Where Toxic Waste Comes From and Its Dangerous Effects. Hazardous wastes are poisonous byproducts of manufacturing, farming, city septic systems, construction, automotive garages, laboratories, hospitals, and other industries. The waste may be liquid, solid, or sludge and contain chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, dangerous pathogens, or other toxins. Even households generate hazardous waste from items such as batteries, used computer equipment, and leftover paints or pesticides. The waste can harm humans, animals, and plants if they encounter these toxins buried in the ground, in stream runoff, in groundwater that supplies drinking water, or in floodwaters, as happened after Hurricane Katrina.
Some toxins, such as mercury, persist in the environment and accumulate. Humans or animals often absorb them when they eat fish. The rules surrounding hazardous waste are overseen in the U.S. by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as state departments of environmental protection. Toxic Waste in Practice Regulations. Alex Lin, Teenage Activist. He's overseen the recycling of 300,000 pounds of e-waste. He's successfully lobbied the Rhode Island state legislature to ban the dumping of electronics. He's used refurbished computers to create media centers in developing countries like Cameroon and Sri Lanka to foster computer literacy.
He’s Alex Lin and he’s just 16 years old. “I don’t see anything uncommon in it,” says Lin, a high school senior from Westerly, Rhode Island. “My friends and I have been doing this since fifth grade. It’s become part of our lifestyle.” Lin’s catalytic moment came in 2004 when he chanced upon a Wall Street Journal article. E-waste, or electronics garbage, is the fastest growing section of the U.S. trash stream. While there is no federal law banning e-waste, 20 states have passed legislation mandating statewide e-waste recycling.
If only the states with e-waste laws in their 2010 legislative pipeline—Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Utah, to name a few—had an Alex Lin at their disposal. Scaling Up. Toxic waste | pollution. Difference Between Toxic and Hazardous | Difference Between. What is the difference between toxic and hazardous? Both words are adjectives to mean something that might cause a person harm. We are often advised to stay away from things that are called ‘toxic’ or ‘hazardous’. These terms are used to show that the substance can damage humans, animals, plants or the environment. However, there is a slight difference in the meanings of these two similar words. ‘Toxic’ is generally used as an adjective to show that something contains or is a harmful or poisonous substance.
Something toxic can cause serious illness, debilitation or even death. ‘Toxic’ also has a figurative or metaphorical usage that is very common in English. ‘Hazardous’ is the adjective form of ‘hazard’. Whether to use ‘toxic’ or ‘hazardous’ depends on the substance or material you are describing. Related : If you like this article or our site. Where Toxic Waste Comes From and Its Dangerous Effects. Toxic waste - Wikipedia. Toxic waste is any material in liquid, solid, or gas form that can cause harm by being inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. Many of today’s household products such as televisions, computers and phones contain toxic chemicals that can pollute the air and contaminate soils and water.
Disposing of such waste is a major public health issue. Classifying toxic materials[edit] Toxic materials are poisonous byproducts as a result of industries such as manufacturing, farming, construction, automotive, laboratories, and hospitals which may contain chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, dangerous pathogens, or other toxins. Toxic waste has become more abundant since the industrial revolution, causing serious global health issues. Disposing of such waste has become even more critical with the addition of numerous technological advances containing toxic chemical components. The waste can contain chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, dangerous pathogens, or other toxins. Health defects[edit]