Hazardous Wastes
The hazardous attributes of the waste are usually based on its inherent physicochemical properties, including its likelihood to ignite, explode, and react with water. The hazardous inherent properties of a waste can also be biological, such as the infectious nature of medical wastes, or a chemical compound that has been shown to elicit acute effects, for example skin irritations and chronic effects, such as cancer; harm to the endocrine, immune, or nervous system; interference with tissue development and reproduction; or mutations, birth defects, or other toxic endpoints. Hazardous waste management involves reducing the amount of hazardous substances produced, treating hazardous wastes to reduce their toxicity, and applying sound engineering controls to reduce or eliminate exposures to these wastes. Waste-treatment technologies include physical treatment, chemical treatment, biological treatment, incineration, and solidification or stabilization treatment. The selection of the most effective technology depends on the characteristics of the wastes being treated. Similarly, the characteristics of the media in need of treatment determine the performance of any contaminant treatment or control. These processes recycle and reuse waste materials, reduce the volume and toxicity of a waste stream, or produce a final residual material that is suitable for disposal.
