Hazardous Waste

Any discarded material, liquid or solid, that contains materials known to be Any discarded material, liquid or solid, that contains materials known to be Fatal in low doses Fatal in low doses Toxic, carcinogenic, mutagens or teratogens Toxic, carcinogenic, mutagens or teratogens Ignitable at less than 60 o C Ignitable at less than 60 o C Corrosive Corrosive Explosive Explosive

Hazardous Waste In most developed nations, generation and disposal is highly regulated In most developed nations, generation and disposal is highly regulated RCRA RCRA EPA EPA These materials must be tracked from “cradle to grave.” These materials must be tracked from “cradle to grave.”

MOST Hazardous Two Classes Two Classes Synthetic Organic Compounds Synthetic Organic Compounds Heavy Metals Heavy Metals These materials bioaccumulate and persist over time. These materials bioaccumulate and persist over time.

Synthetic Organic Compounds Resist bacterial decomposition Resist bacterial decomposition Can be readily absorbed through the skin Can be readily absorbed through the skin Can act as Can act as Mutagens Mutagens Carcinogens, Carcinogens, Teratogens Teratogens Endocrine disruptors Endocrine disruptors

Heavy Metals Break down slowly Break down slowly Fat soluble Fat soluble Bio-accumulate Bio-accumulate Bio-magnify in food chains Bio-magnify in food chains Examples Examples Lead Lead Chromium Chromium Mercury Mercury Arsenic Arsenic Cadmium Cadmium Tin Tin Copper Copper

The environmental metals of greatest concern are lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium..

Heavy Metals lead paint In the past lead paint was available for use in homes, and lead pipes and/or lead solder. As a result people can be exposed to lead on a daily basis; this exposure is a major pediatric concern Mercury Mercury is a contaminant of our water ways. Humans are exposed to mercury in the fish they eat as well as in the amalgam fillings in their teeth. Arsenic Arsenic is found naturally in high concentration in drinking water in various parts of the world. Cadmium Cadmium has been classified as a known human carcinogen.

Electronic Waste New and substantially fast- growing source of waste due to today’s proliferation of computers, cell phones, and DVDs Compose 2% of the U.S. solid waste stream. Contain: heavy metals, toxic flame retardants

Electronic Waste Export E-waste is routinely exported by developed countries to developing ones, often in violation of the international law. Inspections of 18 European seaports in 2005 found as much as 47 percent of waste destined for export, including e-waste, was illegal.

Electronic Waste Export In the UK alone, at least 23,000 metric tonnes of undeclared or 'grey' market electronic waste was illegally shipped in 2003 to the Far East, India, Africa and China. In the US, it is estimated that percent of the waste collected for recycling is being exported in this way. This practice is legal because the US has not ratified the Basel Convention.

Electronic Waste Export Mainland China tried to prevent this trade by banning the import of e-waste in However, we have discovered that the laws are not working; e-waste is still arriving in Guiya of Guangdong Province, the main centre of e-waste scrapping in China.

Electronic Waste Export We have also found a growing e- waste trade problem in India. 25,000 workers are employed at scrap yards in Delhi alone, where tonnes of e- waste is handled each year, 25 percent of this being computers. Other e-waste scrap yards have been found in Meerut, Ferozabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai.

Disposal Methods Hazardous waste landfills Hazardous waste landfills Stricter standards and more impervious layers in order to keep hazardous material away from groundwater Surface impoundments Surface impoundments Shallow depressions lined with impervious material Deep-well injection Deep-well injection Wells are drilled deep beneath the water table into porous rock, where wastes are injected for long-term storage

Household hazardous materials Household hazardous materials Gasoline Paint Used Batteries Used Fluorescent Light Blubs Paint thinners and Solvents Pesticides Oil Caustic Cleaning Agents TV’s, Computers, Cell Phones, etc.

CERCLA The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act: CERCLA Commonly known as Superfund, was enacted by Congress on December 11, This law created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries and provided broad Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment. Over five years, $1.6 billion was collected and the tax went to a trust fund for cleaning up abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.

CERCLA The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act: CERCLA CERCLA established prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites provided for liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous waste at these sites established a trust fund to provide for cleanup when no responsible party could be identified.

CERCLA The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act: CERCLA The law authorizes two kinds of response actions: Short-term removals, where actions may be taken to address releases or threatened releases requiring prompt response. Long-term remedial response actions, that permanently and significantly reduce the dangers associated with releases or threats of releases of hazardous substances that are serious, but not immediately life threatening. These actions can be conducted only at sites listed on EPA's National Priorities List (NPL).

Love Canal, Niagara Falls Residents forced to evacuate when hazardous wastes leaking from former disposal site threatened health and homes in the late1970s. Residents forced to evacuate when hazardous wastes leaking from former disposal site threatened health and homes in the late1970s.

More Hazardous Chemicals to be concerned about

Dioxins Component of Agent Orange (Herbicide used in Vietnam War) Produced from the combustion of CL containing compounds found in municipal & medical wastes Dioxins are emmited when waste products are incinerated then settle on organisms Dioxins are lipophillic (stored in fat) therefore they bioaccumulate 1994 EPA report concluded dioxins cause cancer and disrupt human immune, reproductive and nervous systems

PCB's Chlorinated hydrocarbons used in industrial processes and products such as electrical capacitors and cooling fluids Chlorinated hydrocarbons used in industrial processes and products such as electrical capacitors and cooling fluids Lipophillic and bioaccumulate Lipophillic and bioaccumulate Banned in 1970: large quantities were dumped into landfills creating today’s problems Banned in 1970: large quantities were dumped into landfills creating today’s problems Effectively degraded by high temperature Effectively degraded by high temperature

Hanford Nuclear Reservation Located on the Columbia River in Washington Most seriously contaminated nuclear waste site in U.S.

Radioactive and Toxic Wastes Produced During the Cold War Established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project in the town of Hanford in south- central Washington, During the Cold War, the project was expanded to include nine nuclear reactors and five large plutonium processing complexes, which produced plutonium for most of the 60,000 weapons in the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Hanford Nuclear Reservation Left behind 53 million US gallons (200,000 m 3 ) of high- level radioactive waste. An additional 25 million cubic feet (710,000 m 3 ) of solid radioactive waste. 200 square miles (520 km 2 ) of contaminated groundwater beneath the site. And occasional discoveries of undocumented contaminations that slow the pace and raise the cost of cleanup. The Hanford site represents two-thirds of the nation's high- level radioactive waste by volume.