Definition of Hazardous Waste

A large number of products become unusable waste for the consumption and some of them are associated with certain risks. Thus, electronic equipment, cells, batteries, motor oils and agrochemicals are the main hazardous wastes.

Its danger can be of a different nature: due to its negative effects on the environment or because of its harmful effects on health.

The danger of electronic equipment

Cell phones, televisions or computers have large amounts of hazardous waste due to the cells and batteries that contain, but also because in their circuits and components there is a wide range of chemical substances and many of them are toxic.

If we take cell phones as a reference, they have a series of heavy metals that, without proper treatment, cause waste with a high toxicity, since in them there are substances such as cadmium, nickel, mercury or lithium, all of them potentially harmful.

It must be taken into account that soluble heavy metals that are not treated properly end up dispersing in the

Water from rivers or sewers and reach crops and finally food chains (first they are incorporated into plants, then animals and finally. to the humans).

Hazardous waste in the healthcare field

Hospital centers generate a wide variety of hazardous waste, such as those related to the extraction blood, with culture media from laboratory, cottons and gauze, syringes, expired medicines and, ultimately, substances and materials that become bioinfectious waste with a high danger associated. Keep in mind that these residues can spread diseases such as hepatitis B, AIDS or typhoid fever.

In agricultural and livestock activities

Farmers often use herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, all of them agrochemicals related to foreseeable health and environmental problems environment. On the other hand, in the cattle activity antibiotics, dewormers or vaccines are used that are equally harmful and dangerous substances.

Conclution

The only way that the different wastes do not pollute the water, air and soil is by handling them correctly

Citizens must become aware and eliminate everyday waste in the containers designated for each product. On the other hand, companies must apply safety so that the waste generated does not represent a threat.

Photos: Fotolia - Voysla / Diavolessa

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