bio 160- chapters 18 and 19

Describe some of the problems associated with modern landfills

Groundwater contamination

what conditions favor incineration over landfills?

Incineration-process of burning refuse in a controlled environment When cities are unable to dispose of their trash locally incinerators become more cost effective

Describe examples of source reduction.

It is the practice of designing, manufacturing, purchasing, using and reusing materials so that the amount of waste or its toxicity is reduced. EX: 1.Design changes to soft drink bottles and milk jugs are good examples of source reduction. since 1977, the weight of a 2 liter plastic soft drink bottle has been reduced from 68 grams to 51 grams. 2. manufacturing process have been changed in many industries to reduce the amount of waste produced 3. using materials in such a way that waste is not generated is an important means of curbing waste 4. reusing items- a way to reduce waste at the source because it delays or prevents the entry of reused items into the waste collections and disposal system

What are four concerns associated with incineration?

More costly than landfills construction of incinerators toxic substances can seep into groundwater

describe what is meant by the U.S. National Priorities list?

Under CERCLA, over 44,000 sites were evaluated and about 11,000 were considered serious enough to warrant further investigation and these sites became known as this list.

How is landfill gas turned into electricity?

a process of gathering, processing, and treating the methane gas emitted from decomposing garbage to produce electricity, heat, fuels, and various chemical compounds

how is lifestyle related to the quantity of municipal solid waste generated?

wherever people exist, waster disposal is a problem Nations with high standards of living and productivity tend to have more municipal solid waste per person than less developed countries.

Distinguish between acute and chronic toxicity

Acute toxicity- occurs when a person is exposed to one massive dose of a substance and becomes ill chronic toxicity- occurs when a person is exposed to small doses over long periods (much more difficult to determine)

Give an example of synergism

All uranium miners are exposed to radioactive gases, but those who smoke tobacco and thus are exposed to the toxins of tobacco smoke have unusually high incidences of living lung cancer

why is cercla often known as superfund?

Because part of the bill was a provision to finance the cleanup of large, uncontrolled hazardous waste sites

what is transuranic waste and how is it disposed?

-highly radioactive waste that contains large numbers of atoms that are larger than uranium with half lives greater than 20 years -cleanup-transuranic waste is transported to the waste isolation pilot plant near Carisbad , New Mexico, for storage.

list the 2 common technologies used to dispose of hazardous waste:

-incineration- burning waste at high temps -land disposal- primary method because land is abundant in North America

Name several strategies that would help encourage the growth of recycling

-Many states and cities have passed mandatory recycling laws -less trash on roadways -resource conservation -pollutant reduction -energy savings job creation reduced need for landfills and incinerators

Give examples of low level radioactive waste

-it is waste containing small amounts of radioactivity that is not classified into one of the other categories -they come from nuclear power facilities, weapons facilities, hospitals, research institutions and includes such things as radioactive materials used in the medical field, protective clothing worn by persons who work with radioactive materials, contaminated cleaning materials.

three primary levels of exposure

-by breathing the material, -by consuming the material through the mouth -by absorbing the material through the skin

what is high level radioactive waste and how is it currently being controlled?

-consists or spent fuel rods highly radioactive materials from the reprocessing of fuel rods. - in the U.S. we don't reprocess them, instead repeated word we store them at nuclear reactor sites

Describe the various types of composting and the role of composting in solid waste management

-grass clippings, leaves, food waste, solid paper -composting facilities of various sizes and levels of technological sophistication accept materials such as yard trimmings, food scraps, bio solids from sewage treatment plants, wood shavings, etc.

list 3 kinds of industries most responsible for the release of toxic materials to the environment

-mining -power generation industries -chemical industries -metal manufacturing industries

describe 5 technologies used for treating hazardous wastes:

-neutralization- reacting acids and bases can convert them into non hazardous materials -biodegradation- of organic materials by actions of microorganisms -air stripping- used to remove volatile chemicals from water -carbon absorption- activated carbon particles treat waste - precipitation- adding special materials to a liquid waste

Give an example of a persistant pollutant and a nonpersistant pollutant

-persistant pollutant- those that remain in the environment for many years in an unchanged condition Ex. DDT- used as an effective pesticide worldwide and is used in some countries because its so inexpensive and effective -nonpersistant pollutant- does not remain in the environment for very long. some nonpersistant pollutants are biodegradable. others decompose as a result of exposure to environmental factors.

what are the goals of the small business liability relief and brownsfield revitalization act (SBLRBRA)?

-protects purchasers from liability under CERCLA -provided funding to conduct site assessment and planning for redevelopment -Act allowed many remediated superfund sites to be returned to a useful function rather than to sit vacant.

give 3 examples of how hazardous waste can be recycled:

-recycle solvents for other uses -exchange waste with other industries -burn wastes as fuel

list 3 requirements of the resource conservation and recovery act (RCRA)

-required that hazardous wastes be identified -set standards to be met by producers of waste those who transport it, dispose of, or store hazardous waste -cradle to grave concept- required all participants to sign documentation of their role

why was the Basel convention of the united nations established?

-the debate over controlled hazardous waste movements between countries culminated in 1989 with the creation of this

goals of the compensation and liability act (cercla)

-to set priorities for cleaning up the worst existing hazardous waste sites -to make site pay for cleanups whenever possible -to set up a $1.6 billion hazardous waste trust fund - to advance scientific and technological capabilities in all aspects of hazardous waste management, treatment, and disposal.

list three ways hazardous wastes enter the environment to become a problem

1. evaporation of many kinds of substances releases molecules directly to the atmosphere 2. spills, leaks, or purposeful releases- result in hazardous materials being released to the water 3. Dumping or storing on land- groundwater contamination has resulted from leaking land disposal facilities

In addition to characteristics of hazardous waste, how does the U.S. Environmental protection Agency define a hazardous waste?

1. ignitability- describes materials that pose a fire hazard during routine management 2. corrosiveness- describes materials that require special containers because 3. reactivity 4. toxicity

give 3 examples of how hazardous waste can be reduced at its source

1. stop leaks 2. prevent spills 3. educate employees

Describe the pollution prevention hierarchy (also called P2)

Emphasizes reducing the amount of hazardous waste: 1. reducing the amount of pollution at the source 2. recycle wastes whenever possible 3. treat wastes to reduce their hazard or volume 4. dispose of wastes on land or incinerate them as a last resort

List 5 diff. categories of hazardous materials

Explosives- materials that cause rapid release of gas and heat - gases -flammable liquids/solids -oxidizing substances that release oxygen that enables or enhances the burning of materials

why is food waste a growing concern? Describe how some communities are addressing the issue?

Most food waste is thrown away in landfills, where it decomposes and emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas. -Waste minimization: is an approach that aims to reduce the production of waste through education and the adoption of improved production processes and less wasteful practices. -Recycling -waste processing: is treatment and recovery (use) of materials or energy from waste through thermal, chemical, or biological means.

what is a threshold level of exposure to a hazardous material and how is it determined?

it is determined by the regulatory agency and it determines the level of exposure

describe the importance of recycling household solid wastes

key to effective preservation of natural resources and energy creating a pollution free environment

what are the primary sources of nuclear waste?

nuclear fuel in nuclear power plants results in the production of waste from spent fuel rods and from other materials that become contaminated because they are in contact with radioactive material

Describe why electronic waste is becoming major problem

our electronics are ending up in landfills which raises some health and environmental concerns

What is a characteristic of hazardous waste?

they must be disposed of in an appropriate manner and there is a stringent regulations pertaining to their production