1. Its fibres can be blended with wool and cotton fibres to reinforce their properties.

2. Containers made of it can be used to store any alcoholic beverage.

3. Bottles made of it can be recycled into other products.

4. Articles made of it can be easily disposed of by incineration without causing greenhouse gas emissions.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 2 and 4

(c) 1 and 4

(d) 2 and 3

8. Ans: a

Explanation: 

Polyethylene Terephthalate(PET) is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family. It is used in containers and plastics for liquids and foods. PET is 100% recyclable, and hence preferred by manufacturers. 

Hence, statement 3 is correct.

PET is steadily gaining market share as a garment fibre due to its reuse and recycling and the significant surplus of post-consumer waste in the form of bottles and cans. Fibres made from PET have outstanding wear resistance, low moisture absorption and are very durable. Textile applications include blankets, bed sheets, comforters, carpets, cushioning in pillows, upholstery padding and upholstered furniture. 

Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Maharashtra government had put a ban on packaging of alcohol in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles because studies have shown that PET leachate leads to contamination of alcohol when stored in it. A toxic substance, antimony, increases when alcohol is stored in PET bottles.

Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Polyethylene, like other plastics, is not inert and is known to release additives and other degradation products into the environment throughout its lifetime. “For example, the additive bisphenol-A used in the manufacture of many plastic products is leaching as plastics age, and hydrocarbon gases are produced during high-temperature decomposition (>202°C including incineration).

Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

Read: Previous Year UPSC Environment Questions (PYQs) With Explanation 2022