Hazardous Waste
Corrosive
-Acids or Bases - <pH 2 or >pH 12.5 -Causes harm on our skin, irritations -Example: Battery Acid
Flammable & Combustible
-Create fires under certain condition -Spontaneously combustible -< 37.8°C/100°F ( Flammable) -> 37.8°C/100°F (Combustible) -Examples: waste oils, used solvent and acetone
Toxic
-Harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed -When toxic wastes are land disposed, contaminated liquid may leach from the waste and pollute ground water
Explosive
-Unstable under "normal" condition -Explosions, toxic fumes, gases,or vapors -Example: Lithium=sulfur batteries and exlosives
Mutagens
-are agents, such as chemicals and ionizing radiation, that cause random mutations, or changes in the DNA molecules found in cells -Examples: Disease such as manic depression, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, Don's Syndrome, and some types of cancer
Carcinogen
-are chemicals, radiations or viruses that cause or promote the growth of a malignant tumor, in which certain cells multiply uncontrollably. -a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue. -Examples: inhaled asbestos, certain dioxins, and tobacco smoke.
Teratogens
-are chemicals,radiation, or viruses that cause birth defects -Example: PCBs, thalidomide, steroid hormones and heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
Acute health effect
-are quickly seen, usually after exposures to fairly high levels or concentrations of hazardous substances. -Example: Accidentally swallowing a piece of toxic hazardous waste may harm you, getting you a disease or may kill you.
Radioactive Waste
-is waste that contains radioactive material. Radioactive waste is usually a by-product of nuclear power generation and other applications of nuclear fission or nuclear technology, such as research and medicine. -is hazardous to most forms of life and the environment, and is regulated by government agencies in order to protect human health and the environment.
Chronic health effect
-usually develops slowly. -Example: Getting near a hazardous waste that emits gases won't infect you unless you always pass by every day for a certain amount of days
Acute and Chronic
2 Types of Effects of Hazardous Waste
Flammable
< 37.8°C/100°F
Combustible
> 37.8°C/100°F
Carcinogen,Teratogen and Mutagen
Agents of Toxic Hazardous Waste
Flammable & Combustible,Explosive,Corrosive and Toxic
Common Kinds of Hazardous Waste
Non-biodegradable
Don't decay in a reasonable amount of time
Infectious Waste
Examples: -Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals. -Pathological wastes. Human pathological wastes, including tissues, organs and body parts and body fluids that are removed during surgery, autopsy, other medical procedures or laboratory procedures. -Doesn't not include teeth, hair, etc.
Infectious waste, Sharps, Radioactive waste, Biodegradable & non-bio hospital waste
Handling Hazardous Wastes
Biodegradable
Includes any organic matter in waste which can be broken down
Biodegradable & Non-bio Hospital Waste
Waste from hospitals that were used to treat patients. Or used for office/paper works. Example:, General wastes, pathological wastes, infectious wastes, chemical wastes, etc.
Sharps Waste
is a form of biomedical waste composed of used sharps, which includes any device or object used to puncture or lacerate the skin. Sharps waste is classified as biohazardous waste and must be carefully handled. Common medical materials treated as sharps waste are: Syringes and injection devices. Blades.
Hazardous Waste
is a waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. It is also a special type of waste because it cannot be disposed of by common means like other by-products of our everyday lives.
Infectious Waste
is municipal and residual waste which is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, immunization or autopsy of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, in the preparation of human or animal remains for interment or cremation, or in the production or testing of biologicals.