In the world that we live in today, it is unfortunate that we hear about people being exposed to hazardous waste and think nothing of it. When any person is exposed to hazardous waste it is a serious situation and it should not be ignored. Any type of contact with the waste could also expose many people to life threating health problems. In this paper I will discuss what hazardous waste is defined as, those who have been effected by it and the health problems that will come with being exposed to hazardous waste.
Exposure to hazardous waste is dangerous because it may lead to severe health problems. Health problems that are related to expose of hazardous waste are birth defects, reproductive issues, respiratory conditions, heart diseases and most times cancer. There are many different types of hazardous waste and in some cases it can be wastewater from factories that gets into the water supply and food supple or even waste created by nuclear power plants, which by far creates the most dangers types of hazardous wastes.
Hazardous waste could be defined as “any industrial by-product, especially from the manufacture of chemicals that is destructive to the environment or dangerous to the health of people or animals.” (Dictionary.com, n.d) Similarly, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, “hazardous waste is waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be
These chemical wastelands are a type of pollution that affect the environment. These things are harmful to humans and animals and kill plant life all around. Not only can the cause birth defects, it can also cause cancer. Areas with pollution/chemical waste have higher risks of cancer then safe clean
Methamphetamine is a recreational drug that affects the central nervous system. It was discovered in 1893. Methamphetamine is usually in the form of a white odorless powder. The powder can be compressed into pill form, another form is crystal meth. Crystal meth comes in chunky clear pieces and is commonly smoked. Meth produces a large amount of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine allows for a happy feeling or euphoria. In most cases following the intense euphoria is the crash, which can cause a person to become lethargic and depressed. Prolonged use of meth can cause rotting teeth, scars and severe weight loss. Low doses of methamphetamine can reduce appetite, increase alertness. Larger doses can cause seizures, violent behavior and delusions. Methamphetamine has been reported to lift mood and increase sexual desire. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive synthetic drug. Some common nicknames are Meth; Speed; Crank; Glass; Crystal; Tweek. When methamphetamine is used with another drug there are different names as well, such as Mexican Speed Balls, Biker Coffee. Methamphetamine can be used by smoking, snorting, orally and injected. Injecting and smoking the drug will result in a rapid feeling of intense euphoria. In World War II, methamphetamine was distributed to the German soldiers. It would enhance the soldier’s abilities and reduce appetite. In modern
At its inception, Superfund was initially asked to identify and clean-up hazardous waste sites. However, thirty years later the United States is facing additional new threats to the health and safety of the American people. The Superfund sites themselves are becoming “nightmares to deal with, due to disturbances and damage caused by extreme weather conditions brought on by climate change” (Treadman, 2010). The EPA website states, “hazardous waste sites can discharge and release large quantities of toxic substances when subject to flooding, tornados and hurricanes” (EPA, 2010). The additional costs of cleanup, and disruptions caused by extreme weather events have caused a tremendous financial burden on an already ailing
Household hazardous waste is material that is considered dangerous or toxic for people and the environment. There are several hazardous waste disposal options in Eden Prairie.
Infection through cuts or abrasions, injection through sharp injuries within the waste, ingestion through hand to mouth contact and inhalation are four main risks. Hazardous waste poses more of a potential threat to health or the environment if not managed properly. This sort of waste should be stored so as to prevent or control accidental release to air, soil, and water resources where possible.
can leak or spill into adjacent land and water.” (Steuer 2). Waste storage can emit chemicals
As CEO of a small manufacturing company, if an employee has dumped toxic waste in a nearby stream, I would seek help from the hazardous waste supervisor within the company first. The supervisor should be knowledgeable enough to get the situation under control. Toxic waste is a serious safety and health problem and it is my job as CEO to prevent any further danger to the work environment and the surrounding area. While getting assistance from within, I would call both the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as state departments of environmental protection.
Our society uses a lot of materials considered hazardous. They are used in, or are the byproduct of, industrial processes, power plants, the medical and pharmaceutical industries, and fuels. Much of the land transport of hazardous materials is the job of the trucking industry.
Attention Getter: According to epa.gov, “Each person in the United States produces an average of 4 pounds of household hazardous waste each year for a total of about 530,000 tons/year.”
Such kind of waste emits radiations from tens to hundreds of years. These reactive radicals make the sand or the water contaminated. It is known as mixed waste. The mixture cause hazardous chemical reactions and leads to dangerous complications.
Many scientific researchers have said that our environment has been filled with toxic chemicals, which us humans have had a part of. There are many different issues that should concern us surrounding these toxic chemicals. The major concern is that many of these toxic chemicals have been claimed to be causing damage to the health of humans and even other life forms. Another concern is that most of the theses toxic chemicals have just recently been produced; and by our environment changing everyday there is no telling what effects these toxic chemicals may have in the long run on the public 's health. Just about all of these toxic chemicals exist in the way they do because of humans. As humans we practice a lot of different activities that cause toxic chemicals to pollute our environment such as, agriculture, industrial, and many domestic activities as well. Many of the toxic chemicals that we produce and use don 't get used in a effective way, which causes them to be wasted, left abandoned, and disposed of. When toxic chemicals are not disposed of properly they effect the environment and the public 's health in a negative way.
Hazardous waste and its proper disposal have become a major sociological problem today due to its capability of contaminating the area in which we live and its potential to be lethal to all living things. In order for the United States and the rest of the world to save itself from a potentially life threatening problem they must fix the causes which lead to the improper disposal of hazardous wastes and like materials. Some reasons that hazardous waste has become a problem in the United States today is due to the breakdown in enforcing laws for the proper disposal of such wastes, a lack of initiative on big companies behalf to spend money on proper disposal, and the ease of disposing of such wastes illegally.
Garbage pollution is the disposal of waste, especially household waste, into undesignated areas for garbage disposal, which causes many negative effects. It is caused by the mismanagement of solid waste from streets and residential areas while being carried to landfill sites for its final disposal, occurring when the local government has a poor system of trash collection or disposal. This is also the main reason why the rate of garbage pollution increases.
Waste Management, Inc., incorporated in 1968, had become a leader in the industry of waste management services ranging from industrial operations to curbside collection. This company had become synonymous with many different kinds of disposal services that allowed for the company to grow and grow with a solid base over the course of twenty-eight years. Finally in 1996, the company reported total assets of almost $20 billion with net income close to $200 million. However, even with this growth and solid base, the company was feeling competitive pressures and net income was on the decline.
Waste oil, solvents, acids and alkalis, toxic paint wastes, nitrates, perchlorides and peroxides, pesticides and sludge.