon tetrachloride, but carbon tetrachloride is a toxic substance, which will also cause pollution to the environment. It is also difficult to remove chewing gum because it is scattered and stuck in public places. Therefore, this method is not desirable. In addition, chewing gum contains DPOD and BPDG. They are all toxic substances. If you chew 7-8 pieces of chewing gum every day, it will reach the dose of human poisoning, which will affect your appetite and endanger your health.
2. Through the survey of 111 students, we can see that
(1)77% people think that chewing gum residue pollutes the environment, and all of them don't spit on the floor at home casually. 99% people think that they should not spit on the floor casually. Moreover, 1.111% of the subjects have no chewing gum residue pollution in their homes, but only 11% of the subjects can basically keep from throwing up, which seems that there is a gap between understanding and practice.
(2) The consumption of chewing gum is relatively large < P > From the purchasing situation of chewing gum, 23% of people often buy chewing gum; 64% people sometimes buy chewing gum; Only 13% people don't buy chewing gum. From the purchase quantity, 12% people buy one box or more at a time. 78% buy one to five pieces. In addition, a small joint stall can sell more than 31 pieces of chewing gum a day, and about 911 pieces a month. Then, it sells almost 1811 pieces a year, and there are more than 11 million stalls like Beijing. If we add up all the stalls in Beijing and count them as 11111, then more than 311,111 pieces of chewing gum residues will be spit on the ground or other places in Beijing one day. This is a place. The urban area of Beijing is 87 million square meters, and there is a piece of chewing gum residue on every square meter of land every year. According to the report of Beijing Evening News on February 23, 1996, people all over the world chew about 111,111 tons of chewing gum every day. If the chewing gum residue stuck on the sidewalk is collected, It can be made into a big ship. It can be seen how serious the pollution is.
(3)4% people think that chewing gum should not be bought.
2. Chewing gum has initially attracted people's attention.
< Beijing Evening News > reported on July 22, 1996 that relevant authorities in Xiamen called on citizens to care for the environment and not to buy or eat chewing gum. The report is as follows:
"The Standing Committee of Xiamen Municipal People's Congress. To protect the beautiful environment of Xiamen, because some citizens eat chewing gum and throw away residues everywhere, Xiamen's environment is greatly affected. For example, the newly paved colored bricks on Zhongshan Road in Xiamen are stained with chewing gum residues, and the terminal of Gaoqi International Airport is smeared with dirt. "
In Singapore, because the gum base of chewing gum often blocks subway doors and seriously pollutes the environment, Make the Singapore government determined to strictly prohibit the sale and chewing of chewing gum, and if it violates the regulations, it will be fined heavily. < P > 4. Through on-the-spot investigation and observation, railway stations and shopping malls are the places with the most obvious stains, because these places are relatively prosperous, with a large floating population and uneven personnel quality. Cultural management departments and schools are the ones with less pollution. In addition, The school also requires not to eat chewing gum after class. < P > 5. Effective methods to replace chewing gum < P > The effective and feasible methods to replace chewing gum are to knock teeth and popularize atomized chewing gum. By knocking teeth, facial muscles can be exercised and teeth can be strengthened; Atomized chewing gum can remove oral odor.
Five suggestions and ideas
As China has a territory of 9.6 million square kilometers, a large area and a large population, it is difficult to ban chewing gum, but the harm caused by chewing gum can be gradually eliminated through various methods.
1 Publicity and education for primary and secondary school students through the education department, Make primary and secondary school students know and realize the pollution of chewing gum residue to the environment.
2 Publicize the pollution of chewing gum residue in China through many media (such as radio, television, newspapers, etc.), so that people realize its harmfulness.
3 Gradually stop the production and trading of chewing gum. For example, Singapore has made a decision to ban the production and trading of chewing gum in Singapore. If it is found that it is carrying a small amount of chewing gum in Singapore, We will be fined one dollar. This is something we can learn from.
4 Vigorously promote atomized chewing gum. Atomized chewing gum has changed the previous method of combining gum base, spices and sugar, but completely atomized it into the mouth, which not only eliminates the bad smell of the mouth, but also has no pollution.
5 If you must eat chewing gum, don't spit the chewed residue indiscriminately. It's best to wrap it in paper and then put it in the dustbin.
Six Summary
We chose a seemingly small thing, that is, whether chewing gum pollutes the environment. In fact, after analysis and discussion, we think it is not small, because it not only causes certain environmental pollution, but also reflects a major event in people's spiritual civilization construction. Through the above discussion and analysis, we hope to remind people that, Try to eat less and not to eat chewing gum or switch to atomized chewing gum. Don't let chewing gum be the chief culprit in destroying and polluting the environment. Protecting the environment is the duty of every citizen. Let's join hands and make our due contribution to building a civilized and clean country.