249
Each of the above reasons will have multiple subcomponents. Solid waste is
mixture of reacted and unreacted chemicals which arise from paints, cosmetic,
kitchens, toilet cleaning agents and raw material/products/waste from industries.
Many of the components and chemicals in waste streams are not fully understood
and so as their effects on the environment.
Despite its importance and unlike water and air, there is no law for the protection
of soil in many parts of the world. Due to several years of industrialization, contamination of soil is a prevalent problem in Europe with mineral oil and heavy metals
being most frequent contaminants (Science Communication Unit, University of the
West of England, Bristol 2013). According to the European Environment Agency
(EEA 2007), the number of locations where significant polluting activities have
been done in EU is about three millions out of which about 250,000 sites may need
Table 12.3 (continued)
Chemical of
concern
Source
Known impact on health
Lead
Ammunition
Batteries
Ceramic glaze
Coal burning
Fishing equipment
Hair colour
Leaded gasoline
Mining
Paint
Pigments
Plumbing
Solder
Water pipes
Bone deterioration
Encephalopathy
Hand–eye co-ordination impaired
Hypertension
Kidney disease
Lowers IQ and attention
Neurological damage
Mercury
Batteries
Burning coal and fuel oil
Chloralkali industry
Dental fillings
Electrical switches
Fluorescent light bulbs
Lamps
Medical waste
Mining
Pesticides
Thermometers
Affects development of brain resulting in a
lower IQ
Affects co-ordination, sense and eyesight
of touch
Central nervous system (CNS) and gastric
system damage
Heart, liver and kidney damage
Teratogenic
Hazardous
pesticides
Herbicides derived from
trinitrotoluene might have the
impurity dioxin
Synthetic insecticides, like DDT
(which is now banned in many parts
of world), can still be found in the
environment across world
Conclusive proof of cause as well as effect
in humans is challenging. Humans and
animals tend to be exposed to a mixture of
these chemicals at low levels
Source: Science Communication Unit, University of the West of England, Bristol (2013).
12.4 Restoring Contaminated Land Sites
Each of the above reasons will have multiple subcomponents. Solid waste is
mixture of reacted and unreacted chemicals which arise from paints, cosmetic,
kitchens, toilet cleaning agents and raw material/products/waste from industries.
Many of the components and chemicals in waste streams are not fully understood
and so as their effects on the environment.
Despite its importance and unlike water and air, there is no law for the protection
of soil in many parts of the world. Due to several years of industrialization, contamination of soil is a prevalent problem in Europe with mineral oil and heavy metals
being most frequent contaminants (Science Communication Unit, University of the
West of England, Bristol 2013). According to the European Environment Agency
(EEA 2007), the number of locations where significant polluting activities have
been done in EU is about three millions out of which about 250,000 sites may need
Table 12.3 (continued)
Chemical of
concern
Source
Known impact on health
Lead
Ammunition
Batteries
Ceramic glaze
Coal burning
Fishing equipment
Hair colour
Leaded gasoline
Mining
Paint
Pigments
Plumbing
Solder
Water pipes
Bone deterioration
Encephalopathy
Hand–eye co-ordination impaired
Hypertension
Kidney disease
Lowers IQ and attention
Neurological damage
Mercury
Batteries
Burning coal and fuel oil
Chloralkali industry
Dental fillings
Electrical switches
Fluorescent light bulbs
Lamps
Medical waste
Mining
Pesticides
Thermometers
Affects development of brain resulting in a
lower IQ
Affects co-ordination, sense and eyesight
of touch
Central nervous system (CNS) and gastric
system damage
Heart, liver and kidney damage
Teratogenic
Hazardous
pesticides
Herbicides derived from
trinitrotoluene might have the
impurity dioxin
Synthetic insecticides, like DDT
(which is now banned in many parts
of world), can still be found in the
environment across world
Conclusive proof of cause as well as effect
in humans is challenging. Humans and
animals tend to be exposed to a mixture of
these chemicals at low levels
Source: Science Communication Unit, University of the West of England, Bristol (2013).
12.4 Restoring Contaminated Land Sites