CK12 Earth Science

cleaning up the site. The work of Lois Gibbs was important in bringing the problem of
hazardous chemical pollution to peoples’ attention. After the Love Canal problem, the U.
S. government created a law called theSuperfund Act. This law requires companies to
be responsible for hazardous chemicals that they put into the environment. It also requires
them to pay the money needed to clean up polluted sites, which can often be hundreds of
millions of dollars. As a result, companies today are more careful about how they deal with
hazardous substances.

This lesson describes some of the sources of hazardous wastes throughout the world. It then
discusses the effects these wastes have on human health and the environment. Finally, this
lesson covers ways that we can control hazardous wastes.

What is Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste is any waste material that is dangerous to human health or that degrades
the environment. Hazardous waste materials include substances that are:

1. Toxic: something that causes serious harm, death or is poisonous.


2. Chemically active: something that causes dangerous or unwanted chemical reactions,
   like dangerous explosions.


3. Corrosive: something that destroys other things by chemical reactions.


4. Flammable: something that easily catches fire and may send dangerous smoke into the
   air.

Hazardous waste may be solid or liquid. It comes from many sources, and you may be
surprised to learn that you probably have some sources of hazardous waste right in your own
home. Several cleaning and gardening chemicals are hazardous if not used properly. These
include chemicals like drain cleaners andpesticidesthat are toxic to humans and many
other creatures. When we use, store, and dispose of them, we have to be careful. We have to
protect our bodies from exposure to them and make sure they do not enter the environment
(Figure19.10). If they are thrown away or disposed of improperly, they become hazardous
to the environment. Others sources of hazardous waste are shown inTable19.2.

Table 19.2:

Type of Hazardous Waste Example Why it is Hazardous

Chemicals from the automo-

bile industry

Gasoline, used motor oil,

battery acid, brake fluid

Toxic to humans and other

organisms; often chemically

active; often flammable

Batteries Car batteries, household

batteries

Contain toxic chemicals; are

often corrosive