Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3.
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Transcript of Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3.
Chapter 4Land and Soil ResourcesSection 3
Hazardous Wastes
Notes 4-3
Hazardous Wastes
• Material that can be harmful to human health or the environment if not properly stored, transported, treated or disposed of
• Can result from many different things• Agriculture• Industry• Military operations• Hospitals (laboratories)
Types of Hazardous Wastes• Toxic: (poisonous)• Wastes that can damage the health of
humans or other organisms• Explosive:• React very quickly when exposed to air
or water; can explode when dropped• Flammable:• Catches fire easily and can burn at low
temps.• Corrosive:• Dissolve or break down many materials
• Radioactive:• Contain unstable atoms
Radioactive Wastes• Unstable atoms give off radiation• Can cause cancer or other serious
disease• Two types of wastes• High level: used fuel from nuclear
reactors• Low level: radioactive material is
mined and processed• Can remain dangerous for thousands of
years• http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicT
able/Elements/Radioactive/index.s7.html
Health Effects of Hazardous Wastes• Determined by:• How much one has been exposed to…• How long the exposure lasted…• Person’s age, weight and health all
determine how it affects that person• Short term exposure causes irritation or
more severe health problems• Breathing difficulty, internal bleeding,
paralysis, coma, possibly death• Long term exposure causes cancer,
damage to organs• Effects may be life threatening
Disposal of Hazardous Wastes• Can dispose of hazardous wastes in a
few different ways• Secure landfills: lined with concrete
and many layers of plastic• Incineration: can be burned at very
high temps• Breakdown by living organisms:
bacteria, algae and fungi can break down some wastes• Pumping into the ground: into
sandstone or limestone deep in the ground• Recycling: some can be recycled like
battery acid and motor oil
Disposal of Radioactive Wastes• Have only found temporary ways to
dispose of radioactive wastes• Mixing them with concrete• Sealing them in abandoned mine
shafts• Sealing them in concrete vaults
deep underground or thick concrete or steel containers above ground
• Nothing is permanent and completely safe
Location of Disposal Sites
• Because of the danger, no one wants to work or live near a disposal site
• One large disposal site is mostly like the favorite choice
• Transportation is costly and dangerous
• Many small facilities are harder to regulate but cheaper, safer and easier to transport to
Reducing Hazardous Wastes
• Find safer alternatives to using hazardous wastes• Bug spray vs citronella candles• Furniture polish (w/beeswax or
lemon oil) vs furniture polish (w/petroleum oil)
• Companies are looking for ways to make formaldehyde-free products• Carpet, air fresheners,
curtains, plush furniture all have formaldehyde in them