Health Risk Associated with Hazardous Waste | Ecology

This article throws light upon the two categories of health risk hazards associated with hazardous waste. The categories are: 1. Occupational health hazards 2. Health Hazards due to Environmental Contami­nations.

Health Risk: Category # 1. Occupational Hazards Associated with Waste Handling:

1. Infections:

1. Skin and blood infections resulting from di­rect contact with waste, and from infected wounds.

2. Eye and respiratory infections resulting from exposure to infected dust, especially during landfill operations.

3. Different diseases that results from the bites of animals feeding on the waste.

4. Intestinal infections that are transmitted by flies feeding on the waste.

2. Chronic Diseases:

Incineration operators are at risk of chronic res­piratory diseases, including cancers resulting from exposure to dust and hazardous compounds.

3. Accidents:

1. Infecting wounds resulting from contact with sharp objects.

2. Poisoning and chemical burns resulting from contact with small amounts of hazardous chemical waste mixed with general waste.

3. Burns and other injuries resulting from occu­pational accidents at waste disposal sites or from methane gas explosion at landfill sites.

4. Bone and muscle disorders resulting from the handling of heavy containers.

Health Risk: Category # 2. Health Hazardous due to Environmental Contaminations:

1. Pesticides:

Source of Contamination:

• Run-off from farms, backyards, and golf courses contain pesticides such as DDT

• Leachate from landfill sites is another major contaminating source. Its effects on the ecosystems and health are endocrine and reproductive damage in wildlife.

• Groundwater is susceptible to contamination, as pesticides are mobile in the soil.

Health Effect:

The organophosphates and the carbonates present in pesticides affect and damage the nervous system and can cause cancer. Some of the pesticides contain carcinogens that exceed recommended levels. They contain chlorides that cause reproductive and endocrinal damage.

2. Synthetic Organics:

Source of Contamination:

Many of the 100000 synthetic compounds in use today are found in the aquatic environment and accumulate in the food chain. POPs or Persistent Organic Pollutants, represent the most harmful element for the ecosystem and for human health, for example, industrial chemicals and agricultural pesticides.

These chemicals can accumulate in fish and cause serious damage to human health. Where pesticides are used on a large-scale, groundwater gets contaminated and this leads to the chemical contamination of drinking water.

Health Effect:

Benzene and other petrochemicals can cause cancer even at low exposure levels.

3. Lead:

Source of Contamination:

Pipes, fittings, solder, and the service connec­tions of some household plumbing systems contain lead that contaminates the drinking water source.

Health Effect:

Lead is hazardous to health as it accumulates in the body and affects the central nervous system. Children and pregnant women are most at risk.

4. Fluoride:

Source of Contamination:

Fluoride in the water is essential for protection against dental caries and weakening of the bones, but higher levels can have an adverse effect on health. In India, high fluoride content is found naturally in the waters in Rajasthan.

Health Effect:

Excess fluorides can cause yellowing of the teeth and damage to the spinal cord and other crippling diseases.

5. Arsenic:

Source of Contamination:

Arsenic occurs naturally or is possibly aggra­vated by over powering aquifers and by phos­phorus from fertilisers. High concentrations of arsenic in water can have an adverse effect on health. A few years back, high concentrations of this element was found in drinking water in six districts in West Bengal.

A majority of people in the area was found suffering from arsenic skin lesions. It was felt that arsenic contamination in the groundwater was due to natural causes.

Health Effect:

Arsenic poisoning through water can cause liver and nervous system damage, vascular diseases and also skin cancer.

6. Heavy Metals:

Source of Contamination:

Industrial waste, mining waste.

Health Effect:

Some heavy metals like mercury are able to biomagnify through their food chain.

7. Electronic Waste:

Source of Contamination:

Discarded part of computer, electronic appliances, burning of mother board for harvesting heavy metals like gold and silver. The ash contain several persistent pollutant like chlorinated and brominated compounds conta­minate soil and also ground water. Dioxin originate from incineration contaminate air.

Health Effect:

Short-term exposure of humans to high levels of dioxins may result in skin lesions, such as chloracne and patchy darkening of the skin, and altered liver function. Long-term exposure is linked to impairment of the immune system, the deve­loping nervous system, the endocrine system and reproductive functions.