Hazardous Waste

• What types of substances are considered hazardous waste? (4 criteria)

• What makes hazardous waste dangerous?

That’s a LOT!

What is the EPA’s estimate on the amount of hazardous waste - generated yearly?

- released into the environment yearly?

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

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!

Organochlorinesclick 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 downand 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

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.

Costs of Clean-Up

• Estimation?• Most of money goes towards what?• Evidence of toxic racism?

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 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

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

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

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=39.473451,-76.140837&spn=0.11,0.18