Toxicology, Solid and Hazardous Waste TreatmentToxicology, Solid and Hazardous Waste Treatment

Brian KaestnerSaint Mary’s HallBrian Kaestner

Saint Mary’s Hall

Thanks to Miller and ClementsThanks to Miller and Clements

ToxicologyToxicology

Toxicity Toxicity Dosage Dosage Bioaccumulation Bioaccumulation Biomagnification Biomagnification Synergism Synergism

Acute effect Acute effect Chronic effect Chronic effect

DDT in water0.000003 ppm,Or 3 ppm

DDT in fish-eatingbirds (ospreys)

25 ppm

DDT in largeDDT in largefish (needle fish)fish (needle fish)2 ppm2 ppm

DDT in smallDDT in smallfish (minnows)fish (minnows)0.5 ppm0.5 ppm

DDT inDDT inzooplanktonzooplankton0.04 ppm0.04 ppm

VerySensitive

Majorityof population

VerySensitive

00 2020 4040 6060 8080

Dose (hypothetical units)Dose (hypothetical units)

Nu

mb

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f in

div

idu

als

aff

ecte

dN

um

ber

of

ind

ivid

ual

s a

ffec

ted

PoisonsPoisons

Poison Poison

LD50 LD50

25

100100

7575

5050

00 22 44 66 88 1010 1212 1414 1616

Per

cen

tag

e o

f p

op

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tio

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ille

d b

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ose

Per

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tag

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Dose (hypothetical units)Dose (hypothetical units)

LD50

Chemical HazardsChemical Hazards

Hazardous chemicals Hazardous chemicals

Mutagens Mutagens

Teratogens Teratogens

Carcinogens Carcinogens

Neurotoxins Neurotoxins

Precautionary principle Precautionary principle

Wasting ResourcesWasting Resources

Industrial and agricultural wasteIndustrial and agricultural waste

Municipal solid wasteMunicipal solid waste

US: 1,600 lb/personUS: 1,600 lb/person

MunicipalMunicipal1.5%1.5%

Sewage sludgeSewage sludge1%1%

Mining and oiland gas

production75%

Industry9.5%

Agriculture13%

Burned in incinerators

(16%)

Dumped inlandfills

(54%)

Recycled orcomposted

(30%)

Hazardous WastesHazardous Wastes

Contains one or more of 39 identified compounds

Contains one or more of 39 identified compounds

Catches fire easilyCatches fire easily

Reactive or explosiveReactive or explosive

Corrodes metal containersCorrodes metal containers

Producing Less Waste and PollutionProducing Less Waste and Pollution

Waste management (high waste approach) Waste management (high waste approach)

Burying, burning, shipping Burying, burning, shipping

Waste prevention (low waste approach) Waste prevention (low waste approach)

Reduce, reuse, recycle Reduce, reuse, recycle

Chemical or biological treatment Chemical or biological treatment

Burial Burial

Dealing with Materials Use and WastesDealing with Materials Use and Wastes

1st Priority1st Priority 2nd Priority2nd Priority Last PriorityLast Priority

Primary Pollutionand Waste Prevention

• Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals

• Purchase different products

• Use less of a harmful product

• Reduce packaging and materials in products

• Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable or easy to repair

Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention

• Reduce products

• Repair products

• Recycle

• Compost

• Buy reusable and recyclable products

Waste Management

• Treat waste to reduce toxicity

• Incinerate waste

• Bury waste in landfill

• Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution

Fig. 21.4, p. 521

Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United StatesHazardous Waste Regulation in the United States

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

Superfund Superfund

National Priority List National Priority List

Polluter-pays principle Polluter-pays principle

Dealing with Hazardous WastesDealing with Hazardous WastesProduce Less WasteProduce Less Waste

Convert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous SubstancesConvert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous Substances

Put in Perpetual StoragePut in Perpetual Storage

Manipulateprocesses

to eliminateor reduce

production

Recycleand

reuse

Landtreatment Incineration

Thermaltreatment

Chemicalphysical, and

biologicaltreatment

Ocean andatmosphericassimilation

LandfillUnderground

injectionWastepiles

Surfaceimpoundments

Saltformations

Arid regionunsaturated

zone

Above Ground Hazardous Waste DisposalAbove Ground Hazardous Waste Disposal

Wastetransporter

Hazardous waste

Supportcolumn

Inspector

Elevator shaft

Deep-well DisposalDeep-well Disposal

Advantages

Safe method ifsites are chosencarefully

Wastes can beretrieved ifproblemsdevelop

Low cost

Disadvantages

Leaks or spills atsurface

Leaks fromcorrosion of wellcasing

Existing fracturesor earth quakescan allow wastesto escape intogroundwater

Encourageswaste production

Municipal Waste

Sanitary LandfillSanitary Landfill

Topsoil

Sand

Clay

Garbage

Garbage

Sand

Synthetic liner

Sand

Clay

Subsoil

When landfill is full,layers of soil and clayseal in trash

Methane storageand compressor

building

Electricitygeneratorbuilding

Leachatetreatment system

Methane gasrecovery

Pipe collect explosivemethane gas used as fuel

to generate electricity

Compactedsolid waste

Leachatestorage tanks

Leachatemonitoringwell

Leachatemonitoringwell

GroundwaterGroundwater

Groundwatermonitoringwell

Groundwatermonitoringwell

Leachate pipesLeachate pipesLeachate pumped upto storage tanks for

safe disposal

Leachate pumped upto storage tanks for

safe disposal

Clay and plastic liningto prevent leaks; pipescollect leachate from

bottom of landfill

Advantages

No open burning

Little odor

Low groundwaterpollution if sitedproperly

Can be builtquickly

Low operatingcosts

Can handle largeamounts of waste

Filled land canbe used for otherpurposes

No shortage oflandfill space inmany areas

Disadvantages

Noise and traffic

Dust

Air pollution fromtoxic gases andvolatile organiccompoundsreleasegreenhousegases (methaneand CO2)

Groundwatercontamination

Slowdecompositionof wastes

Encourages waste production

Eventually leaksand cancontaminategroundwater

Power plant

Steam

Turbine GeneratorElectricity

Crane

Furnace

Boiler

Wetscrubber

Electrostaticprecipitator

Conveyor

Water Bottomash

Conven-tional

landfill

Wastetreatment

HazardousWastelandfill

Dirtywater

Waste pit

Smokestack

Flyash

Burning WastesBurning Wastes

Mass burn incineration Mass burn incineration

Air pollution

Air pollution

Waste to energy

Waste to energy

Advantages

Reduced trashvolume

Less need forlandfills

Low waterpollution

Disadvantages

High cost

Air pollution(especiallytoxic dioxins)

Produces ahighly toxic ash

Encourageswaste production

ReuseReuse

Extends resource supplies Extends resource supplies

Reduces energy use Reduces energy use

Reusable shipping containers and grocery bags

Reusable shipping containers and grocery bags

RecyclingRecycling

Primary (closed-loop)

Primary (closed-loop)

Post consumer waste

Post consumer waste

Aluminum can, used once

Steel can used once

Recycled steel can

Glass drink bottleGlass drink bottleused onceused once

Recycled aluminum canRecycled aluminum can

Recycled glass drink bottleRecycled glass drink bottle

Refillable drink bottle, used 10 timesRefillable drink bottle, used 10 times

00 88 1616 2424 3232

Energy (thousands of kilocalories)Energy (thousands of kilocalories)

Characteristics of Recyclable MaterialsCharacteristics of Recyclable Materials

Easily isolated from other wasteEasily isolated from other wasteAvailable in large quantitiesAvailable in large quantities

Valuable Valuable

Benefits of RecyclingBenefits of Recycling

Reduces globalwarming

Reduces aciddeposition

Reduces urbanair pollution

Make fuelsupplies

last longer

Reducesair pollution

Savesenergy

Reducesenergy demand

Reduceswater pollution

Recycling

Reduces solidwaste disposal

Reducesmineraldemand

Protectsspecies

Reduceshabitat

destruction

Fig. 21.7, p. 530

Recycling in the USRecycling in the US

Centralized recycling of mixed waste (MRFs)

Centralized recycling of mixed waste (MRFs)

Separated recyclingSeparated recycling

Economic benefitsEconomic benefits

Increasing recycling in the USIncreasing recycling in the US

Case Studies: Recycling Aluminum, Wastepaper, and PlasticsCase Studies: Recycling Aluminum, Wastepaper, and Plastics

40% of aluminum recycled in US40% of aluminum recycled in US

Recycled aluminum uses over 90% fewer resources

Recycled aluminum uses over 90% fewer resources

Paper: preconsumer vs. postconsumer recycling

Paper: preconsumer vs. postconsumer recycling

10% or less of plastic recycled in US10% or less of plastic recycled in US

Solutions: Achieving a Low-Waste SocietySolutions: Achieving a Low-Waste Society

Local grassroots actionLocal grassroots action

International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen)

International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen)

Cleaner productionCleaner production