UPSC Prelims 2025 Q44: Environment & Ecology – Pollution
Consider the following:
I. Cigarette butts
II. Eyeglass lenses
III. Car tyres
How many of them contain plastic?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All the three
- (d) None
Answer: (c) All the three
Explanation
Everyday items that contain plastic
| Item | Contains plastic? | Which plastic |
|---|---|---|
| I. Cigarette butts | Yes | The filter is cellulose acetate, a plastic that takes years to break down |
| II. Eyeglass lenses | Yes | Most lenses are polycarbonate or CR-39 plastic, not glass |
| III. Car tyres | Yes | Synthetic rubber (a polymer) with nylon and polyester cords |
Why this matters:
| Source | Problem |
|---|---|
| Cigarette butts | The most littered item in the world |
| Tyre wear | A leading source of microplastics in air, soil and sea |
| Synthetic clothes | Shed plastic microfibres in washing |
Microplastics are plastic pieces smaller than 5 millimetres.
All three items contain plastic.
Answer: (c) All the three.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. More than one of these items contains plastic.
- (b) Incorrect. Car tyres also contain plastic, as synthetic rubber and fibre cords.
- (c) CORRECT. Cigarette butts, eyeglass lenses and car tyres all contain plastic.
- (d) Incorrect. All three contain plastic, so 'None' is wrong.
Key point
Hidden plastics: cigarette filters (cellulose acetate), spectacle lenses (polycarbonate, CR-39), tyres (synthetic rubber, nylon). Tyre wear is a major microplastic source.
Remember
Butts, lenses and tyres all contain plastic.
Common mistakes
- Thinking cigarette filters are cotton or paper.
- Assuming lenses are always made of glass.
- Treating tyres as pure natural rubber.
Exam tip
Most modern materials are polymers. When asked 'does it contain plastic', the answer is usually yes.
Sources
- UN Environment Programme — Plastic pollution and microplastics
- Central Pollution Control Board — Plastic waste management