Although some people may find it a chore to dispose of their rubbish in a bin there are very good reasons for doing so. Litter doesn't simply spoil how a place looks, there are a number of other impacts this litter can have on the surrounding community and even further a field.
Health hazards to humans
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Food related litter attracts vermin (rats and mice). Rats spread disease such as Leptospirosis (Weil's disease), which can be fatal. Recent studies have shown that there is now a breed of "super rat" living off our food litter within cities. These super rats can be a long as 22 inches nose to tail and can eat through 2 inches of concrete to get to their food! Flies are also attracted to waste food and also spread disease.
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Discarded needles can spread infections including Hepatitis B and C. These are blood borne infections which can result in flu-like symptoms and serious liver problems.
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Cuts from sharp objects like glass or metal can result in Tetanus (Lockjaw), caused by a bacterium in the soil. These bacterium release a poison into the body causing general weakness followed by spasms of the jaw and face muscles. It can be fatal if not treated.
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Discarded chemicals and medicines can result in poisoning if swallowed, or could cause burns or allergic reactions if in contact with skin.
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Suffocation – small children can become trapped while playing in old fridges and freezers that have been dumped.
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Dog fouling poses a serious risk to humans. The roundworm Toxocara canis is present in approximately 50% of dog faeces and can cause the infection Toxocariasis in humans. Symptoms include flu-like symptoms, aches, dizziness and nausea. The most serious problems are associated with the eye and in severe cases can result in blindness (around 50 cases a year).
Hazards to animals
Around 69,000 animals are treated by vets each year for litter related injuries and around 100'000 marine mammals and turtles die each year as a result of marine litter. All because people are irresponsible with their waste!
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Discarded bags and containers often still have
traces of food left in them which can attract small animals which can become trapped resulting in suffocation of starvation.
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Many animals especially birds are at risk from strangulation by wire, plastic bags and plastic can ties.
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Many animals are at risk form cuts due to broken glass or sharp metal. Can you imagine what might happen if your dog were to try and drink water from a broken glass bottle?
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Swallowing dangerous items e.g. plastic bags, balloons, metal such as ring-pulls can cause many injuries. Can you imagine what your stomach would feel like if you had just eaten 4 black bags?
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Fire can be caused by broken glass magnifying suns rays.