Unit 9 Blog

Unit 9- Waste Management

Suggested Vocabulary:

• MSW - is one of the best degrees you can have for helping others and getting paid to do so. Social workers serve individuals, families, and communities. They can work for themselves, corporations, schools, and the government.
• E-Waste - is a term for electronic products that have become unwanted, non-working or obsolete, and have essentially reached the end of their useful life. Because technology advances at such a high rate, many electronic devices become “trash” after a few short years of use.
• Closed-loop recycling - Production system in which the waste or byproduct of one process or product is used in making another product. For example, recycling waste newspaper to make paper-board or other types of paper. 
• Open-loop recycling - The conversion of material from one or more products into a new product, involving a change in the inherent properties of the material itself (often a degradation in quality). For example, recycling plastic bottles into plastic drainage pipes. Often called downcycling or reprocessing.
• Compost - decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer.
• leachate - water that has percolated through a solid and leached out some of the constituents.
• Sanitary Landfill - are sites where waste is isolated from the environment until it is safe. It is considered when it has completely degraded biologically, chemically and physically.
• Environmental justice - is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
• Incineration - is the process of burning hazardous materials at temperatures high enough to destroy contaminants. Incineration is conducted in an “incinerator,” which is a type of furnace designed for burning hazardous materials in a combustion chamber.
• Waste-to-energy - Energy recovery from waste is the conversion of non-recyclable waste materials into useable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolization, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas (LFG) recovery. This process is often called waste-to-energy (WTE).
• Hazardous Waste - is waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes.
• Superfund - a fund established to finance a long-term, expensive project.
• Brownfield - (of an urban site for potential building development) having had previous development on it.
• IWM - is an exchange-traded fund of US stocks that tracks the Russell 2000 index, in the iShares ETF family. IWM is used by day traders and investors alike to gain access to the small-cap segment of US stocks. It is highly liquid.
• Epidemic - a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
• Pandemic - (of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world.
• Synergistic Interactions - means that the effect of two chemicals taken together is greater than the sum of their separate effect at the same doses. An example is pesticide and fertilizer; the biological effect is devastating.
• Biomagnification - the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed.
• Persistence - firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.

Pollutants- you should know the health effects and common examples of each and where they can be found

Neurotoxins - a poison that acts on the nervous system. Examples: Lead, Mercury, Parasites, viruses, candida, lyme based infections. (on metals)

Carcinogens - a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue. Examples: radiation, asbestos, radon. (do not effect DNA directly but changes do occur)

Teratogens - an agent or factor that causes malformation of an embryo. Examples: virsus, drugs (alcohol), chemicals, stressors, and malnutrition. (usually in the environment)

Allergens - a substance that causes an allergic reaction. Examples: dust mites, cockroaches, molds, pets, and plants. (In foods and plants)

Endocrine Disruptors - chemicals that may interfere with the body's endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife. Examples: things that interfere with hormones, telling cells to die prematurely, competing with essential nutrients. (found in mammals, birds, fish and many humans and wildlife)

Diseases- you should be able to differentiate between historical and emergent diseases, explain what causes them/how they are spread, basic symptoms and how they are treated.  WHO website

Plague - is a serious bacterial infection that can be deadly. Referred to as the black plague and is caused by bacteria called yersinia pestis, which primarily affects wild rodents. It is spread from one rodent to another by fleas. Humans bitten by an infected flea usually develop a bubonic plague which is characterized by a swelling of the lymph node draining the flea bite site. It is treated by antibiotics.

Malaria - is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitos. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Symptoms include fever, headache, and vomitign that usually appear after being bitten. Treatment includues artemisinin-based combination therapies; use of insecticidal nets by people at risk; and indoor residual spraying with insecticide to control the vector mosquitos.

Tuberculosis - (TB) is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affect the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease. Usually a person's immune system acts "wall off" the bacteria. There is however, coughing, weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. It is treatable or its treatment includes a six month course of antibiotics.

Cholera - is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It has a short growing period and causes a watery but painless diarrhea that can lead to severe and an enormous amount of dehydration and vomiting. Death is also possible! Treatment is not evident but drinking lots of water, taking rest, and adequate sanitation can prevent and help treat this disease.

HIV/AIDS - The human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus that infects cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing their function. As the infection progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, and the person becomes more susceptible to infections. It is transmitted through sexual intercourse or the transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing of needles and childbirth or breastfeeding. Treatment includes antiretroviral therapy

Ebola - is known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is a severe, often fatal illness, with a death rate of up to 90%. The illness affects humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). Found near the Ebola river in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the other in a remote area of Sudan. People become infected through direct contact of broken skin or mucous membranes with the blood or other bodily fluids or secretions. There is no specific treatment but with appropriate medial care many will recover. 

Mad Cow Disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is a transmissible, slowly progressive, degenerative, and fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of adult cattle. This is caused by an abnormal version of a protein normal found on cell surfaces, called a prion. This protein apparently becomes altered or destroys nervous system tissue - the brain and spinal cord. this does not effect the U.S. food supply and there are only 2 cases per 1 million people throughout the world. There is no treatment for this disease accept managing the symptoms appropriately.

Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) - is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The infection can cause wide spectrum of symptoms in birds, ranging from mild illness, which pass unnoticed. Does not normally infect humans. However there have been instances of certain highly pathogenic strains causing severe respiratory disease in humans. Usually occurs with close contact to infected or contaminated poultry. The best treatment would be to us an antiviral medication called oseltamivir or Tamiflu.

West Nile Virus can cause neurological disease in humans. Approximately 80% of people who are infected will not show any symptoms. West Nile virus is transmitted to people through infected mosquito bites. The virus can cause severe disease and death in horses. Vaccines are available for use in horses but not in humans. Birds are the natural hosts of WNV.

SARS - (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) - is a virulently infectious disease caused by a corona virus. It is a respiratory illness that is both contagious and fatal. First identified in China and then spread across the world. Caused by moderate upper respiratory illness such as the common cold. Patients with SARS are treated mainly for pneumonia. There are no generally effective treatments for most types of viral pneumonia. They also may be hospitalized.

Discussion

Landfill Discussion

Now that we have seen a landfill in person (you did if you went on the field trip), discuss at least 3 types of materials that should not be placed in a landfill and explain the potential environmental and public health consequences of disposing of such things in a landfill.  Outline two methods for reducing the amount of these substances that enter MSW input.  

Three types of materials that should not be placed in a landfill are drums, tires, motor oil, old batteries, and electronics. These items are banned from landfills because of concerns with toxicity or handling needs. Recyclable items are prohibited to encourage recycling and to preserve our world's raw materials. Chemicals, hazardous and toxic waste require special disposal methods to prevent environmental damage. There are special ways to handle or put to waste items that are banned from landfills. Health effects include increased amounts of toxicity, and radiation. Two methods to reduce the amount of these substances entering the input include having one day in the year in which cities collect objects or things that need proper disposal and also allowing residents to themselves properly dispose of materials that would result in toxicity and increased amounts of health effects.

Recycling Discussion

Three common examples of items that can be recycled are paper, aluminum, and plastics.  Discuss at least one environmental and economic benefit and cost of recycling each of these items.  If your city only had the funding to set up a recycling center for one of these materials, which would you choose and why?  Finally, how would you persuade the members of your community that recycling is ultimately good for the community?

Plastics are used to manufacture an incredible number of products we use every day, such as beverage and food containers, trash bags and grocery bags, plastic cups and utensils, children's toys and diapers, and bottles for everything from mouthwash and shampoo to glass cleaner and dishwashing liquid. The need for plastic is growing and recycling proves to be beneficial/and negative. Recycling plastic also saves landfill space and is relatively easy. It also helps conserve energy and natural resources. However, negative affects include, contamination, and air pollution, Most plastics cannot be recycled and is automatically sorted at recycling plants. Paper can be reused again and is not super expensive to recycle and aluminum on the other hand is a sustainable metal which can be recycled over and over again which generally conserves energy and natural resources. If the city had a recycling center paper would be the most beneficial to recycle on a mass basis because it is efficient, easy, and extremely useful because paper is always needed in school, work, and home. 

Superfund/Brownfields Discussion

We watched a news clip about the industrial waste buried under the Love Canal near Niagara Falls. This area was a Superfund site but has been deemed safe enough for people to now live there and has since been redeveloped.  Explain the difference between a Superfund site and a Brownfield and give another example of each in the US.  There are two primary ways for turning these sites back into usable land by either removing the contaminated soil or by planting vegetation that would decontaminate the soil.  Explain two potential problems with each of these methods of reclamation. Reclaiming these sites is a debatable hot topic these days.  Explain one societal and one environmental for reclaiming and using the land.

Superfund sites are polluted locations requiring a long-term response to clean up hazardous material contamination and a brownfield site is means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.The superfund program has carried our or is currently involved in the cleanup of close to 700 such sites since the law went into deep effect. It has worked to clean and provide for those waste sites that are hazardous and deathly. An example is New England States in the U.S. which have 118 toxic and hazardous waste sites listed on the NPL. The brownfield program is used for land revitalization. It creates many benefits for local communities, and promotes area wild planning. he Brownfield Amendments to the Superfund law provide important protections from Superfund liability to landowners who meet certain statutory criteria. Landowners who qualify as bona fide prospective purchasers, contiguous property owners, or innocent landowners are not liable under Superfund. Whether you are interested in purchasing, leasing, or selling a Superfund site, there are important factors to consider. It is always important to make sure that your use of the site does not interfere with the ongoing cleanup or engineered controls at the site, and that you do not cause a release of hazardous substances into the environment; otherwise you could become responsible for those actions. One of the main issues involving brownfield redevelopment is the concern over legal liability. The uncertainty of rehabilitation costs for contaminated sites can frighten away many potential developers and investors. In an effort to combat such liability risks, laws at the federal and state levels have been implemented to minimize risk.

BIG Picture Discussion

This is where you will make the four BIG PICTURE connections to the ENTIRE UNIT. Please tie in information you learned in your reading (chapters 16 and 17), from the notes in class, the clips we watched and from your reading and research.  There is not an exact length that I am expecting other than it should definitely be at least a paragraph for each section, should be thorough and show understanding of the topic.  Remember to be specific in your examples.  Do not just say "there are laws that govern this" or "people destroy the Earth."  Give me the names of the laws, what they regulate and who enforces them.  Tell me what humans are doing to destroy the earth.  

Human Impact: Humans generate more waste that other organisms cannot to a certain extent use. A society that promotes wealth and good health generates very little waste but planned obsolescence will need to be replaced within a few years. Solid waste is collected from households, businesses, and institutions such as schools, prisons, municipal buildings and hospitals. These solid wastes affect the sewage treatment plants because many a times the solid waste is of that which cannot be broken down or used again such as plastic. Humans litter and do not methods such as reusing, reducing, or recycling which could help benefit the environment and economy if tried. Humans help the environment by constantly coming up with new methods and ways to reduce the contamination, and pollution caused by waste. 

Environmental Impact: An environmental impact is when electron waste such as televisions, computers and cell phones containing toxic metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium are disposed of incorrectly and inappropriately. The best way to environmentally make an impact is the through the 3 R's. Reducing would result in waste minimization or prevention. Reusing would result in using a something multiple times and recycling would be collecting materials that are then converted into raw materials and to produce new objects. This way the environment is conserving and additionally adding to its resources and simultaneously saving resources. A negative impact however is the landfill where waste is taken to be burned or kept in one certain area. There is way to much trash being produced and decreased amounts of space left in a landfill. The landfill is now not only filling up but also producing a toxic smell which can be harmful and disturbing to those living around the landfill.

Economic Impact: Not only does trash create a high economic impact but so do the outbreak of diseases. To certain extents it creates a negative economic impact because money is being taken away to cure diseases that are recurring and health damaging. The positive side would be that the money being used for treatment is re-circulating into the economy and hospitals and clinics are earning the money. Another economic impact is caused by the reducing, reusing, recycling, of materials that are too difficult or cost worthy such as plastic and electronics. Plastic is to hard to reuse and does not break easy where as electronics increase toxicity. 

Governmental Legislation: Governmental Legislation includes resource conservation and recovery act (RCRA). It is designed to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste. It ensures that hazardous waste is tracked and properly disposed of. There is also the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Libaility Act (CERCLA) also known as "superfund" which puts a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries. The revenue is used to cleanup hazardous waste sites where a responsible party cannot be found. The CERCLA also requires the federal government to respond directly to the release of substance that may pose a threat to human health or the environment.