chapter 4 land and soil resources section 3 hazardous wastes notes 4-3

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Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

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Page 1: Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

Chapter 4Land and Soil ResourcesSection 3

Hazardous Wastes

Notes 4-3

Page 2: Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

Hazardous Wastes

• Material that can be harmful to human health or the environment if not properly stored, transported, treated or disposed of

• Can result from many different things• Agriculture• Industry• Military operations• Hospitals (laboratories)

Page 3: Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

Types of Hazardous Wastes• Toxic: (poisonous)• Wastes that can damage the health of

humans or other organisms• Explosive:• React very quickly when exposed to air

or water; can explode when dropped• Flammable:• Catches fire easily and can burn at low

temps.• Corrosive:• Dissolve or break down many materials

• Radioactive:• Contain unstable atoms

Page 4: Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

Radioactive Wastes• Unstable atoms give off radiation• Can cause cancer or other serious

disease• Two types of wastes• High level: used fuel from nuclear

reactors• Low level: radioactive material is

mined and processed• Can remain dangerous for thousands of

years• http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicT

able/Elements/Radioactive/index.s7.html

Page 5: Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

Health Effects of Hazardous Wastes• Determined by:• How much one has been exposed to…• How long the exposure lasted…• Person’s age, weight and health all

determine how it affects that person• Short term exposure causes irritation or

more severe health problems• Breathing difficulty, internal bleeding,

paralysis, coma, possibly death• Long term exposure causes cancer,

damage to organs• Effects may be life threatening

Page 6: Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

Disposal of Hazardous Wastes• Can dispose of hazardous wastes in a

few different ways• Secure landfills: lined with concrete

and many layers of plastic• Incineration: can be burned at very

high temps• Breakdown by living organisms:

bacteria, algae and fungi can break down some wastes• Pumping into the ground: into

sandstone or limestone deep in the ground• Recycling: some can be recycled like

battery acid and motor oil

Page 7: Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

Disposal of Radioactive Wastes• Have only found temporary ways to

dispose of radioactive wastes• Mixing them with concrete• Sealing them in abandoned mine

shafts• Sealing them in concrete vaults

deep underground or thick concrete or steel containers above ground

• Nothing is permanent and completely safe

Page 8: Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

Location of Disposal Sites

• Because of the danger, no one wants to work or live near a disposal site

• One large disposal site is mostly like the favorite choice

• Transportation is costly and dangerous

• Many small facilities are harder to regulate but cheaper, safer and easier to transport to

Page 9: Chapter 4 Land and Soil Resources Section 3 Hazardous Wastes Notes 4-3

Reducing Hazardous Wastes

• Find safer alternatives to using hazardous wastes• Bug spray vs citronella candles• Furniture polish (w/beeswax or

lemon oil) vs furniture polish (w/petroleum oil)

• Companies are looking for ways to make formaldehyde-free products• Carpet, air fresheners,

curtains, plush furniture all have formaldehyde in them