UNIT 9 Hazardous Wastes and Risk Assessment

Major Public Agencies Involved in Environmental Health Risk Assessment and Intervention Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) National Institute for Occupational Safety And Health (NIOSH) National Institute for Occupational Safety And Health (NIOSH) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

What is hazardous waste? Waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. Waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. They can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes. They can be discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes. Superfund is the federal government’s program to clean up the nation’s uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Superfund is the federal government’s program to clean up the nation’s uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Source: Environmental Protection Agency

National Map of all Superfund Sites Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office

Superfund sites where you live Source: Environment Protection Agency

Some Common Toxic Chemicals in Hazardous Wastes Asbestos Asbestos Dioxin Dioxin Lead Lead Mercury Mercury Radiation Radiation

Priority List of Hazardous Substances The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) section 104 (i), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), requires ATSDR and the EPA to prepare a list, in order of priority, of substances that are most commonly found at facilities on the National Priorities List (NPL) and which are determined to pose the most significant potential threat to human health due to their known or suspected toxicity and potential for human exposure at these NPL sites. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) section 104 (i), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), requires ATSDR and the EPA to prepare a list, in order of priority, of substances that are most commonly found at facilities on the National Priorities List (NPL) and which are determined to pose the most significant potential threat to human health due to their known or suspected toxicity and potential for human exposure at these NPL sites. Currently lists 275 chemicals. Currently lists 275 chemicals. Source: Agency for Toxic substances and Disease Registry

What is risk assessment? Characterize the nature and enormity of health risks to humans and ecological receptors (e.g. birds, fish, wildlife) from chemical contaminants and other stressors in the environment. Characterize the nature and enormity of health risks to humans and ecological receptors (e.g. birds, fish, wildlife) from chemical contaminants and other stressors in the environment. Risk depends on: Risk depends on: – How much chemical is present in the environmental media (e.g. soil, water, air). – How much contact (exposure) the receptor (human or wildlife) has had with the contaminant. – Inherent toxicity of the chemical Source: Environmental Protection Agency.

How to conduct a risk assessment Hazard Identification Hazard Identification Can a stressor cause harm to humans and/or ecological systems and under what circumstances? Exposure Assessment Exposure Assessment What is the frequency, timing and level of contact with the stressor? Dose-Response Assessment Dose-Response Assessment What is the numerical relationship between exposure and effect? Risk Characterization Risk Characterization Make a statement about the nature and extent of the risk to environmental stressors.

Additional information on conducting risk assessments ATSDR ATSDR USEPA USEPA Toxicology Curriculum for Communities Trainers Manual Toxicology Curriculum for Communities Trainers Manual

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