Consider the following
I. Cigarette butts
II. Eyeglass lenses
III. Car tyres
How many of them contain plastic?

Correct Answer:

(c) All the three

Explanation of the Correct Answer:

Each of the listed items contains plastic components either entirely or as part of their structure.

• I. Cigarette butts
  • Contain plastic. The white filter in most cigarette butts is made of cellulose acetate, a type of thermoplastic polymer.
  • These filters do not biodegrade easily and are a major global source of microplastic pollution.
• II. Eyeglass lenses
  • Contain plastic. Most modern eyeglass lenses are made from polycarbonate or CR-39 (Columbia Resin 39) — both are optical-grade plastics.
  • These materials are lightweight, impact-resistant, and widely used instead of glass.
• III. Car tyres
  • Contain plastic. Car tyres are made from a blend of synthetic rubber, which is derived from petrochemicals and includes polymers such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) — a form of plastic.
  • Additionally, tyres also contain plasticizers and nylon/polyester fibers, which are synthetic and plastic-based.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

• (a) Only one – Incorrect: All three contain plastic.
• (b) Only two – Incorrect: All three contain plastic.
• (d) None – Incorrect: All three do contain plastic components.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Table: Analysis of Items and Plastic Content

Related Concepts:

• Microplastics: Tiny plastic particles (<5mm) released from items like tyres and cigarette butts.
• Synthetic rubber: Chemically produced rubber made from petrochemicals, used extensively in automotive and industrial products.
• Optical plastics: Used for lightweight, shatterproof lenses (e.g., in eyewear, helmets, electronics).

Current Relevance:

• Pollution from cigarette butts is among the most widespread, with trillions discarded annually.
• Tyre wear particles are increasingly studied as a major source of microplastics in oceans and urban environments.
• Efforts are underway globally to reduce single-use plastic pollution, but items like these often go unnoticed.

Table: Plastic Content and Environmental Impact of Selected Items

Plastic Types Brief

Associated Environmental Concepts