Cont.

, Waste
2. On the basis of their effect on Environment

• Hazardous wastes: Substances unsafe to use commercially,

industrially, agriculturally, or economically and have any of the
following properties- ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity & toxicity.

• Non-hazardous: Substances safe to use commercially, industrially,

agriculturally, or economically and do not have any of those properties
mentioned above. These substances usually create disposal problems.
i.e. plastic
Risk Assessment
properties-of hazardous waste
1. Ignitability
Can easily catch fire

There are three types of ignitable forms:

a. Liquids with a flash point 60 ᵒC. Examples include alcohol,
gasoline.
b. Solids that spontaneously combust.
c. Oxidizers and compressed gasses ( i.e. propane).
2. Reactive (can easily explode),

Given their instability, reactive wastes can be very dangerous. The EPA
recognizes that there are too many conditions and situations to identify all
types of reactive materials. However, they use the following as guidelines to
assist generators:

a. Unstable, and routinely experiences violent change without detonating

b. Potential for explosive mixture or violent reaction when combined with
water
c. Toxic gasses are released when mixed with water
3. Corrosive
Can easily eat through metal

Corrosive substances, such as hydrochloric acid,

nitric acid, and sulfuric acid, have the ability eat
through containers, causing the leakage of
harmful materials. A corrosive is anything liquid
with a pH of less than or equal to 2 or greater
than or equal to 12.5, or has the ability to
corrode steel. Everyday example of corrosives
include battery acid and rust removers.
4. Toxic
Poisonous to human and animals.
Poisonous materials pose a threat to our
groundwater, which can have long term effects to
human health and the environment. This is different
from the first three characteristic groups, which the
EPA views as containing immediate and firsthand
dangers. There are 60 contaminants on the toxicity
characteristics list. These contaminants are
identified solely through a test method called
Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure or
TCLP.
 Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure
TCLP
• Homework
CLP Pictograms
• The Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) pictogram is an
image on a label that includes a warning symbol and specific colours
intended to provide information about the damage a particular
substance or mixture can cause to our health or the environment.
CLP Pictograms
Explosive
What does it mean?
Unstable explosive
Explosive; fire, blast or projection hazard
May mass explode in fire

Examples of where we can find it

Fireworks, ammunition

Precautionary statements
Obtain special instructions before use
Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood
Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. – No smoking
Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection
Use personal protective equipment as required
Explosion risk in case of fire
 Corrosive
What does it mean?
May be corrosive to metals
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage

Examples of where we can find it

Drain cleaners, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, NaOH

Precautionary statements
Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray
Wash…thoroughly after handling
Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye
protection/face protection
Store locked up
Keep only in original container
Hazardous to the environment

What does it mean?

Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Examples of where we can find it?

Pesticides, biocides, petrol, turpentine

Precautionary statements
Avoid release to the environment
Collect spillage
 Oxidising
What does it mean?
May cause or intensify fire; oxidiser.
May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidiser.

Examples of where we can find it

Bleach, oxygen for medical purposes

Precautionary statements
Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. – No smoking
Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face
protection.
Rinse immediately contaminated clothing and skin with plenty of water
before removing clothes.
 Gas under pressure

What does it mean?

Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated.
Contains refrigerated gas; may cause cryogenic burns or injury.

Examples of where we can find it

Gas containers

Precautionary statements
Protect from sunlight
Wear cold insulating gloves/face shield/eye protection.
Get immediate medical advice/attention.
 Flammable
What does it mean?
Flammable gas / Extremely flammable gas
Flammable aerosol / Extremely flammable aerosol
Flammable liquid and vapour / Highly flammable liquid and vapour
Flammable solid

Examples of where we can find it

Lamp oil, petrol, nail polish remover

Precautionary statements
Do not spray on an open flame or other ignition source.
Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces – No smoking
Keep container tightly closed
Keep cool and Protect from sunlight
 Toxic / Acute toxicity
What does it mean?
Toxic / Fatal if swallowed
Toxic / Fatal in contact with skin
Toxic / Fatal if inhaled

Examples of where we can find it

Pesticide, cyanide. biocide, methanol
Precautionary statements
Wash... thoroughly after handling.
Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
Store in a closed container
Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing.
Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye
protection/face protection.
Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
Serious health hazard Health hazard /
Hazardous to the ozone layer
NFPA 704 - System
• The National Fire Protection Association.

• NFPA 704 sometimes is called a "fire

diamond" because the diamond-shaped
sign indicates flammability of a
substance and also communicates
essential information about how
emergency response teams should deal
with a material if there is a spill, fire or
other accident.
NFPA 704 - System
• There are four colored sections on the diamond. Each section
is labeled with a number from 0-4 to indicate the level of
hazard. On this scale, 0 indicates "no hazard" while 4
means "severe hazard".
• The red section indicates flammability.
• The blue section indicates a health risk.
• Yellow indicates reactivity or explosivity.
• The white is section is used to describe any special hazards.
Flammability
Rating Degree of flammability Examples
0 Materials that will not burn water
Class III-B combustible liquids, i.e. flash point greater
1 lubricating oils, cooking oils
than 93 ᵒC, and most ordinary combustible materials
Class II and III-A flammable/combustible liquids, i.e.
2 flash point greater than 37ᵒC, but not exceeding 93 ᵒC. diesel fuel
Highly combustible solids are also included

Class I-B and C flammable liquids, i.e liquids with flash

3 gasoline, acetone
point below 37ᵒC, but a boiling point above 37 ᵒC.

All flammable gases and Class I-A flammable liquids,

4 i.e. liquids with a flash point below 22 ᵒC and a boiling natural gas, propane, butane
point below 37 ᵒC

Flash point : the lowest Temperature at which vapours of the material will ignite
 Health Risk
Rating Degree of flammability Examples
0 Materials that, on short exposure under fire conditions, would offer no hazards Wood or paper
Materials that, on short exposure, could cause serious irritation, but only minor
residual injury, including those materials which have an inhalation LC50 of 10000 acetone, sodium bromate,
1
ppm or less, an oral LD50 of 2000 mg/Kg or less, or a dermal LD5 of 2000 mg/Kg chloride
or less.
2 Materials that, on short exposure, could cause temporary incapacitation or
possible residual injury, including those materials which have an inhalation LC50 diethyl ether, ammonium
of 5000 ppm or less, an oral LD50 of 500 mg/Kg or less, or a dermal LD50 of 1000 phosphate, iodine
mg/Kg or less.
Materials that, on short exposure, could cause serious temporary or residual injury, liquid hydrogen, carbon
3 including those materials which have an inhalation LC50 of 3000 ppm or less, an monoxide, calcium
oral LD50 of 50 mg/Kg or less, or a dermal LD50 of 200 mg/Kg or less. hypochlorite
Materials that, on very short exposure, could cause death or major residual injury hydrogen
4 including those materials which have an inhalation LC50 of 1000 ppm or less, an cyanide, Arsenic,
oral LD50 of 5 mg/Kg or less, or a dermal LD50 of 40 mg/Kg or less phosgene,

LC50 :Lethal concentration, LD50 :median lethal dose,

 Instability
Rating Degree of flammability Examples

Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive
0 He, N2
with water
Materials which are normally stable, but may become unstable in
1 combination with other materials or at elevated temperatures and Propane
pressures
2 Materials which will undergo a violent chemical change at elevated White phosphorus,
temperatures and pressures but do not detonate potassium, sodium
Materials which when heated and under confinement are capable of
ammonium nitrate,
3 detonation and which may react violently with water or will detonate if
Cesium, hydrogen peroxide
severely shocked
Materials readily capable of detonation or explosive reaction at normal Nitroglycerin, chlorine
4 temperatures and pressures. Includes materials that are very sensitive to dioxide, nitrogen
heat, shock or light triiodide, chlorine trifluoride
 Special Hazards
Symbol Degree Examples

Oxidizer, allows chemicals to burn without an air potassium perchlorate, ammonium

OX
supply nitrate, hydrogen peroxide
Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous
₩ sodium, sulfuric acid
manner
SA
Non toxic or minimally toxic gas Hydrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton

corrosive material Nitric acid, chromic acid potassium

COR
hydroxide
Biohazard Bacteria, virus

ACID Acidic substances HCl

ALKA Alkaline substances NaOH
Cryogenic substances
CRY Liquid Nitrogen

Radioactive U, Po
Environmental Risk assessment (ERA)
An estimate of the likelihood or probability of an adverse impact on the
environment resulting from human activities.

In this course risk refers to risk to the environment

ERA
The ERA procedure is triggered prior to a significant decision affecting
the environment.
ERA is a support tool for policy evaluation, land use planning,
resource management and for decision making
It can be divided into three broad stages:
1. preparation, involving collecting and examining relevant
background information, and establishing the focus for the
assessment
2. Conducting the assessment
3. Interpreting, reporting and applying results of the assessment.
Risk is the chance of something bad happening
Dealing with risk involves two tasks:
1. Identifying the degree of risk
2. Responding to it

Policy is a formal response to social risk

Policymakers must use a systematic risk assessment before devising a policy
response
Classifying Risk
Voluntary risks have to do with lifestyle choices. They are the risks that people take
knowing that they may have consequences.
These risks include smoking tobacco, driving a car, and climbing a ladder
Involuntary risks are risks that people take either not knowing that they are at risk,
or they are unable to control the fact that they are at risk, such as secondhand
smoke. These risks often include environmental hazards such as lightning,
tsunamis, and tornadoes

Hazard: source of environmental damage

Exposure: pathways between the hazard and the affected population or natural
resource
Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA)
EIA is an assessment procedure with stages set out in government
legislation and policy.
EIA is most commonly used as a framework for investigating the effects
or consequences of major proposed development projects such as mines,
hydro-electric developments or manufacturing facilities.
ERA and EIA
ERA is generic term, referring to the process of evaluating the local
potential risks that may be involved in any specific project

EIA is used specifically to identify the wider environmental and social

impacts of a project.
ERA and EIA
For example, in the construction of a dam

ERA may be carried out on the safety of the construction workers, or the safety of
the dam itself.

EIA would always be concerned with the more widespread environmental and
social implications, such as the displacement of populations, pollution of the
river, the threat to biodiversity due to water displacement, drought, possible
disease.
 A Model of Risk Assessment
(NAS 1983)

Scientific Research
and Hazard Identification
Data Collection

Dose-Response Analysis 4 Steps of RA or

Fields of Analysis

Exposure Analysis

Risk Characterization

RISK MANAGEMENT
Hazard Identification
Use of scientific data to determine if a "causal" relationship exists between the pollutant and
adverse effects on health or the ecosystem
Three scientific methods to identify health hazards
1. Case cluster
A study based on the observation of an abnormal pattern of health effects in some
population group

2. Animal bioassay
A study based on comparative findings of lab experiments on living organisms before
and after exposure to some hazard

3. Epidemiology
A study of causes and distribution of disease in human populations based on
characteristics like age, gender, occupation, etc.
Dose-Response Analysis
Uses data from the hazard identification to devise a profile of the pollutant’s
effects
The dose-response relationship gives the quantitative relationship between doses of
the contaminant and corresponding reactions
Key element is determining a threshold
A threshold is the level of exposure up to which no response exists
Exposure Analysis
Applies a generalized dose-response relationship to specific conditions
for some population
Characterizes the sources of an environmental hazard, concentration
levels at that point, pathways, and any sensitivities
Risk Characterization
A description of risk based upon an assessment of a hazard and exposure to that
hazard
Two elements:
1. Quantitatively identifies the magnitude of the risk and a way to compare one
risk to another
2. Qualitatively gives context to the numerical risk value
Definitions of terms used frequently in
IRIS
Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Glossary

https://ofmpub.epa.gov/sor_internet/registry/termreg/searchandretrieve/
glossariesandkeywordlists/search.do?details=&glossaryName=IRIS%20
Glossary
Quantitative Component of Risk Characterization
Can be measured using probabilities
Some based on actuarial risks (using factual data) i.e. number of victims relative
to number exposed
Some are inferred from animal bioassays or epidemiology studies
• Can be measured using a reference dose (RfD)
RfD is exposure to a hazard that can be tolerated over a lifetime without harm
(mg of pollutant/ kg body weight/ day; mg/kg/day)
Qualitative Component of Risk Characterization
Involves:
1. Description of hazard
2. Assessment of exposure and any susceptible groups
3. Data used
4. Scientific and statistical methods used
5. Underlying assumptions
Risk Management
Risk management is the decision-making process of evaluating and
choosing from alternative responses to environmental risk

Two major tasks:

1. Determining what level of risk is acceptable to society
2. Evaluating and selecting the best policy instrument to achieve that
risk level
Determining Acceptable Risk
The extent of risk reduction determines the level of exposure and stringency of
policy
Should exposure be set to 0? If not, what positive level is appropriate?
Officials might use minimize risk as baseline
Might use comparative risk analysis to compare risk of environmental hazard to
other risks faced by society
e.g., risk of exposure to 4 pCi/L of radon compares to the risk of dying in a car
crash
Risk Management Strategies
Used to evaluate options in a systematic way
Considerations are
1. The level of risk established
2. The benefits to society from adopting the policy
3. The associated costs of implementing the policy