Toxic Waste Hazards

More than forty-million tons of toxic materials are released annually in the United States alone. Toxic waste hazards include any hazardous materials or hazardous waste that can have a negative impact on the health of animals, people and the environment. If a substance is explosive, flammable, corrosive, then it is considered a hazardous material or toxic waste. Toxic materials are often the result of waste from factories, sewage systems, farms, research labs, construction sites, hospitals and garages that do work on vehicles.

Where Toxic Waste Comes From

• Much of the hazardous toxic waste that makes its way into the environment comes from factories or industrial facilities. These facilities include chemical manufacturers, dry cleaners, exterminating companies, petroleum refineries, electroplating companies and centers that process photographs. Toxic waste also comes from items such as batteries that are carelessly discarded in the trash or even hazardous substances that are dumped down a sink drain.

The Dangers of Toxic Waste

• Flammable toxic waste can cause problems for garbage trucks or the owner of a dumpster if a spark sets the waste on fire before they are taken to a hazardous waste site. Products such as paint thinner can also cause a fire to erupt inside the home. Toxic waste can be poisonous to animals and humans. If a living creature comes in contact with toxic waste, they can become seriously ill. Prolonged exposure to the hazards can cause health problems that may be as serious as cancer.

The Reduction of Toxic Waste

• Consumers can reduce the amount of toxic waste products that they bring into their home and dispose of, or they can halt the use of toxic waste products altogether. For situations that often have a person using products like pesticides, they can take a more natural approach. Aphids can be killed off by releasing ladybugs, rather than by spraying chemicals. The process of bioremediation uses microbes to help eliminate some of the toxic waste.

Microbes

• Many microbes consume toxic waste as food. Using microbes on toxic waste can help to decrease the amount of toxic waste that is effecting the environment. However, microbes can sometimes end up making the environmental issues even worse by causing more pollution. There are a number of different types of microbes that form naturally in the environment and consume toxic wastes. During bioremediation, people can improve the microbes' living conditions so that they can advance the rate and quality at which they are helping to rid the environment of toxic waste. Their living conditions can be improved by adding water, oxygen or certain chemicals to areas where they live.