Hazardous Waste

What types of substances are considered hazardous waste? (4 criteria) What makes hazardous waste dangerous? Criteria = Fatal to humans or laboratory animals in low doses. Toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic to humans or other life-forms. Ignitable with a flash point less than 60o C. Explosive or highly reactive Dangerous because there is statistically significant evidence (based on at least one study conducted according to established scientific principles), that acute or chronic health effects may occur in overexposed persons, or it is flammable, combustible, explosive, corrosive, or reactive. 

That’s a LOT! What is the EPA’s estimate on the amount of hazardous waste - generated yearly? - released into the environment yearly? Amt of Hazardous waste = 256 million metric tons Amt released yearly = 40 million metric tons

Methods of Entry Inhalation – is absorbed through the alveoli of lung tissue Absorption through skin and eyes Ingestion – absorption through mucous membranes of the GI tract

Acute vs. Chronic Acute Occurring over a short time [compare with chronic]. Acute exposure Contact with a substance that occurs once or for only a short time (up to 14 days) [compare with intermediate duration exposure and chronic exposure]. Chronic Occurring over a long time [compare with acute]. Chronic exposure Contact with a substance that occurs over a long time (more than 1 year) [compare with acute exposure and intermediate duration exposure]

Intermediate Duration Intermediate duration exposure Contact with a substance that occurs for more than 14 days and less than a year [compare with acute exposure and chronic exposure].

Explain the difference! Carcinogenic Teratogenic Mutagenic Supertoxic A “carcinogen” commonly refers to any agent that can initiate or speed the development of malignant or potentially malignant tumors, malignant neoplastic proliferation of cells, or cells that possess such material.  A mutagen affects the chromosome chains of exposed cells.  The effect is hereditary and becomes part of the genetic pool passed on to future generations.  A teratogen (embryotoxic or fetotoxic agent) is an agent that interferes with normal embryonic development without damage to the mother or lethal effect on the fetus.  Effects are not hereditary.  Supertoxic lethal agents: having a median lethal dose which is less than or equal to 0.5 mg/kg (subcutaneous administration) or 2,000 mg-min/m3 (by inhalation);

Examples of each Carcinogens – http://www.sjc.cc.nm.us/pages/616.asp Teratogenic or mutagenic - http://www.sjc.cc.nm.us/pages/617.asp

Supertoxins Predominately organophosphate and organochlorine products Present in insecticides and rodenticides Also found naturally in certain species of snakes, frogs, fish, spiders, jellyfish Serve as a defense mechanism!

Organochlorines click on the word to learn more! Dioxin - POP DDT – POP Dicofol Heptachlor Endosulfan Chlordane Mirex Pentachlorophenol Polychlorinated biphenyls POP means “persistant organic pollutant”. It NEVER breaks down and persists for years/decades/ centuries

Organophosphates Mostly insecticidal nerve agents Inhibit acetylcholinesterase function (keeps your body from breaking down acetylcholine, which allows nerves impulses to be conducted) Include: Cyanamide Hostathion (triazophos), Metasystox-R (oxydemeton-methyl), Dursban and Lorsban (chlorpyrifos) Sumithion (fenitrothion) Actellic (pirimiphos-methyl)

Hazardous Waste Problems in the U.S.A. Know these! Love Canal http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/lovecanal/01.htm and http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/lovecanal/01.htm Three Mile Island http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle.html and animation of what happened http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/three/sfeature/tmiwhat.html Valley of the Drums http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/drums/01.htm Times Beach http://www.legendsofamerica.com/MO-TimesBeach.html Woburn, Mass. http://www.wickedlocal.com/woburn/local_news/x274702541

The EPA and Federal Legislation RCRA – Resource and Conservation Recovery Act of 1976 TSCA – Toxic Controlled Substances Act of 1976 CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Recovery, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 SARA – Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1984 CERCLIS - Comprehensive Environmental Recovery, Compensation and Liability Information System Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Modified in 1984 by Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act. Aimed at rapid containment, cleanup, or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. Toxic Release Inventory - Requires 20,000 manufacturing facilities to report annually on releases of more than 300 toxic materials. Government does not have to prove anyone violated a law, or what role they played in a superfund site. Liability under CERCLA is “strict, joint, and several”, meaning anyone associated with a site can be held responsible for the entire clean-up cost.

HSWA of 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Act of 1984 Sets standards for generators and transporters of hazardous wastes and for operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. These standards are applied through a permitting program, a manifest system, and other administrative mechanisms to, in effect, track and deal with the wastes "from the cradle to the grave." There are new requirements governing generators, transporters, and disposers of small quantities of hazardous wastes who have generally not been subject to full regulation under RCRA. These new standards may vary from those applicable to large generators, but must be sufficient to protect human health and the environment.

HSWA of 1984 The bill requires that land disposal of a hazardous waste must be banned unless EPA determines that the prohibition of such disposal is not necessary to protect human health and the environment. The bill also prohibits the landfilling of bulk or non-containerized liquids, the placement of bulk liquids in salt domes, use of hazardous waste contaminated oil as a dust suppressant, and the injection of hazardous waste into or above an underground drinking water source. The bill further requires persons who produce, burn, and distribute or market fuel derived from hazardous waste to notify EPA and for EPA to promulgate recordkeeping requirements and technical standards for them. In addition, the bill strengthens federal enforcement of RCRA by expanding the list of prohibited actions which may constitute criminal offenses and by raising the maximum criminal penalties. Finally, H.R. 2867 requires EPA to issue regulations for and to establish a program to control underground tanks containing petroleum, hazardous wastes, and other designated substances.

Cradle to Grave Coverage

Superfund Sites EPA estimates 36,000 seriously contaminated sites in the U.S.. By 1997, 1,400 sites had been placed on the National Priority List for cleanup with with Superfund financing. Superfund is a revolving pool designed to: Provide immediate response to emergency situations posing imminent hazards. Clean-up abandoned or inactive sites. Su

Costs of Clean-Up Estimation? Most of money goes towards what? Evidence of toxic racism? Total costs for hazardous waste cleanup in the U.S. are estimated between $370 billion and $1.7 trillion. For years, most of the funding has gone to legal fees, but this situation has improved over past several years. Studies of Superfund sites reveal minorities tend to be over-represented in these neighborhoods.

Superfund Sites in Maryland http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/md.htm

Brownfields What are they? Where are they more likely to be found? Why do owners complain about remediation programs? Brownfields - Contaminated properties that have been abandoned or are not being used up to potential because of pollution concerns. Up to one-third of all commercial industrial sites in urban core of many big cities fall into this category. In many cases, property owners complain that unreasonably high purity levels are demanded in remediation programs.

Brownfields in Maryland http://mdent10.mde.state.md.us/website/errp2/index.asp Let’s take a trip to our backyard!

How Clean is Clean? Physical Treatments Phytoremediation Bioremediation Chemical Processing Incineration Permanent retrieval storage Secure Landfills Physical Treatment (Isolation) Incineration Chemical Processing (Transformation) Bioremediation (Microorganisms) Store Permanently Retrievable Storage Can be inspected and periodically retrieved. Secure Landfills Modern, complex landfills with multiple liners and other impervious layers and monitoring systems.

Toxic Waste Secure Landfill

Cleaning Up the Right Way Clean up levels for hazardous waste http://www.cleanuplevels.com/ Our Superfund Region http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/

The Feds General Accounting Office of the U.S. Government Role? Toxic Release Inventory National Priority List Record of Decision Under recently passed legislation, we have changed our name from the General Accounting Office to the Government Accountability Office. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an agency that works for Congress and the American people. Congress asks GAO to study the programs and expenditures of the federal government. GAO, commonly called the investigative arm of Congress or the congressional watchdog, is independent and nonpartisan. It studies how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. GAO advises Congress and the heads of executive agencies (such as Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Department of Defense, DOD, and Health and Human Services, HHS) about ways to make government more effective and responsive. GAO evaluates federal programs, audits federal expenditures, and issues legal opinions. When GAO reports its findings to Congress, it recommends actions. Its work leads to laws and acts that improve government operations, and save billions of dollars. The main purpose of the Toxics Release Inventory is to provide the public with information about potentially hazardous substances in their community. Currently 600 chemicals have been determined to be toxic, and certain industries must report to EPA if they use or handle these chemicals. This reported information is contained in Envirofacts. NPL is the list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States and its territories. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation. The Record of Decision (ROD) is a public document that explains which cleanup alternatives will be used to clean up a Superfund site.

Aberdeen Proving Grounds Background history http://www.apg.army.mil/apghome/sites/about/history.asp Hazardous wastes – types On-site ground water sampling has identified various metals, pesticides, phosphorus, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and chemical warfare agent degradation products. On-site soil contamination sampling has identified various VOCs, metals, PCBs, pesticides, and unexploded ordnance in surface and subsurface soil. On-site surface water sampling has identified various metals, pesticides, phosphorus, and VOCs. People who accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated ground water, surface water, soil, or sediments may be at risk. The area is a designated habitat for bald eagles. Local areas affected, including Edgewood, Graces Quarters, Carroll Island, Pooles Island and Michaelsville On-site ground water sampling has identified various metals, pesticides, phosphorus, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and chemical warfare agent degradation products. On-site soil contamination sampling has identified various VOCs, metals, PCBs, pesticides, and unexploded ordnance in surface and subsurface soil. On-site surface water sampling has identified various metals, pesticides, phosphorus, and VOCs. People who accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated ground water, surface water, soil, or sediments may be at risk. The area is a designated habitat for bald eagles. http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=39.473451,-76.140837&spn=0.11,0.18