Pros and cons of plastics, the household wonder

Dr. Kumudu Perera

Just take a glance at the place where you are at the moment and count how many plastic items meet your eyes. You may witness that with or without our knowledge, we are using plastics for many day-to-day activities in numerous ways and that it has become indispensable. Basic knowledge on this versatile material becomes handy for women as today it has invaded all environments from home to office.

Its versatility has allowed it to be used in everything from the automobile industry to toys, from soft drink bottles to refrigerators. There are two major plastic groups namely, thermoplastics and thermoset. Thermoplastics soften with heat and harden with cooling and some of the thermoplastics are Acrylo-nitrile (Nylon), Polyethylene (Polythene), Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) and PTFE (Teflon).

Thermoset are hardened by heat. Some typical thermoset plastics are Epoxy, Melamine and Polyester.

The following chart shows the use of plastics in United Kingdom.

Teflon coatings on saucepans and irons are sprayed on as dry powder then baked in a hot oven to make the particles melt together. This is called powder coating and it is also used to put a very tough layer of epoxy or polyester on metal articles like furniture. Many glues are plastics.

Thermoset plastics are made by mixing two chemicals (glue + hardener). These glues are very important because they are waterproof. They are used to make boats and plywood. Most paints are made from plastic resins.

plastics have secured a very significant place in the consumer market. The first and foremost reason is the attractive nature of plastic products when compared to items made of other materials like clay and steel. Also, plastics possess certain inherent properties - hard, slippery, soft and rubber-like. Plastic acts as an ideal raw material for manufacturers to create new designs and products which are flexible.

Apart from that, plastics have an ability to be tailored to meet very specific technical needs. the easiness to shape and colour has made plastic the first choice. For products which are associated with heat as well as electricity, plastic is an invaluable raw material, mainly because it is an insulator of heat and electricity.

For applications for which the weight factor matters, plastic provides a solution due to its light weight. Therefore consumers also tend to buy plastic items. A good example is the use of buckets and basins for household activities. While conserving energy resources, durability and strength of plastics are an added value.

Good quality plastics are proven to be hygienic. Specially where harsh substances like acidic materials are concerned, quality plastic is ideal rather than aluminium and steel. Plastics are used a lot by doctors and dentists because they are hygienic and disposable.

Plastic products have a long life if handled with care. They are non-corrosive and can therefore be exposed to moisture. Above all, plastics have won the hearts of the people due to affordability.

The unlimited purposes and popularity have opened gates for plastic to throng the market without barriers.

As a result many varieties of inferior plastics have flooded the market leading to numerous health and environmental issues. Disposability has also created many problems. Plastic is used for packaging nearly all foods. Research has revealed that there are toxic substances that migrate into many things they come into contact with - food, air, water and skin.

additives and other processing chemicals in certain plastics can be toxic even at extremely low concentrations. Some people use plastic jugs/mugs/cups to make and drink tea, coffee and milk. When doing this, proper care must be laid on the quality of the product. Some use plastic ware for microwave cooking.

Check whether in the product is safe for microwave use. Disposable plastics harm the environment as most plastics are non-degradable. The time they take to break down is very long. Sometimes it could be hundreds of years.

The landfill space required for plastic waste is also a growing concern.

Considerable attention should be paid by consumers when choosing plastic items. It is not wise to place cost before quality. Proper regulations should also be introduced to stop inferior plastic products invading the market.

(The writer is attached to the Department of Electronics, Wayamba University, Kuliyapitiya)

Check out the Check Block Method

Barbara Wijesinghe

DRESSMAKING: The check block method - Kotu Patharom kramaya requires just two measurements to draft each of the basic check blocks - following a diagram, copies of which are used to draft blocks for any type of garment - skirts, blouses, dresses, sleeves and even the saree jacket and bracut.

This is a method I learnt from

Adult blouse

my mother which I have modified, and with experience and innovation made extremely simple to work on.

The check block method is taught only by me in Sri Lanka.

This easy method of dressmaking requires just two measurements to draft each of the basic blocks - the skirt, the blouse, the sleeve and even the saree jacket and bracut.

Measurements required:

Waist to knee and round hip for the skirt - slim, A Line or six piece skirts. Shoulder to waist and round bust for the blouse any style, and saree jackets. Shoulder to elbow and round arm for the sleeve - any style of sleeve.

The basic check blocks are made, using these two measurements following a diagram given in a book I have published called “The Check Block Method of Dressmaking” in English and “Kotu Patharom Kramaya” in Sinhala.

Copies of these check blocks are then used to draft any style of garment. This is hard to believe - but true.

It is a very uncomplicated and interesting method even for the accomplished dressmaker who will find her task made much easier. The absolute beginner to dressmaking will find this method fun and will be very happy with the results she gets trying this out.

Radiant beauty:

Aromatherapy way

Ruwini Jayawardana

MIRACULOUS MEDICINE: What is aromatherapy? Some of us might be new to this term while others may have had a vague idea on how this medical method works. To put things simply, aromatherapy is a form of medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils and other scented compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person’s mood or health.

Dr. Blossom Kochhar, a well known personality in the beauty culture field and hair visited Sri Lanka recently after a lapse of five years to conduct several workshops. These free workshops were held in Kurunegala, Kandy and Colombo. Kochhar is an expert of aromatherapy and herbal medicine.

She is also the author of several books on health, beauty and aromatherapy. She manages India’s one of best chains of hair and beauty education institutes. Kochhar distributed tips and hints on the best ways to benefit from the aromatherapy.

“While herbal products relay on the extracts of the whole plant, aromatherapy uses only the energy.

These are called ‘essential oils’ and are natural capacitors possessing the ability to store energy and release it when required. A single drop of essential oil is equivalent to an ounce of herbal material,” Dr. Kochhar explained the wonders of aromatherapy.

According to her, the treatment works on three different levels: external benefits to the skin are provided by the anti septic, anti bacterial and healing properties of essential oils while emotional and physical problems find solace in the aroma of oils which are imbibed into the body system.

The penetrative power of essential oils allows them to circulate and impart internal balance to enhance beauty and health.

Have I got Lupus ?

Dr. Kaleel Cassim MBBS, MD (Medicine)

This article is for people with lupus and it explains how lupus develops, how it affects different parts of the body, how it can affect people in different ways and how rheumatologists diagnose it. It then explains how it can be treated and offer tips and advice on living with it more easily.

Introduction

Lupus is a form of arthritis that mainly affects women during their child-bearing years. It is one of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases, caused by a fault in the body’s immune system. The immune system normally produces antibodies to fight infections. In people with autoimmune diseases, antibodies are produced which act against certain body tissues and cause inflammation.

Lupus (Latin for ‘wolf’) takes its name from the fact that it can cause serious rashes across the cheeks and nose (rather fancifully said to resemble the face of a wolf). However, thanks to modern treatment we rarely see these very severe rashes nowadays. There are two main forms of lupus.

One, discoid lupus, affects only the skin, whereas the other, systemic lupus, involves the joints and may involve the internal organs as well. The full name of this is systemic lupus erythematosus - ‘erythematosus’ simply meaning ‘red’. This article deals only with systemic lupus erythematosus (sometimes shortened to ‘SLE’).

(To be continued)

(The writer is Consultant Rhematologist Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital)