1. Hazardous Chemicals: Pollution and Prevention
CHAPTER 22
Hazardous Chemicals: Pollution and Prevention

2. An introduction to hazardous chemicals
Fish in Lake LeBarge, Canada, have become hazardous to eat because of high DDT levels
Arctic fish, birds, and mammals have high amounts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in their bodies--DDT, toxaphene, chlordane, PCPs, dioxins
The Inuit people have very high loads of POPs. Caribou pick up dioxins in lichens and mosses; Inuit eat caribou
How do these toxic chemicals reach remote areas, where there are no pesticides or industries?

3. Chemicals in remote areas
POPs are persistent and bioaccumulate.
They are carried to the Arctic in the air
They condense on the snowpack and enter water during the spring thaw
Plankton pick up the chemicals and pass them up the food chain
Feeding birds concentrate the chemicals, which are deposited to the land and water in guano; thus, highest amounts are in Arctic ponds near seabird nests

4. Toxicology and chemical hazards
Toxicology: the study of the harmful effects of chemicals on human and environmental health
Toxicologists study acute toxicity effects, chronic effects, and carcinogenic potential
Obviously, the higher the toxicity of a chemical, the more concern there is (or should be) about exposure to it

5. Chemical hazards: HAZMATS
Hazardous material (HAZMAT): a chemical that presents a certain hazard or risk (excluding radioactive materials)
Ignitability: substances that catch fire readily (gasoline)
Corrosivity: substances that corrode tanks and equipment (such as acids)
Reactivity: chemically unstable substances
May explode or create toxic fumes if mixed with water (explosives, sulfuric acid)
Toxicity: substances that are injurious when eaten or inhaled or absorbed (chlorine, pesticides, etc.)

6. Federal legislation
The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA—1986) says industries must report releases of toxic chemicals to the environment
The Pollution Prevention Act (1990): mandates collection of data of chemicals treated on-site

7. The threat from toxic chemicals
Many toxic chemicals are naturally broken down, over time.
Two classes do NOT readily break down:
Heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, tin, chromium, zinc, and copper) and their compounds
Synthetic organics
Still, if diluted enough in air or water, they may not pose a significant hazard

8. Heavy metals Were once used in paint, glazes, inks, dyes
Lead paint once poisoned U.S. children who ate chipped paint; leaded paint was banned in The phase-out of leaded gasoline in the 80s also helped.
Heavy metals are extremely toxic
used in industry (metalwork, metal plating), batteries, and electronics
If absorbed in the body, they interfere with enzyme functioning
Small amounts can cause severe consequences
Mental retardation, insanity, birth defects

9. Organic compounds
Petroleum-derived and synthetic organics are the basis for plastics, fibers, synthetic rubber, paintlike coatings, solvents, pesticides, preservatives, glues.
useful but also potentially dangerous to our health
Are readily absorbed and interact with enzymes
many cannot be broken down by the body, so they are bioaccumulated. Acute effects: Liver and kidney failure, sterility, cancer, death

10. Dirty dozen
Halogenated hydrocarbons: synthetic organics that contain halogens: chlorine, bromine, fluorine, iodine
Chlorinated hydrocarbons (organic chlorides) and other halogenated hydrocarbons include
Plastics, pesticides (DDT), solvents (carbon tetrachloride), insulation (polychlorinated biphenyls)
Note that we come into contact with these fairly often!

11. PERC Perchloroethylene (PERC): a halogenated hydrocarbon
Colorless, nonflammable
Used in dry cleaning, as a solvent, in home products
Is carcinogenic to rats and mice
It easily enters groundwater from soil
Human exposure occurs in the workplace and from using home products
Dizziness, fatigue, headaches, unconsciousness, cancer
It is listed in NTP’s 2009 Report on Carcinogens as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”

12. Phasing out PERC
Dry-cleaning employees have higher rates of cancer and neurological impairment
EPA issued rules to phase it out by 2020
Why is it taking so long?
The Obama administration will review these rules
The U.S. uses 370 million lbs/year
10% from dry cleaners
The rest is used in making hydrofluorocarbons (which replace ozone-depleting CFCs)

13. Issues with other organics
Phthalates: soften plastic (e.g., teethers, rubber duckies)
A possible reproductive hormone disrupter
It was banned in 2008 from children’s toys
Bisphenol A (BPA): used in plastics (e.g., baby bottles)
In animals, causes obesity, diabetes, infertility, cancer
2008: the FDA declared it did not pose a health hazard
An FDA scientific advisory panel said the ruling was flawed

14. Mismanagement of hazardous waste
We are better at creating new chemicals than figuring out how to safely dispose of them.
Where to put hazardous waste? Landfills, where they can leach into groundwater? “Pond-type” enclosures? Injected deep underground?
Bioremediation: Oxygen and certain bacteria are injected into the soil; they metabolize the pollutants
Midnight dumping: disreputable businesses pocket fees, then anonymously and illegally dump wastes in abandoned warehouses, vacant lots, or landfills

15. Superfund for toxic sites
The most monumental task we face is cleaning up tens of thousands of toxic sites
Managers of operating sites are pressured to clean up
Many operators simply declared bankruptcy and abandoned their sites
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA; 1980)
Known as Superfund
A trust fund that uses money from taxes on chemical raw materials

16. Evaluating superfund
Over 47,000 sites are serious enough to be given Superfund status
33,000 sites do not pose a significant threat
Assigned “no further removal action planned” (NFRAP)
Over 11,300 sites remain on the active list
Some of the worst sites are on military bases
A totally heedless and unconscionable discarding of toxic materials
13% of NPL sites are federal facilities

17. RCRA The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976)
Cornerstone legislation designed to prevent unsafe or illegal disposal of all solid wastes on land
All disposal facilities (e.g., landfills) must have permits
Facilities must have safety features
Old facilities are shut down and become Superfund sites
Toxic wastes destined for landfills must be converted to forms that will not leach
Requires “cradle-to-grave” tracking of hazardous wastes

18. Worker protection: OSHA
Industries used to force workers to do jobs that exposed them to hazardous materials without informing them of the dangers involved
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
Its amendments make up the hazard communication standard (worker’s right to know)
Worker’s right to know: businesses, industries, and labs must make information on hazardous materials available
Along with providing suitable protective equipment

19. Community protection and emergency preparedness
A 1984 accident at Union Carbide in India spilled 30–40 tons of methyl isocyanate,extremely toxic gas
600,000 people were exposed; 10,500 (or more) died
50,000 people had visual impairment, respiratory problems, and other injuries
Union Carbide had scaled back safety and alarm systems
The people and doctors had no idea of how to protect or treat themselves

20. Toxic chemical disaster, Bhopal

21. Where is the environmental justice?
The largest commercial hazardous-waste landfill in the U.S. is in Emelle, Alabama
African Americans make up 90% of the population
A Choctaw reservation was going to get a 446-acre hazardous-waste landfill
The population is entirely Native American
870,000 federally subsidized housing units are within a mile of factories that emit toxic emissions
Most occupants are minorities

22. What you can do Avoid using products containing harmful chemicals
Especially indoors
The average American home contains 100 lbs of household hazardous waste!
Paints, stains, pesticides, motor oil, etc.
They must be safely stored, used responsibly, and disposed of properly
Take unwanted chemicals to the annual Hazardous Waste Collection Day in your community