Hazardous Waste

In definition hazardous waste is known to be discarded waste material harmful not only to humans but to the environment as a whole thus it is a danger to all living and non living organisms either directly or indirectly. However the terms hazardous and waste may be defined separately and as such is done it therefore becomes disagreeable to many to term waste as useless material as it may be taken in context differing from one person to the other and from one place to the other. This is so due to the fact that what one sees as useless another may see as treasure such an example being human waste that may be converted into manure for agricultural purposes. Hazardous waste takes different forms thus it may either be solid, liquid or gas depending on its source. It is also characterised into various categories according to its chemical components and its reaction to the environmental conditions of the area its discarded as well as according to how humans and animals are affected by it. Examples of these categories include its explosivity, flammability, toxicity , irritability just to mention but a few.

The table below endeavours to show some of the hazardous waste which are our day to day challenges as environmentalists, their characteristics, effects on human life as well as their sources.

Name of waste | Characteristic | Effects | Source |

Carbon monoxide | Toxic | Leads to failure of haemoglobin to carry oxygen in the blood therefore resulting in death. | Motor vehicles, coal and oil furnaces and steel plants. |

Lead | Corrosive | Causes brain damage, hypertension and impairs growth. | Motor vehicles, smelters. |

Cadium | Infectious | High exposure causes lung cancer | Coal, smelters and oil furnaces. |

Nickel | Mutegenic | Long exposure damages kidneys and lungs as well as weakens bones | Coal and oil furnaces |

Silicone ultrafluoride | Irritant | Irritates lungs | Chemical plants |

Formal dehyde | Irritant | Irritates eyes and nose | Motor vehicles...