Chemical waste: Difference between revisions
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'''Chemical waste''' is any excess, unusable or unwanted [[Chemical substance|chemical]], especially those that cause damage to human health or the environment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chemical Waste−an overview|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/chemical-waste|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Science Direct|publisher=Elsevier}}</ref> Chemical waste may be classified as [[hazardous waste]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OLEM |date=2015-07-23 |title=Hazardous Waste |url=https://www.epa.gov/hw |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref> non-hazardous waste, [[universal waste]] and [[household hazardous waste]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OLEM |date=2015-11-25 |title=Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) |url=https://www.epa.gov/hw/household-hazardous-waste-hhw |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref> '''Hazardous waste''' is |
'''Chemical waste''' is any excess, unusable, or unwanted [[Chemical substance|chemical]], especially those that cause damage to human health or the environment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chemical Waste−an overview|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/chemical-waste|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Science Direct|publisher=Elsevier}}</ref> Chemical waste may be classified as [[hazardous waste]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OLEM |date=2015-07-23 |title=Hazardous Waste |url=https://www.epa.gov/hw |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref> non-hazardous waste, [[universal waste]] and [[household hazardous waste]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OLEM |date=2015-11-25 |title=Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) |url=https://www.epa.gov/hw/household-hazardous-waste-hhw |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref> '''Hazardous waste''' is material that displays one or more of four characteristics: [[Combustibility and flammability|ignitability]], [[Corrosive|corrosivity]], [[Reactivity (chemistry)|reactivity]], and [[toxicity]]. This information, along with disposal requirements, is typically available on a chemical's [[Safety data sheet|Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)]]. [[Radioactive waste]] requires special means of handling and disposal. [[Biological hazard|Biohazardous]] waste, though it often contains chemicals, is handled differently. |
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== Laboratory chemical waste in the US == |
== Laboratory chemical waste in the US == |
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[[File:Chemical Waste Disposal Guideline.jpg|thumb|267x267px|Chemical waste category that should be followed for proper packaging, labeling, and disposal of chemical waste]] |
[[File:Chemical Waste Disposal Guideline.jpg|thumb|267x267px|Chemical waste category that should be followed for proper packaging, labeling, and disposal of chemical waste]] |
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The [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) prohibits disposing of certain materials down drains.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-17 |title=Chemicals and Toxics Topics |url=https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/chemicals-and-toxics-topics |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref> Therefore, when hazardous chemical waste is generated in a laboratory setting, it is usually stored on-site in an appropriate waste [[carboy]] where it is later collected and disposed of by a specialist contractor in order to meet safety, health, and legislative requirements. |
The [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) prohibits disposing of certain materials down drains.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-17 |title=Chemicals and Toxics Topics |url=https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/chemicals-and-toxics-topics |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref> Therefore, when hazardous chemical waste is generated in a laboratory setting, it is usually stored on-site in an appropriate waste [[carboy]] where it is later collected and disposed of by a specialist contractor in order to meet safety, health, and legislative requirements. Many universities' [[Environment, health and safety|Environment, Health, and Safety]] (EHS) divisions/departments serve this collection and oversight role.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chemical Waste Management Guide {{!}} Environmental Health & Safety |url=https://www.bu.edu/ehs/ehs-topics/environmental/chemical-waste/chemical-waste-management-guide/ |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.bu.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-23 |title=Hazardous Waste Pick-Ups |url=https://ehs.ucla.edu/waste/services/hazardous-waste-schedule |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=Environment, Health & Safety |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2022 |title=Exploring Whether Chemical Management Services are a Potential Mechanism to Facilitate the Reduction, Reuse and Recycling of Chemicals in Educational Institutions |url=https://archive.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastemin/web/pdf/univ-report.pdf |publisher=EPA Archive document}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Magriotis |first1=Zuy |last2=Saczk |first2=Adelir |last3=Salgado |first3=Hélvia |last4=Rosa |first4=Isael |title=Chemical Waste Management in Educational Institutions |date=2021-07-30 |url=https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/jessd/vol4/iss1/8 |journal=Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=160–176 |doi=10.7454/jessd.v4i1.1064 |s2cid=238922945 |issn=2655-6847}}</ref> |
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[[Organic solvents]] and other organic waste is typically incinerated.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i14/New-hazardous-waste-incinerator-comes.html |title=New hazardous waste incinerator comes online |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=cen.acs.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-29 |title=Hazardous Waste Management Facilities and Units |url=https://www.epa.gov/hwpermitting/hazardous-waste-management-facilities-and-units |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Shibamoto |first=T |year=2007 |title=Dioxin formation from waste incineration |journal=Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology |volume=190 |pages=1–41 |pmid=17432330 |author2=Yasuhara, A|author3=Katami, T |doi=10.1007/978-0-387-36903-7_1 |isbn=978-0-387-36900-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/waste_management/l28072_en.htm |title=Waste incineration |website=Summaries of EU Legislation |publisher=European Union |location=Luxembourg |access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> Some chemical wastes are recycled, such as waste [[mercury (element)|elemental mercury]].<ref>pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1196u/Circ_1196_U.pdf</ref> |
[[Organic solvents]] and other organic waste is typically incinerated.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i14/New-hazardous-waste-incinerator-comes.html |title=New hazardous waste incinerator comes online |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=cen.acs.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-29 |title=Hazardous Waste Management Facilities and Units |url=https://www.epa.gov/hwpermitting/hazardous-waste-management-facilities-and-units |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Shibamoto |first=T |year=2007 |title=Dioxin formation from waste incineration |journal=Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology |volume=190 |pages=1–41 |pmid=17432330 |author2=Yasuhara, A|author3=Katami, T |doi=10.1007/978-0-387-36903-7_1 |isbn=978-0-387-36900-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/waste_management/l28072_en.htm |title=Waste incineration |website=Summaries of EU Legislation |publisher=European Union |location=Luxembourg |access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> Some chemical wastes are recycled, such as waste [[mercury (element)|elemental mercury]].<ref>pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1196u/Circ_1196_U.pdf</ref> |
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=== Laboratory waste |
=== Laboratory waste containment === |
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[[File:Chemical Waste Area.jpg|thumb|Laboratory waste containers]] |
[[File:Chemical Waste Area.jpg|thumb|Laboratory waste containers]] |
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Packaging, labeling, and storage are the three requirements for disposing of chemical waste. (These guidelines are not applicable to [[Biological hazard|biohazardous waste]] and [[radioactive waste]]). |
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==== Packaging ==== |
==== Packaging ==== |
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For packaging, chemical liquid waste containers are filled |
For packaging, chemical liquid waste containers are filled to no further than 75% capacity to allow for [[Vapor|vapor expansion]] and to reduce potential spills which could occur from moving overfilled containers. Waste containers are constructed of material compatible with the stored hazardous waste. These containers are also constructed of mechanically robust materials in order to minimize leakage during storage or transit. |
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In addition to the general packaging requirements mentioned above, |
In addition to the general packaging requirements mentioned above, precipitates, solids, and other non-fluid wastes are typically stored separate from liquid waste. Chemically contaminated [[Laboratory glassware|glassware]] is disposed of separately from other chemical waste in containers that cannot be punctured by broken glass. <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=General Requirements |url=http://www.ehs.utoronto.ca/resources/wmindex/wm4.htm |access-date=2016-02-19 |website=Environmental Health and Safety |publisher=University of Toronto}}</ref> |
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==== Labeling ==== |
==== Labeling ==== |
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==== Storage ==== |
==== Storage ==== |
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Chemical waste containers are kept closed to prevent spillage, excepting when waste is added. Suitable containers are labeled in order to inform disposal specialists of the contents, as well as to prevent addition of incompatible chemicals.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=Laboratory Waste Disposal |url=https://www.chem.wisc.edu/deptfiles/docs/lab-waste-disposal-portrait.pdf |publisher=University of Wisconsin}}</ref> Liquid waste is stored in containers with secure screw-top or other lids that cannot be easily dislodged in transit. Solid waste is stored in various sturdy, chemically inert containers, such as large, sealed buckets or thick plastic bags. A secondary containment (e.g., flammable cabinet or large plastic bin, etc.) is used to capture spills and leaks from the primary container and segregate incompatible hazardous wastes, such as [[acids]] and [[Base (chemistry)|bases]]. |
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=== Chemical compatibility guidelines === |
=== Chemical compatibility guidelines === |
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{{main|Compatibility (chemical)}} |
{{main|Compatibility (chemical)}} |
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Many chemicals react adversely when combined. |
Many chemicals react adversely when combined. Incompatible chemicals are therefore stored in separate areas of laboratories.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chemical Storage Resources |url=https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/about/governance/committees/chemical-safety/publications-resources/chemical-storage.html |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=American Chemical Society |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chemical Compatibility and Segregation Guides |url=http://orf.od.nih.gov/EnvironmentalProtection/WasteDisposal/Pages/chem_compat.aspx |access-date=2016-02-12 |website=Waste Disposal |publisher=National Institutes of Health (US)}}</ref> |
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Acids are separated from alkalis, [[metals]], [[cyanides]], [[sulfides]], [[Azide|azides,]] [[phosphides]], and [[Oxidise|oxidizers]], as when acids combine with these types of compounds, violent [[exothermic reaction|exothermic reactions]] can occur; in addition, some of these reactions produce [[Flammability|flammable gases]], which, combined with the heat produced, may cause [[Explosion|explosions]]. |
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Oxidizers are separated from acids, organic materials, metals, [[reducing agent]]s, and [[ammonia]], as when oxidizers combine with these types of compounds, [[Combustibility and flammability|flammable]] and sometimes [[toxic]] compounds can be created. Oxidizers also increase the likelihood that any already present flammable material ignites, seen most readily in research laboratories with improper storage of organic solvents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Store and Dispose of Hazardous Chemical Waste |url=http://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/research-lab/hazardous-waste/chemical.html#Select-compatible-containers |access-date=2016-02-12 |website=Research Safety |publisher=University of California at San Diego}}</ref> |
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<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Store and Dispose of Hazardous Chemical Waste |url=http://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/research-lab/hazardous-waste/chemical.html#Select-compatible-containers |access-date=2016-02-12 |website=Research Safety |publisher=University of California at San Diego}}</ref> |
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== Environmental pollution == |
== Environmental pollution == |
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====PPCPs==== |
====PPCPs==== |
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{{Excerpt|Environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products|Presence in the environment}} |
{{Excerpt|Environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products|Presence in the environment}} |
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{{Excerpt|Environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products|In rivers}} |
{{Excerpt|Environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products|In rivers}} |
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[[File:Pharmaceutical pollution of the world's rivers – sites exceeding "safe" limits.webp|thumb|Pharmaceutical pollution of the world's rivers by chemical and region]] |
[[File:Pharmaceutical pollution of the world's rivers – sites exceeding "safe" limits.webp|thumb|Pharmaceutical pollution of the world's rivers by chemical and region]] |
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===Textile industry=== |
===Textile industry=== |
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{{See also|Sustainable fashion|Supply Chain Act|Eco-tariff|Environmental impact of fashion}} |
{{See also|Sustainable fashion|Supply Chain Act|Eco-tariff|Environmental impact of fashion}} |
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[[File:Indigo pollutionjpg.jpg|thumb|Indigo color water pollution in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2005{{better source needed|date=May 2022}}]] |
[[File:Indigo pollutionjpg.jpg|thumb|Indigo color water pollution in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2005{{better source needed|date=May 2022}}]] |
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The [[textile industry]] is one of the largest polluters in the [[economic globalization|globalized]] world of mostly free market dominated socioeconomic systems. Chemically polluted textile wastewater degrades the quality of the [[soil conservation|soil]] and [[water pollution|water]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pattnaik |first1=Punyasloka |last2=Dangayach |first2=G. S. |last3=Bhardwaj |first3=Awadhesh Kumar |title=A review on the sustainability of textile industries wastewater with and without treatment methodologies |journal=Reviews on Environmental Health |date=1 June 2018 |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=163–203 |doi=10.1515/reveh-2018-0013 |pmid=29858909 |s2cid=44084197 |language=en |issn=2191-0308}}</ref> The pollution comes from the type of conduct of chemical treatments used e.g., [[textile manufacturing|in pretreatment, dyeing, printing, and finishing operations]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Madhav |first1=Sughosh |last2=Ahamad |first2=Arif |last3=Singh |first3=Pardeep |last4=Mishra |first4=Pradeep Kumar |title=A review of textile industry: Wet processing, environmental impacts, and effluent treatment methods |journal=Environmental Quality Management |date=March 2018 |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=31–41 |doi=10.1002/tqem.21538 |language=en}}</ref> that many or most market-driven companies use despite "eco-friendly alternatives". Textile industry wastewater |
The [[textile industry]] is one of the largest polluters in the [[economic globalization|globalized]] world of mostly free market dominated socioeconomic systems. Chemically polluted textile wastewater degrades the quality of the [[soil conservation|soil]] and [[water pollution|water]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pattnaik |first1=Punyasloka |last2=Dangayach |first2=G. S. |last3=Bhardwaj |first3=Awadhesh Kumar |title=A review on the sustainability of textile industries wastewater with and without treatment methodologies |journal=Reviews on Environmental Health |date=1 June 2018 |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=163–203 |doi=10.1515/reveh-2018-0013 |pmid=29858909 |s2cid=44084197 |language=en |issn=2191-0308}}</ref> The pollution comes from the type of conduct of chemical treatments used e.g., [[textile manufacturing|in pretreatment, dyeing, printing, and finishing operations]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Madhav |first1=Sughosh |last2=Ahamad |first2=Arif |last3=Singh |first3=Pardeep |last4=Mishra |first4=Pradeep Kumar |title=A review of textile industry: Wet processing, environmental impacts, and effluent treatment methods |journal=Environmental Quality Management |date=March 2018 |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=31–41 |doi=10.1002/tqem.21538 |language=en}}</ref> that many or most market-driven companies use despite "eco-friendly alternatives". Textile industry wastewater is considered to be one the largest polluters of water and soil [[ecosystem]]s, causing "carcinogenic, mutagenic, genotoxic, cytotoxic and allergenic threats to living organisms".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kishor |first1=Roop |last2=Purchase |first2=Diane |last3=Saratale |first3=Ganesh Dattatraya |last4=Saratale |first4=Rijuta Ganesh |last5=Ferreira |first5=Luiz Fernando Romanholo |last6=Bilal |first6=Muhammad |last7=Chandra |first7=Ram |last8=Bharagava |first8=Ram Naresh |title=Ecotoxicological and health concerns of persistent coloring pollutants of textile industry wastewater and treatment approaches for environmental safety |journal=Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering |date=1 April 2021 |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=105012 |doi=10.1016/j.jece.2020.105012 |s2cid=233532794 |language=en |issn=2213-3437|url=https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/31782/1/JECE%202021%20author%27s%20copy%20-%20repository.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Akhtar |first1=Muhammad Furqan |last2=Ashraf |first2=Muhammad |last3=Javeed |first3=Aqeel |last4=Anjum |first4=Aftab Ahmad |last5=Sharif |first5=Ali |last6=Saleem |first6=Mohammad |last7=Mustafa |first7=Ghulam |last8=Ashraf |first8=Moneeb |last9=Saleem |first9=Ammara |last10=Akhtar |first10=Bushra |title=Association of textile industry effluent with mutagenicity and its toxic health implications upon acute and sub-chronic exposure |journal=Environmental Monitoring and Assessment |date=28 February 2018 |volume=190 |issue=3 |pages=179 |doi=10.1007/s10661-018-6569-7 |pmid=29492685 |s2cid=3710964 |language=en |issn=1573-2959}}</ref> The textile industry uses over 8000 chemicals in its supply chain,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nimkar |first1=Ullhas |title=Sustainable chemistry: A solution to the textile industry in a developing world |journal=Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry |date=1 February 2018 |volume=9 |pages=13–17 |doi=10.1016/j.cogsc.2017.11.002 |language=en |issn=2452-2236}}</ref> also pollutes the environment with large amounts of [[microplastics]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Xia |last2=Hou |first2=Qingtong |last3=Xue |first3=Yingang |last4=Jian |first4=Yun |last5=Wang |first5=LiPing |title=Pollution characteristics and fate of microfibers in the wastewater from textile dyeing wastewater treatment plant |journal=Water Science and Technology |date=20 November 2018 |volume=78 |issue=10 |pages=2046–2054 |doi=10.2166/wst.2018.476 |pmid=30629532 |s2cid=58649372 |issn=0273-1223}}</ref> and has been identified in one review as the industry sector producing the largest amount of pollution.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Behera |first1=Meerambika |last2=Nayak |first2=Jayato |last3=Banerjee |first3=Shirsendu |last4=Chakrabortty |first4=Sankha |last5=Tripathy |first5=Suraj K. |title=A review on the treatment of textile industry waste effluents towards the development of efficient mitigation strategy: An integrated system design approach |journal=Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering |date=1 August 2021 |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=105277 |doi=10.1016/j.jece.2021.105277 |s2cid=233901225 |language=en |issn=2213-3437}}</ref> |
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A campaign of big clothing brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma to voluntarily reform [[Textile manufacturing|their manufacturing]] [[supply chain management|supply chains]] to commit to achieve zero discharges of hazardous chemicals by 2020 (global goal)<ref name="destin">{{cite web |title=Destination Zero: seven years of Detoxing the clothing industry |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/planet4-international-stateless/2018/07/destination_zero_report_july_2018.pdf |publisher=Greenpeace |access-date=30 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Greenpeace Calls Out Nike, Adidas and Puma for Toxic Clothing |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS191991010320110809 |access-date=30 September 2020 |work=Reuters |date=9 August 2011 |language=en}}</ref> appears to have failed. |
A campaign of big clothing brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma to voluntarily reform [[Textile manufacturing|their manufacturing]] [[supply chain management|supply chains]] to commit to achieve zero discharges of hazardous chemicals by 2020 (global goal)<ref name="destin">{{cite web |title=Destination Zero: seven years of Detoxing the clothing industry |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/planet4-international-stateless/2018/07/destination_zero_report_july_2018.pdf |publisher=Greenpeace |access-date=30 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Greenpeace Calls Out Nike, Adidas and Puma for Toxic Clothing |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS191991010320110809 |access-date=30 September 2020 |work=Reuters |date=9 August 2011 |language=en}}</ref> appears to have failed. |
Revision as of 20:36, 19 January 2023
This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (May 2021) |
This article contains instructions, advice, or how-to content. (October 2021) |
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Chemical waste is any excess, unusable, or unwanted chemical, especially those that cause damage to human health or the environment.[1] Chemical waste may be classified as hazardous waste,[2] non-hazardous waste, universal waste and household hazardous waste.[3] Hazardous waste is material that displays one or more of four characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. This information, along with disposal requirements, is typically available on a chemical's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Radioactive waste requires special means of handling and disposal. Biohazardous waste, though it often contains chemicals, is handled differently.
Laboratory chemical waste in the US
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibits disposing of certain materials down drains.[4] Therefore, when hazardous chemical waste is generated in a laboratory setting, it is usually stored on-site in an appropriate waste carboy where it is later collected and disposed of by a specialist contractor in order to meet safety, health, and legislative requirements. Many universities' Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) divisions/departments serve this collection and oversight role.[5][6][7][8]
Organic solvents and other organic waste is typically incinerated.[9][10][11][12] Some chemical wastes are recycled, such as waste elemental mercury.[13]
Laboratory waste containment
Packaging
For packaging, chemical liquid waste containers are filled to no further than 75% capacity to allow for vapor expansion and to reduce potential spills which could occur from moving overfilled containers. Waste containers are constructed of material compatible with the stored hazardous waste. These containers are also constructed of mechanically robust materials in order to minimize leakage during storage or transit.
In addition to the general packaging requirements mentioned above, precipitates, solids, and other non-fluid wastes are typically stored separate from liquid waste. Chemically contaminated glassware is disposed of separately from other chemical waste in containers that cannot be punctured by broken glass. [14][15]
Labeling
Containers are labeled with the group name from the chemical waste category and an itemized list of the contents. All chemicals or anything contaminated with chemicals pose a significant hazard. All waste must be appropriately packaged.[16]
Storage
Chemical waste containers are kept closed to prevent spillage, excepting when waste is added. Suitable containers are labeled in order to inform disposal specialists of the contents, as well as to prevent addition of incompatible chemicals.[14] Liquid waste is stored in containers with secure screw-top or other lids that cannot be easily dislodged in transit. Solid waste is stored in various sturdy, chemically inert containers, such as large, sealed buckets or thick plastic bags. A secondary containment (e.g., flammable cabinet or large plastic bin, etc.) is used to capture spills and leaks from the primary container and segregate incompatible hazardous wastes, such as acids and bases.
Chemical compatibility guidelines
Many chemicals react adversely when combined. Incompatible chemicals are therefore stored in separate areas of laboratories.[17][18]
Acids are separated from alkalis, metals, cyanides, sulfides, azides, phosphides, and oxidizers, as when acids combine with these types of compounds, violent exothermic reactions can occur; in addition, some of these reactions produce flammable gases, which, combined with the heat produced, may cause explosions.
Oxidizers are separated from acids, organic materials, metals, reducing agents, and ammonia, as when oxidizers combine with these types of compounds, flammable and sometimes toxic compounds can be created. Oxidizers also increase the likelihood that any already present flammable material ignites, seen most readily in research laboratories with improper storage of organic solvents.[19]
Environmental pollution
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals comprise one of the few groups of chemicals that are specifically designed to act on living cells. They present a special risk when they persist in the environment.
With the exception of watercourses downstream of sewage treatment plants, the concentration of pharmaceuticals in surface and ground water is generally low. Concentrations in sewage sludge and in landfill leachate may be substantially higher[20] and provide alternative routes for EPPPs to enter the human and animal food-chain.
However, even at very low environmental concentrations (often ug/L or ng/L), the chronic exposure to environmental pharmaceuticals chemicals can add to the effects of other chemicals in the cocktail is still not studied. The different chemicals might be potentiating synergistic effects (higher than additive effects). An extremely sensitive group in this respect are foetuses.
EPPPs are already found in water all over the world. The diffuse exposure might contribute to
- extinction of species and imbalance of sensible ecosystems, as many EPPPs affect the reproductive systems of for example frogs, mussels, and fish;[21]
- genetic, developmental, immune and hormonal health effects to humans and other species, in the same way as e.g. oestrogen-like chemicals;[medical citation needed]
- development of microbes resistant to antibiotics, as is found in India.[22]
PPCPs
The use of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is on the rise with an estimated increase from 2 billion to 3.9 billion annual prescriptions between 1999 and 2009 in the United States alone.[23] PPCPs enter into the environment through individual human activity and as residues from manufacturing, agribusiness, veterinary use, and hospital and community use. In Europe, the input of pharmaceutical residues via domestic waste water is estimated to be around 80% whereas 20% is coming from hospitals.[24] Individuals may add PPCPs to the environment through waste excretion and bathing as well as by directly disposing of unused medications to septic tanks, sewers, or trash. Because PPCPs tend to dissolve relatively easily and do not evaporate at normal temperatures, they often end up in soil and water bodies.
Some PPCPs are broken down or processed easily by a human or animal body and/or degrade quickly in the environment. However, others do not break down or degrade easily. The likelihood or ease with which an individual substance will break down depends on its chemical makeup and the metabolic pathway of the compound.[25]River pollution
Textile industry
The textile industry is one of the largest polluters in the globalized world of mostly free market dominated socioeconomic systems. Chemically polluted textile wastewater degrades the quality of the soil and water.[28] The pollution comes from the type of conduct of chemical treatments used e.g., in pretreatment, dyeing, printing, and finishing operations[29] that many or most market-driven companies use despite "eco-friendly alternatives". Textile industry wastewater is considered to be one the largest polluters of water and soil ecosystems, causing "carcinogenic, mutagenic, genotoxic, cytotoxic and allergenic threats to living organisms".[30][31] The textile industry uses over 8000 chemicals in its supply chain,[32] also pollutes the environment with large amounts of microplastics[33] and has been identified in one review as the industry sector producing the largest amount of pollution.[34]
A campaign of big clothing brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma to voluntarily reform their manufacturing supply chains to commit to achieve zero discharges of hazardous chemicals by 2020 (global goal)[35][36] appears to have failed.
Textile industry also creates a lot of pollution that leads to externalities which causes big problems in the economy. The problem usually occurs when there is no division of ownership rights. This means that problem of pollution is mainly caused because of lacking information about which company pollutes and at what scale the damage was caused by the pollution.
Planetary boundary
A study by "Scienmag" defines a 'planetary boundary' for novel entities such as plastic and chemical pollution. The study reported that the boundary has been crossed.[37][38]
Regulation of chemical waste
Chemical waste may fall under regulation such as COSHH in the United Kingdom or the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in the United States. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well as state and local regulations, also regulate chemical use and disposal.[40]
Chemical waste in Canadian aquaculture
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2021) |
Chemical waste in oceans is becoming a major issue for marine life. There have been many studies conducted to try and prove the effects of chemicals in our oceans. In Canada, many of the studies concentrated on the Atlantic provinces, where fishing and aquaculture are an important part of the economy. In New Brunswick, a study was done on the sea urchin in an attempt to identify the effects of toxic and chemical waste on life beneath the ocean, specifically the waste from salmon farms. Sea urchins were used to check the levels of metals in the environment. It is advantageous to use green sea urchins because they are widely distributed, abundant in many locations, and easily accessible. By investigating the concentrations of metals in the green sea urchins, the impacts of chemicals from salmon aquaculture activity could be assessed and detected. Samples were taken at 25-metre intervals along a transect in the direction of the main tidal flow. The study found that there were impacts to at least 75 meters based on the intestine metal concentrations.
See also
- Industrial waste
- List of waste types
- Municipal solid waste
- Radioactive waste
- Toxic waste
- Waste management
- Water pollution
References
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Further reading
- Committee on Prudent Practices for Handling, Storage, and Disposal of Chemicals in Laboratories, National Research Council (16 September 1995). "7. Disposal of Waste". Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals (online book). The National Academies Press. pp. 147–150. ISBN 978-0-309-05229-0.
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External links
- Industrial Materials Recycling – US EPA