239
ment. Biological vectors are important to the disease—solid waste relationship to
the extent vectors can either “host” pathogens or serve as transportation agent. Solid
wastes may contain flammables, explosive, poisonous, or reactive chemicals in
solid, liquid, and gaseous form. The gases can travel and can create hazards
to humans.
Airborne solids from intentional and accidental solid waste combustion can
cause impact on health depending on nature of pollutants in the air. Pathogenic soil
fungi in solid waste can generate spores that enter the air. Constituents of solid
waste may enter surface waters, or leach and percolate into ground water. Toxic
chemicals and biological pathogens may also contaminate food directly or through
flies and rodents.
Improper management and disposal can increase population of vector, stray animals (dog, cat, rodents, cattle) (Fig. 6.13). Such unmanaged waste can lead to animal bites and vector borne diseases. Stray animals can also spread the solid waste
when they carry waste with them.
Contamination of food by chemicals present in the environment is an important
food safety concern posing a serious health threat.
These chemicals include the following:
• Metalloids
• Metals
• Nanoparticles
• Non-metals
• PAHs
• PFCs
• Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs)
• Plastics
• POPs
• Radioactive elements
These chemicals from man-made sources may contaminate livestock, crops,
drinking water, and seafood, affecting human health.
Entry of radioactive to municipal waste can lead to severe health impact. Selling
of old Gamma unit by Delhi University to scrap dealer resulted in death of one person in April 2010 after scrap dealer and his employees were subjected to the radioactive Cobalt-60 (Dey et al. 2012; Chandrappa and Das 2012).
Dumpsites serve nearly 3–4 billion people receiving about 40% of the waste
generated globally from several sources with varying compositions. The waste is
susceptible to open burning without leachate management and landfill gas collection. ISWA (2016) recorded above 750 deaths and several health impact incidents
between December 2015 and June 2016, due to poor waste management in
dumpsites.
Open dumpsites often waste pickers without any protection for waste picking
posing health threats to waste pickers and the general public in the neighborhood.
Burning waste emits toxic POPs that may be carried to long distances (ISWA 2016).
6.5 Impact of Solid Waste on Health
ment. Biological vectors are important to the disease—solid waste relationship to
the extent vectors can either “host” pathogens or serve as transportation agent. Solid
wastes may contain flammables, explosive, poisonous, or reactive chemicals in
solid, liquid, and gaseous form. The gases can travel and can create hazards
to humans.
Airborne solids from intentional and accidental solid waste combustion can
cause impact on health depending on nature of pollutants in the air. Pathogenic soil
fungi in solid waste can generate spores that enter the air. Constituents of solid
waste may enter surface waters, or leach and percolate into ground water. Toxic
chemicals and biological pathogens may also contaminate food directly or through
flies and rodents.
Improper management and disposal can increase population of vector, stray animals (dog, cat, rodents, cattle) (Fig. 6.13). Such unmanaged waste can lead to animal bites and vector borne diseases. Stray animals can also spread the solid waste
when they carry waste with them.
Contamination of food by chemicals present in the environment is an important
food safety concern posing a serious health threat.
These chemicals include the following:
• Metalloids
• Metals
• Nanoparticles
• Non-metals
• PAHs
• PFCs
• Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs)
• Plastics
• POPs
• Radioactive elements
These chemicals from man-made sources may contaminate livestock, crops,
drinking water, and seafood, affecting human health.
Entry of radioactive to municipal waste can lead to severe health impact. Selling
of old Gamma unit by Delhi University to scrap dealer resulted in death of one person in April 2010 after scrap dealer and his employees were subjected to the radioactive Cobalt-60 (Dey et al. 2012; Chandrappa and Das 2012).
Dumpsites serve nearly 3–4 billion people receiving about 40% of the waste
generated globally from several sources with varying compositions. The waste is
susceptible to open burning without leachate management and landfill gas collection. ISWA (2016) recorded above 750 deaths and several health impact incidents
between December 2015 and June 2016, due to poor waste management in
dumpsites.
Open dumpsites often waste pickers without any protection for waste picking
posing health threats to waste pickers and the general public in the neighborhood.
Burning waste emits toxic POPs that may be carried to long distances (ISWA 2016).
6.5 Impact of Solid Waste on Health