1.4 Health and Environmental Impacts of Wastes and Waste Management
21
less than 100 m. PM 10 and PM 2.5 are defined as particles with diameters less than
10 and 2.5 m diameter, respectively. They have the ability to penetrate deep into the
lungs and bloodstream and cause serious health effects such as asthma, bronchitis
and emphysema and various forms of heart disease. They can also adversely affect
vegetation and structures and contribute to regional haze [13]. In 2009, open dust
sources such as unpaved roads, construction, agriculture and forest fires contributed
to 96% of TPM, 93% of PM 10 and 72% of PM 2.5 . Industrial sources and residential
fuel combustion were the second largest emitters of PM 10 and PM 2.5 , respectively
[2].
(6) Ammonia (NH 3 )
NH 3 has long been recognized as an important air pollutant contributing to harmful
effects on human health and the environment. It is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent smell noticeable at concentrations above 50 ppm. Ammonia is
primarily produced in the agriculture sector as a result of livestock waste management and fertilizer production, accounting for almost 90% of the total NH 3 emission
in Canada (Table 1.7) [41]. It has the ability to combine with sulfates and nitrates in
the atmosphere to form PM 2.5 [13].
(7) GHG and short-Live climate pollutants: GHG are gases that trap the heat
in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming and climate change. The primary
GHG in the earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), nitrous oxide
(N 2 O) and ozone. Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are gases and particles that
contribute to global warming but have a shorter atmospheric lifetime compared to
GHGs. They include black carbon, methane (CH 4 ) and fluorinated gases such as
hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride
[13].
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) [43], global CO 2 emissions
rose to a historic high of 32.5 billion tonnes in 2017 due to higher energy demand and
the slowing of energy efficiency improvements. Fossil fuels combustion for energy is
the dominating source of CO 2 , contributing to about 80% of the global CO 2 emission,
while the MSW management (incineration, landfills, etc.) also generates a significant
amount of CO 2 , accounting for almost 5% of total global CO 2 emissions [5]. The
highest GHG emissions in Canada between the years of 1990 and 2016 were 745
megatonnes (Mt) of CO 2 equivalent in 2007. The total GHG emissions in 2016 were
704 Mt of CO 2 equivalent. The decrease in emissions is primarily owing to reduced
emissions from the electricity generation sector [13]. CO 2 is by far the most common
GHG emitted and the energy production and stationary combustion sources are the
largest source of GHG emissions (Fig. 1.7) [2, 44].
21
less than 100 m. PM 10 and PM 2.5 are defined as particles with diameters less than
10 and 2.5 m diameter, respectively. They have the ability to penetrate deep into the
lungs and bloodstream and cause serious health effects such as asthma, bronchitis
and emphysema and various forms of heart disease. They can also adversely affect
vegetation and structures and contribute to regional haze [13]. In 2009, open dust
sources such as unpaved roads, construction, agriculture and forest fires contributed
to 96% of TPM, 93% of PM 10 and 72% of PM 2.5 . Industrial sources and residential
fuel combustion were the second largest emitters of PM 10 and PM 2.5 , respectively
[2].
(6) Ammonia (NH 3 )
NH 3 has long been recognized as an important air pollutant contributing to harmful
effects on human health and the environment. It is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent smell noticeable at concentrations above 50 ppm. Ammonia is
primarily produced in the agriculture sector as a result of livestock waste management and fertilizer production, accounting for almost 90% of the total NH 3 emission
in Canada (Table 1.7) [41]. It has the ability to combine with sulfates and nitrates in
the atmosphere to form PM 2.5 [13].
(7) GHG and short-Live climate pollutants: GHG are gases that trap the heat
in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming and climate change. The primary
GHG in the earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), nitrous oxide
(N 2 O) and ozone. Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are gases and particles that
contribute to global warming but have a shorter atmospheric lifetime compared to
GHGs. They include black carbon, methane (CH 4 ) and fluorinated gases such as
hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride
[13].
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) [43], global CO 2 emissions
rose to a historic high of 32.5 billion tonnes in 2017 due to higher energy demand and
the slowing of energy efficiency improvements. Fossil fuels combustion for energy is
the dominating source of CO 2 , contributing to about 80% of the global CO 2 emission,
while the MSW management (incineration, landfills, etc.) also generates a significant
amount of CO 2 , accounting for almost 5% of total global CO 2 emissions [5]. The
highest GHG emissions in Canada between the years of 1990 and 2016 were 745
megatonnes (Mt) of CO 2 equivalent in 2007. The total GHG emissions in 2016 were
704 Mt of CO 2 equivalent. The decrease in emissions is primarily owing to reduced
emissions from the electricity generation sector [13]. CO 2 is by far the most common
GHG emitted and the energy production and stationary combustion sources are the
largest source of GHG emissions (Fig. 1.7) [2, 44].