There are many chemicals that emerge from hazardous waste that pose as major health hazards. Chlorine and heavy
metals are two types of toxins that can effect humans, animals, and plants for years to come. Chlorinated compounds, like
dioxins can cause birth defects, miscarriages, and immune system disorders. Other chlorinated compounds like
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) and insecticides are considered to be hormone mimics. This can cause feminization of males,
increased levels of breast and testicular cancer, and a drop in sperm count. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury are
common as poisons. Lead can find its way into soil and underground streams. This can cause lead poisoning for plants,
animals, and humans drinking the water. Mercury found in batteries can also find its way into underground streams. In some
cases it has killed and sickened many people.
Pollution Prevention
Hazardous waste does not have to be such a big problem. There are many ways to decrease and even eliminate hazardous
waste in our environment. A branch of the EPA, known as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is dedicated to
regulation of hazardous waste. They have many laws and restrictions set up to prevent an onslaught
of hazardous waste to affect our health and that of our environment. However, it is up to the community, and industry to comply
with these regulations, and go even further by attempting to eliminate hazardous waste within their company. Primarily, it is
important for industry to be able to treat their hazardous waste. Through remediation, and treatment hazardous wastes can be
made less toxic and maybe even recyclable in some aspects. However, to really solve the problem, pollution prevention is the key.
By eliminating the need for chemicals that will generate hazardous wastes, industry will be one step ahead of the game.
The costs of finding new methods should not be an impediment. Eventually, the cost of hazardous waste clean-ups will
become too much for companies, and finding alternate solutions will be standard. In the meantime, there are companies that are
willing to help with the disposal of hazardous waste. The company by the name of Rich Coast Inc. is willing to help dispose of
hazardous wastes so that workers and the environment will not be harmed.
