The Stretchy Disaster

Are you also one of the million people who chew gum? If yes, this report is for you!

Introduction

Chewing gum is one of the most common sweet-flavored foods we have ever chewed or noticed in shops, but can you think of a time when you saw gum somewhere else? Yes, you guessed it, on the streets! 80-90% of the chewing gum produced is not disposed of correctly; it either ends up on the streets or in the landfills, taking 5 to 1,000 years to decompose. But other than this time taking decomposition, chewing gum is also harmful in many ways. This report will take you to a side of the earth that no one wants to see….

What is in my gum?

Chewing gum- or bubble gum- is the second most common litter found on streets. A soft, sweet food which is supposed to be chewed without being swallowed. This manufactured sweet has gum base, sweeteners, plasticizers, flavors, colors, and a hard polyol coating. The gum base includes Butadiene rubber, which is a type of synthetic rubber used in tire treads for trucks and automobiles. Well, the only difference found in bubble gum and chewing gum is one of their ingredients; bubble gum holds an extra ingredient that makes it thicker and helps it to transform into a bubble. But, is this all we need to know about chewing gum?...

Healthy or not?

This incredible piece of a manufactured masterpiece is something everyone loves, but the facts about it are still hidden. Research shows that chewing too much gum can cause you severe pain; headaches, jaw pain, diarrhea, and tooth decay are just some of them. Even sugar-free chewing gum can be a threat to people with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), as it causes digestive symptoms. And talking about sugar-free gum, it usually has sugar alcohols; Sugar alcohols are a form of carbohydrate that is not very well digested, so they are a common cause of upset stomach, particularly when consumed in excessive amounts. And adding to all of this, people who chew gum several times a day also run the risk of damaging their facial muscles and wearing down their teeth. But chewing gum is not always bad, for it also contains some advantages. Fresh breath, less stress, and less anxiety are some of them.

 

Myths or truths?

We all have heard a lot about chewing gum, but is all that true? Let’s find out! Why don’t we start with one of the most famous, but false, facts that swallowed gum will remain in your stomach for seven years? It is a lie. Like all the other food we eat, swallowed chewing should also pass through your intestines, unless swallowed in huge quantities. The only difference is that it will take up to 40 hours for this process. Moving on to the next one, chewing gum should not be a replacement for proper oral care. In short, chewing gum should not be considered equal to brushing teeth. Yes, it’s true that chewing sugarless gum stimulates saliva and can be beneficial post-meals, but it can’t replace brushing twice a day and regular flossing.

 

The environmental news

Everything around us is connected, take chewing gum for example. As mentioned earlier, 80-90% of the product is found on the streets. Later, the rain washes it down the drains, therefore it ends up in the sea, polluting the water. But is this all it does to the environment? Well, unfortunately, no, the chain is longer than expected. After reaching the sea, the chewing gum roams around the sea, and guess who is waiting in there? Fishes. Yes, it's sad but true, these innocent species consume the gum, unaware of the dangers, leading to the toxic spread. And our role? We catch these fish, bring them back to our land, and here, the chewing gum is back on our desk! Sadly, fish are not the only animals risking their lives daily eating gum; any animal who is to swallows gum is probably in trouble.

 

The cure

Every disease has a cure, maybe not all, but this one does have one. It’s a simple change to be made, ‘throw it in the bin.’ Well, what if I were to tell you that chewing gum can be recycled? Yes, some places have a separate bin just for gum, and obviously, it is often emptied and taken for recycling. Now, if you are wondering the ways how gum could be recycled, I may have an answer for you. The gum drop, the separate bin for gums, was an idea that a British designer, Anna Bullus, had to collect donations to see out for more ways to recycle chewing gum and to test them. And the good news? Her tests were a success! She had created a method of collecting and recycling chewing gum into plastic. Some of the most commonly made objects are collection containers for more chewing gum, shoe soles, rubber boots, and plastic cups.

 

A final chance

We humans are only provided with one earth, one house, one life, and we should make the best out of it. But along with opportunities comes responsibility. Humans have invented loads of useful resources, but the only mistake we tend to make is that we forget about the earth’s needs while fulfilling ours. It’s our responsibility to protect our Mother Earth so that the next generation can live with many more opportunities than we have.☺☺☺