Report: Environmental and Health Impacts of Hazardous Wastes Analysis

This report comprehensively examines the environmental and health impacts of various hazardous wastes. It begins with an introduction to the nature of hazardous wastes, defining their toxic, corrosive, and ecotoxic characteristics. The report then delves into the specific impacts of these wastes, discussing their effects on human health, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological diseases, as well as carcinogenic risks and reproductive abnormalities. Furthermore, the report explores the environmental degradation caused by hazardous wastes, focusing on the impacts of asbestos, waste oils, alkaline wastes, and other pollutants. The analysis includes the sources, hazards, and consequences of each waste type, highlighting the importance of proper waste management and disposal to mitigate these detrimental effects. The report emphasizes the long-term persistence of these wastes in the environment and the resulting threats to both human and ecological health, concluding with suggestions and recommendations for managing the impacts of hazardous wastes.

Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF HAZARDOUS
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ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF HAZARDOUS WASTES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract:
The generation of waste due to human activities is a common phenomenon
and with the growing global population the quantitative rise in the total global
waste has led to serious consequences already. The necessity to manage the wastes
properly to prevent degradation of the ecosystem is not just important but also
inevitable to sustain life on the planet. The wastes that create a potential threat for
the public health and the environment are termed as hazardous wastes. The
hazardous wastes are categorized by their nature to be corrosive, toxic, reactive
and inflammable. The hazardous wastes have the potential to create hazardous
situation in case of improper management or manhandling. The research will look
into the hazardous wastes, the way they are generated, the way they create hazards,
and the necessity to manage them. The main topic will discuss the environmental
and health impacts of hazardous wastes and the way they degrade the environment.
Finally the research will conclude with the suggestion and recommendation that
would help manage the impact from hazardous effects of the wastes. The research
is mostly done on the basis of secondary resources and the issues are identified and
reflected on the basis of the information.

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Table of Contents
Chapter 1..............................................................................................................................5
1.1 Introduction:..................................................................................................................5
1.2. The nature of hazardous wastes:...................................................................................5
Chapter 2..............................................................................................................................7
2.1 Hazardous waste and their Impacts on health............................................................7
2. 2 Environmental Impact of Hazardous Waste.............................................................7
Asbestos.......................................................................................................................8
Waste oils.....................................................................................................................9
Alkaline wastes..........................................................................................................10
Lead wastes................................................................................................................11
Clinical wastes...........................................................................................................12
Spent Pot Lining........................................................................................................13
Contaminated Bio-Solids...........................................................................................13
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)........................................................................14
Coal seam gas............................................................................................................15
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................16
References:........................................................................................................................18

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Chapter 1
1.1 Introduction:
With the advent of technological advancements over time, human lives have become
more efficient but at the cost of several environmental and health impacts. The environmental
impacts have not just affected the human health but have degraded the ecology but have done
irreversible impacts leading to far reaching consequences. This journal will look into the
environmental and health impacts of certain wastes that are hazardous in nature and detrimental
effect in human health and to the environment. The hazardous wastes are toxic in nature which
reveals that these wastes have harmful reactions when exposed to the environment and take a
long time to fully disintegrate in the environment. Toxins released by these wastes affect the
biota and ecological habitat in several ways mostly by contamination and degradation of the
environmental quality in its various forms the aquatic, the terrestrial, and the atmospheric. The
sources of these hazardous wastes come from various sources of anthropogenic origin. The
United Nations Environmental Programme estimated that around 400 million tons of Wastes that
are hazardous in nature are being produced every year globally. The research will generally
revolve around the definition of hazardous wastes, and the various impacts that these wastes
have on the environment.
1.2. The nature of hazardous wastes:
The nature of hazardous wastes covers toxic, corrosive, ecotoxic and infectious wastes
and all hazardous categories. The convention regulates and ensures that all parties of the

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convention dispose their wastes in a manner fit for the environment and at the same time mend
ways to reduce the generation of hazardous wastes. The impacts of hazardous wastes have
affected the planet as a whole, but certain sectors and ecological spheres have been impacted to
an alarming extent. The sections will discuss the various impacts of hazardous wastes in the
environment and the way they affect human health. The most affected person include workers
involved in managing hazardous wastes and in industries involved dealing with hazardous
materials and chemicals. The environmental impacts mostly include the degradation of the
atmospheric composition through emission of hazardous substances. Degradation of the aquatic
biota and the marine life due to disposal of hazardous wastes in the marine sources. Degradation
of the terrestrial resources, by contamination of land sites and land resources. This also
contaminates the ground water resources affecting the site of the potable water resources.
Instances of Arsenic contamination and similar effects. Degradation of the ecological habitat as a
whole, creating imbalances in natural biological cycle of the systems. The environmental
degradation mostly involves degradation of the habitats and the ecological balance in the
environment. The major way the hazardous chemicals impact the environment is due to their
prolonged process of bio degradation. The lifespan of these wastes can last up to decades and at
times may also take hundreds of years to completely blend with the environment.
With the increase in global population the increase in the global quantity of wastes has
risen substantially. The increased wastes and their evident impacts are a constant threat to the
environment and to the life systems in the planet.

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Chapter 2
2.1 Hazardous waste and their Impacts on health
The contaminants that are released from hazardous sites lead and hazardous wastes
have evidences for incurring diseases The major health issues that are caused due to exposure of
hazardous and toxic wastes can be identified as cardiovascular diseases or diseases affecting the
cardiac system. Respiratory diseases or diseases affecting the lungs and the respiratory system.
Diseases related to nephron and the kidneys. Carcinogenesis or cancer is the most common
health hazard observed. In genetics, defects or alteration of the genetic structure commonly
known as mutagenesis is commonly seen. Reproductive abnormality, which includes
Teratogenesis, which causes damage to fetus, has been found in several instances. Homeostasis
disorders and immunobiological affects are also common health hazards occurring due to
hazardous chemicals. Congenital anomalies which refer to defects occurring at birth are also
impacts of hazardous wastes. Neurological disorders which includes neuropathy. Other impacts
may include reduction in life expectancy and reduced quality of life over a period of time.
(ATSDR - Organ Systems and the Chemicals that Affect Them - Neurological Nervous System
2018).
2. 2 Environmental Impact of Hazardous Waste
The effect of hazardous waste in the environment is the most detrimental and is the major
source of environmental pollution and degradation. The changes that have occurred in the
environment over the years are majorly due to the degradation of the environment due to the
hazardous effects of the wastes being generated by humans. The impacts have not only affected
the environment but at the same time have put the sustainability of humans at stake. The Basel

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Convention for the control of transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal
was adopted in 1992 to address the impact of hazardous wastes (UN Environment, 2018Impact
of Hazardous wastes:
Environmental impact mostly includes degradation of the environment and its various
resources. The impact is mostly in the soil and water resources, but the atmosphere is equally
harmed from the consequences of the wastes (Yilmaz, Kara & Yetis, 2017). The impact on
environment and health will be reflected on the basis of each separate hazardous wastes and the
way they react to the environment.
Asbestos
Asbestos generally occurs as a building material and in forms of soil contamination.
Asbestos constitutes one of the largest portion of hazardous contamination accounting for about
11% of national waste (Baumann, Ambrosi& Carbone 2013). The major impact of asbestos in
mostly on human health which poses a serious threat when inhaled in certain amount over a long
period of time may lead to the following health issues. The health impacts of asbestos can be
summarized as follows, formation of lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and mesothelioma.
Health hazards like laryngeal effects affecting the larynx of the human body and retroperitoneal
fibrosis is an effect caused by exposure to asbestos (Darcey & Feltner, 2014).These are serious
health hazards and have deathly consequences. Environmental impacts may include
contamination with the atmosphere and exposure of friable asbestos in the environment can
cause health impacts. The major factor that creates asbestos health hazard is the fibre dimension
and the biopersistence of asbestos in the environment. Asbestos generally impacts the human
health through the dispersion of silicate fibres from workplace and transported by workers
involved in asbestos industries. The most documented hazards have been reported from

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occupational exposures. The other form of asbestos exposure can happen to bystanders, who are
in proximity to asbestos industries, who are affected by the fibres that are present when asbestos
industries are functioning. The nature of involvement of asbestos in creating a hazard comes
from its exposure in forms of fibres and minute particles. It has also been noticed that humans
have been affected from asbestos while residing in areas having asbestos facilities (Baumann et
al., 2013).
Waste oils
Waste oils are referred to the used oils, generally obtained from sources as lubrication of
machinery engines, and other mechanical apparatus or instruments. Almost 3.5% of the
hazardous waste volume of Australia is waste oil. The increasing quantity of hazardous oils has
been alarming with the waste generation being double in the past years. Waste oils mostly create
deadly impacts in the environment resulting out of spills and leakages. The oil spill incident that
took place in March 2009 in Queensland, from oil spilling off a tanker, led to the contamination
of about 60km of the coastline. It took almost 16 months to clean the affected areas and is termed
as one of the worst disasters of Queensland (Nelson & Grubesic, 2018). The oil spills affect the
environment and the ecosystem in manner that makes the effect a long lasting one with severe
damage to the marine ecology. The death count of marine species due to oil spills around the
world has been drastic. The environmental damage caused due to oil spills creates hazards that
have far reaching consequences around the marine ecosystem (Hilal et al., 2014)the example you
provide is good please provide more example in the other section like this example. The health
impacts of waste oils (Hilal et al., 2014) (please do not use can and may because I need reference
elaborate this part and properly define)up as waste oils have carcinogenic elements and exposure
can lead to cancers.The contamination of fresh or marine water can lead to deathly consequences

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of the marine life (Demirbas et al., 2015). The sludge wastes from oil are generally obtained
from oil facilities and have properties of metal precipitates and radionuclide salts. These are
generally termed as TENORM or ‘Technological Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive
Materials’ which when exposed to free environment can create carcinogenic hazards owing to
their radioactive nature (Hilal et al., 2014). The impact of waste oils is mostly created by the
induction of the hazardous substances in the food chain which affects the wildlife and the human
lives altogether. The waste generated from cooking contaminates the water resources and BOD
or biological oxygen demand as well as the COD or the chemical oxygen demands in these
resources are altered (Lam et al., 2016). The toxicity of waste oils generate due to their
compositions of hydrocarbons and other heavy metals (Soltani et al., 2015). Waste oils stay in
the environment for a long period of time and improper disposal of waste oils creates routes of
contamination (Martin, Lippitt & Prothero, 2013). The impacts are mostly carcinogenic and
environmental degradations mostly affect the composition of the natural resources making them
unfit for human or wildlife consumption (Martin, Lippitt & Prothero, 2013).
Alkaline wastes
The wastes that are alkaline in nature or have basic solutions or bases in either solid or aqueous
form are categorised as alkaline wastes. These have a ph value greater than 7 and are tend to be corrosive
in nature. The major impacts of alkaline wastes are to human health and include severe burn conditions if
exposed to physical proximity. The major alkaline wastes are obtained from the coal seam gas or CSG,
aluminum smelting, by products from metal coating industries and in lime and cement kilns. Around 5 %
of the total hazardous wastes in the country are alkaline hazards in Australia. Mostly diseases related to
kidneys and the urinary system take place. Instances of cardio vascular and diabetes diseases are observed
from alkaline wastes. Arthritis and obesity can also occur from impacts of alkaline wastes (Genders,
Hartsough & Hobbs, 1996). There are severe impacts of alkaline leachates which increases the pH

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value in water thereby reducing the dissolved oxygen in water. This affects the aquatic and marine life in
the water. There are instances of metal concentrations and salinity in these water resources affects the
food cycle which has adverse effects on human health which include disorders of the liver and kidney.
The major impacts are mostly environmental and include damages to cattle and birds (Gomes et al.,
2016).
Lead wastes
The wastes that have concentrations of lead in varying degrees and are detrimental to
human health are termed as Lead Wastes. The main source is from lead and acid batteries but a
considerable amount of the waste is also derived from leaded glass, obtained from CRT monitor
glasses which contain large quantities of lead also. In 2013 the amount of lead generated waste in
Australia was about 2% of the total hazardous waste generated. Long term exposure to lead can
cause serious damage to health conditions. The conditions are more effective and detrimental to
children under 5 years of age (Harvey, Handley & Taylor, 2016).Exposure to lead cause serious
health implications in humans which (ATSDR - Organ Systems and the Chemicals that Affect
Them - Neurological Nervous System, 2018) have complication of the central nervous system,
affecting human organs and very detrimental to unborn babies. Respiratory effects are observed
due to lead contamination Instances of cardiovascular disease have been found due to lead
contamination which increases blood pressure and other effects. High exposure to lead can also
lead to musculoskeletal disorders. The environmental effects of lead are severe contamination of
resources and thereby affecting the biota as a whole. Disintegration of lead can also take a
considerable amount of time raising the chances of exposure (Grandjean, & Landrigan, 2014).

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Clinical wastes
All wastes generated from medical, nursing, laboratory, pathology, podiatry, veterinary,
emergency services, blood banks, surgical and autopsy practices are categorised as
Clinicalwastes. This may also include waste generated during the treatment procedures, and if
these wastes have the potential for threat or risk, this might be categorised as clinical wastes.
Apart from these waste pharmaceuticals such as expired drugs, cytotoxic drugs which are drugs
having carcinogenic agents are also part of the clinical wastes. Sharps or used syringes, needles
or blades, disposable tools and catheters and any subsidiary are referred to clinical wastes since
they can cause serious health hazards to the human kind. Around 1% of the total hazardous
wastes is accumulated as Clinical waste. Though the amount might seem less but the rate of
growth and risk that it poses is equally hazardous in nature (Windfeld & Brooks, 2015).
The major risk that clinical wastes pose is infections and contamination from clinical
wastes. Since the clinical wastes include elements that are already hazardous and clinically
dangerous, they may have severe effects like epidemics, toxic contamination and toxicity to
human health. Carcinogenic effects from cytotoxic and carcinogenic wastes. Spreading of
diseases from pathogens and viruses from contaminated human tissues, blood and other clinical
sharps. The major impacts are greatly induced from the contaminated wastes generated from
medical institutions. Mostly epidemics and teratogenesis hazards are observed from clinical
hazards (Hossain et al., 2013). Pharmaceuticals elements remain in the wastes and traces of
volatile substances are also found in clinical wastes which create environmental hazards. Mostly
these chemicals enter the food cycle and can create the above mentioned impacts over time.