Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Many chewing gums found in the market are considered

Question

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution. Statement-II: Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement I is correct: Modern chewing gum is made up of four groups of ingredients that give gum its distinct flavor, texture, and bounce:Fillers, such as talc and calcium carbonate, bulk out the gum and give it satisfying heft.Polymers give gum their stretch. These are polymers such as polyvinyl acetate, along with other materials that make up the "gum base."Emulsifiers are chemicals that help mix flavors and colors and reduce stickiness.Softeners, such as vegetable oil, are added to the gum base to keep it chewy rather than stiff.Statement II is correct: Regular chewing gum has a substance called PVA (polyvinyl acetate), which is used to make tyres and glue. The gums that we consume are plastic based, and PVA, in fact, also damages public property. A Research Gate report states, each year, chewing gum generates more than 105 tonnes of 'plastic' garbage. Thus, the discarded non-biodegradable residue of the gum produces plastic pollution. This waste is hard to collect or track and ends up living and polluting the earth for thousands of years. Hence statement II is the correct explanation of statement I.