Hazardous wastes and Environmental Justice

9/12/11

Common Hazardous waste products

• PCBs• VOCs (including CFCs)• TELs• DDT

What is leachate?

• Pollutant caused when water infiltrates and percolates through waste material and becomes contaminated.

What are dioxins?

• Organic compounds composed of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and chlorine.

• Produced as a byproduct of high temperature chemical reactions involving chlorine and hydrocarbons (i.e. hospital waste incinerators)

What is dioxin?

• Effects: abortions, chloracne (a form of skin disease), skin and lung cancers, lower intelligence, emotional problems among children and congenital abnormalities

What is Chlorine?

• A Halogen on the periodic table (very reactive element) = Cl

• Associated with CFCs, PCBs• Used in plastics, solvents and paper and pulp

bleaching

What is Methane?

• A V.O.C = CH4

• Produced by anaerobic decomposition of organic wastes in landfills; can be used commercially as an energy source.

What is lead?

• Heavy metal = Pb• Found in TELs• Sources include some ceramic glaze, some

water pipes, older paints and some industrial incinerators, fuel

Who do these chemicals most frequently effect?

• People of lower socioeconomic status– Less money– Less education

What is Environmental Justice? • "The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of

all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies."

Summary