Health Hazards and Waste Management

1. Health Hazards and Waste Management

2. Waste anything discarded by an individual, household, or organization Controlled: waste generated from - households - municipal solids - commercial/ industrialized organization - construction and demolition Uncontrolled: waste generated from - agriculture - mines - quarries - dredging operations - In 2002 Canadians produced 30.4 million tonnes of solid waste, that is approximately 971kg/ person

3. The Waste Management Process Collection Processing Transport Disposal

4. Major Methods of Waste Management Recycling Sewage Treatment Incineration Landfill

5. Examples of Poor Waste Management • Sydney Tar Ponds - Located in Sydney, Nova Scotia - There was run off from coke ovens at steel mill - Filled estuary with variety of coal based contaminants and sludge - Ponds are 77 acres - Ponds contain approximately 700 000 metric tonnes of contaminated sediment - Where the coke ovens were there is 560 000 tonnes of contaminated soil - An estimated 3.8 metric tonnes of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB), which is known to cause cancer Clean up has begun, with funding from Canadian government

6. Poor Waste Management • Love Canal in New York • Located near Niagra Falls, New York • 16 acre underground landfill • 25 to 30 years chemical companies dumped unknown chemicals of unknown amounts • Tests were down of water and soil near river as well as in basements of peoples homes, found large quantities of chemicals hazardous to peoples health • Clean up is being done

7. Examples of Proper Waste Management Guysborough Waste Management Facility - 5 large double lined labeled containers - Reuse Centre -Pick up in areas across Cape Breton and Mainland Nova Scotia -operates in requirement of Department of Environment

8. Hazardous Substances Associated With Waste Management • Waste management methods have been continuously monitored and thoroughly studied. • Whatever method is used, there is usually a large variety of different substances, but only a few are produced in large quantities.

9. Expert groups suggested that pollutants should be defined on the basis of: • Toxicity • Persistence & mobility • Bioaccumulation • Explosiveness

10. Waste Management Methods • Recycling • Composting • Sewage Treatment • Incineration • Landfill

11. Two Most Harmful Methods • Landfills: produce metals, POH & PCB chemicals, pesticides, pathogens, dioxins, pharmaceuticals. • Incineration plants: produce gases, metals, organic compounds, pathogens. • Such methods also create dust, odors, litter, noise, heavy traffic, and they also attract flies and birds and other rodents.

12. Birth Defects and Reproductive Disorders • Reproductive effects that are said to be associated with landfill sites: • Low birth weight • Fetal and infant mortality • Spontaneous abortion • Birth defects • If residence live within 3 kms of a landfill site their chances are said to be higher in obtaining one of these 4 abnormalities.

13. Cancer • There has been several types of cancer that are said to be linked with landfill sites: • Stomach • Colon • Gastrointestinal • Increase frequency if people live in countries with hazardous waste sites.

14. Studies of Self Reported Health Symptoms • Health issues which have been reported through interviews and questionnaires and are blamed on landfill sites and pollution: • Respiratory Symptoms • Irritation of skin, nose, eyes • Gastrointestinal problems • Fatigue • Headaches • Psychological problems • Allergies

15. Incineration • Advantages: Protects water supply, reduces weight/volume of waste and produces energy. • Disadvantages: Odor nuisance, produces hazardous waste, emits heavy metals and combustion products. • There are three main ways to look at the effects of incinerators…the effects of individual pollutants, studies on community residents and studies on incineration workers. Each have their benefits based on the results obtained.

16. Individual Pollutants • The most important pollutants are particles, gases/aerosols, metals and organic compounds. • All epidemiological studies have demonstrated a decrease in overall health near an incinerator. Although, results from mortality/morbidity are quite inconsistent and have caused some controversy. • One thing is clear and that is how the fumes may affect asthmatics and their abilities to breathe. • Many studies show a decrease in cardiovascular abilities and an increase of cancers due to dioxin emissions.

17. Health Effects in Communities • Usually assessed based on distance from site or areas of highest risk from emissions. • Little evidence for detrimental effects on reproduction or respiratory illness although there has been major controversy on these results. • Studies have shown a high correlation between distance and mortality/incidence rates. • Conflicting evidence in this type of health effect assessment seems to be the norm, with one British study showing opposites to the other when concerning incinerator effects on cancer rates in the area.

18. Worker Populations • Workers may or may not be exposed to the same type of pollutants as the general population. • It has been shown that there is a high rate of gastrointestinal and skin problems due to the high level of contact with bio-aerosols and volatile compounds. • Again, there is controversy as an Italian study showed a DECREASE in cancer rates around an incinerator. • There seems to be little data on the risk of worker populations although the US has recently developed a surveillance program on the workers health.

19. Additional Information • Incineration reduces the recycle/reduce/reuse mentality • Incineration forms hazardous white ash and releases particulates • Once an incinerator is operating its at a high temperature and converts waste to steam and then electricity, called a Waste to Energy system (WtE) • Incineration reduces the weight of waste 80-85% compared to if you sent the waste to a landfill. • Is a high volume of less dangerous waste better then a smaller volume of toxic waste? That’s the big question.

20. Validity of Studies • Lack of evidence as to precise substances under study. • Lack of good exposure, exposure misclassification • Lack of specificity in defining health outcomes. • Migration

21. Biomarker technology • Biomarker: shows a specific physical trait or a measurable biologically produced change in the body connected with a disease or health condition. • Useful in measuring internal dose (exposure) • Measures biological response (internal) • Potential reduction in misclassification • Identification of lower levels of exposure and total burden • Mechanisms relating exposure and disease

22. Alternative Technologies • Gasification • Pyrolysis • Biomechanical waste treatment

23. Questions?