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Fiabilitate si Durabilitate - Fiability & Durability No 2/ 2016 Editura “Academica Brâncuşi” , Târgu Jiu, ISSN 1844 – 640X

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INDUSTRIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AND TOXIC EFFECTS ON

THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH

Camelia Căpăţînă, Ramona Violeta Cazalbașu

„ConstantinBrâncuşi“ University of Tg-Jiu, Faculty of Engineering, Gorj, Romania;

ABSTRACT: The concept of sustainable development became a strategic objective for all mankind, it includes

the idea of human development and it ensures continuity, without depletion beyond the affordability and

regeneration of ecosystems. The waste is remnants of various natures (organic, inorganic, solid, liquid, gaseous,

etc.) resulting from various industrial processes, agricultural activities, street, railway or water transport,

household activities and housework. In accordance with art. 1 - Directive 75/442 C.E. of 15. 07. 1975 it is

considered as waste any substance or object whose holder discards, intends or is required to throw. Regardless

the action to be taken, a final waste will remain in the last stage of waste decomposition.

Keywords: waste, industrial activities, substance, natural resources

1. INTRODUCTION Industrial activities are generating large amounts of waste whose effects are

particularly harmful on the environment and on human health. Production waste is hazardous

waste that possesses one or more of the 15 criteria of dangerousness that have inflammable,

explosive, infectious, corrosive, properties. If mismanaged they pose a threat to the

environment and public health. Table No. 1 presents the evolution of harmful quantities of

waste produced in Romania in 2012-2015.

Table 1. Harmful amounts of waste generated by major industrial activities in the period 2012-2015

Nr.

crt.

Economic activity

Quantities (tons)

2012 2013 2014 2015

1. Extractive industry 1214,4 997,18 497,59 11,24

2. Petroleum processing industry;

Coking coal

431,1 419,72 226,35 37,89

3. Manufacture of chemicals and chemical

products

55,8 41,95 47,11 53,33

4. Metallurgical industry 383,5 195,43 168,79 121,62

5. Machinery and equipment 39,8 14,83 33,o5 26,67

6. Transport industry 23,5 30,72 26,19 45,39

7. Other activities 23,4 74,36 53,76 122,94

2. CLASSIFICATION OF WASTE 2.1. The degree of harmfulness

Class I: waste containing heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr), cyanides, some of

obsolete pesticides, formaldehyde, luminescent lamps, DDT etc.

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Class II: waste oil containing vanadium, used solvents, biochemical sediment from

treatment, treatment-cooling emulsions, inorganic acids, waste from the production of dyes,

lacquers, paints and some useless prohibited pesticides.

Class III: reagents used to produce photographs, Ni, Pb, Cu, Sb, Ta and their

compounds, chlorosilanes some chemicals and obsolete pesticides, inorganic and organic

acids used, etc.

Class IV: phosphorus-containing waste, detergents, waste materials, mixtures from

the foundry.

According to the type of industrial activity from which they result, we distinguish:

A . Mining waste A particularly dangerous category of waste from extractive industries is the cyanide

waste.

Gold mining is the largest consumer of cyanide of180 000 tones / year. The cyanide

leaching technique often is used irresponsibly causing overflows with devastating effects on

the environment and human health. Moreover, cyanide reacts with other elements and

compounds and decomposes in hundreds of compounds containing cyanide in various

concentrations. Despite the risks these compounds implied, mining operators are not obliged

to monitor or report the status or the presence of these chemicals in the environment. Studies

show that these compounds are deposited in the tissues of plants and fish and persist in the

environment for a long time.

 Toxic effects on environment and human health Incredibly small amounts of cyanide kill all fish in a river the latter being turned into

a dead stream. The effects of cyanide spills persist in the environment for years, and the

solution of cyanide from tailings ponds are affecting the ecosystem as birds and wild animals

drink poisoned water. Cyanide is a powerful solvent for heavy metals such as mercury,

cadmium and chromium ore which after treatment end up in open spaces.

In Romania, the accident in Baia Mare (considered the largest environmental

disaster in Europe by reversing the 99 000 m3 of wastewater cyanide) remains- according to a

report in March 2000 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), one of the

most relevant examples regarding the risks to environment (Figure 1). Cyanide poisoning has

serious effects on human healthit inhibits breathing, alters the transport of oxygen at the

cellular level and the brain, it decreases blood pressure. Initial symptom of cyanide poisoning

is represented by flushing of the skin because the victim cannot process oxygen in the blood.

The ingestion of 100-200 mg of sodium cyanide triggers a heart rate below 60 beats per

minute and the poisoned person is struggling in convulsions or coma within minutes. Death

by suffocation or cardiac arrest can occur in up to several hours, depending on the body's

resistance. Lethal dose for humans is 1 mg CN & / kg body weight.

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Fig. 1 – The ecological disaster at Baia Mare

B .Metallurgical waste

They are represented by slag, sludge, dusts. The waste from non-ferrous metallurgy

has a high content of heavy metals and some amount of sulfates that may pollute the

environment or recycled and useful elements extracted and stored only last residues. By

submitting them to the soil and plants, due to own sedimentation or precipitates action, there

is an alarming increase in the concentration of heavy metals, reaching toxic levels for flora

and fauna in the area.

The biggest producers ofour country are considered industrial sites Copsa Mica,

Zlatna, Baia Mare.

In Copsa Micasoil was affected in the upper layer the permissible limits being

exceeded up to 12 times for lead, cadmium up to 15 times, 6 times for zinc and copper

(Table 2)

Tabel 2 -The average value of sulfur content of heavy metals in soils of Copsa Mica

Chemical

element

Agricultural soils

Forest soils

U/M

Concentration

normal

Variationdomain Mediate

Variation

domain

Mediate

Plumb 25-835 195 22-335 124 ppm 15

Cadmiu 0,5-31,5 6 1-26 6,2 Ppm 0,5-1

Zinc 50-675 349 91-1645 442 Ppm 50

Cupru 10-370 59 20-174 67 Ppm 12

Sulf - - 77-237 137 Ppm -

C . Chemical waste

Organic chemical industry

It is estimated that there are over 500 organic compounds possible constituents of

waste that are extremely toxic. A special category is the Persistent Organic Pollutants

(POPs). They are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in living

organisms and have a risk of causing adverse effects on human health A unique aspect of

POP is that these enter the human food chain, being able to pass from mother to child through

the placenta and breast milk.

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 the most significant sectors generating hazardous organic wastes are:

 technological processes for the production of pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides).

 technological processes for the production of paints and varnishes;

 processes for producing pharmaceuticals and dyes;

 photo material facilities;

 explosives manufacturing plants

Inorganic chemical industry The main sources of waste with inorganic chemicals are:

• installations for the production of mineral acids (hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric

acid);

• production facilities hydroxides (caustic soda, NaOH)

• installations for the production of fertilizers

•chlorosodic products plants

D. Waste oil: Following the activities in the oil industry, in mining, but especially in

the refining and petrochemicals, in addition to main products, follows a series of wastes

(waste) oil that are no longer in use, but stored in special areas arranged in the vicinity of

industrial units generators. Recent studies have focused on waste treatment of solid oil waste.

By this we understand the solid materials resulting from oil drilling operations as well as the

materials existing in pits. These materials fall into the category of hazardous waste due to

their high hydrocarbon, and inorganic compounds with pollutant potential. In our country it is

estimated that annually 30-45 thousand cubic meters of waste are produced after drilling and

approx. 30 000 c. m. of waste accumulates in the pits where there are already 230 000 c. m.

already stored.

 Environmental effects

One liter of oil leaked into the water can spread over an area double than that of a

football field, causing numerous damage. Annually, about 1.25 million tons of waste oil

leak in the oceans. Often this amount enters the earth, river pools and sewerage systems.

The majority of these products are poisonous to animals or they deposit on the animal fur

and birds feathers making them permeable and thus preventing the animals from moving

and causing their dying of cold. Once in the water the oil changes and the layer formed on

the surface determines the following effects:

-Decreased amount of light that penetrates the water resulting in decreased intensity

of photosynthesis by plants;

- Decreased oxygen from water;

- Some products of volatile oil evaporate and reach the atmosphere;

- Heavier fractions settle gradually;

Soil pollution by hydrocarbons is more intense in the upper layers, where many of

the more viscous components are retained. The impact on the flora occurs in particular on the

micro-flora which develops based on the consumption of nitrogen and carbon which results in

a transformation of organic compounds.

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3.Hazardous industrial waste management

3.1. Gathering

Collection activities are specific to each industry and each type of waste according

to their characteristics and the degree of harm. Suitable containers are used labeled according

to current regulations and the responsibility is assigned to the generator and the accredited

companies responsible for the provision of collecting the waste.

3.2.Transport Hazardous wastes that are transported must be packaged and labeled in accordance

with the legal provisions relating to the carriage of dangerous goods. Employees, including

hazardous waste carrier, must have special equipment and be trained in its use and taking the

first steps for intervention in case of accidental pollution. Transportation of hazardous waste

is carried from the generator or holder, called the sender, to the economic operator who

carries out collection / temporary storage / treatment / recovery / disposal, named recipient,

based on the approval form for transport of hazardous waste. The recipient, on receiving the

receipt form, can accept shipment, in which case the he signs and stamps the form, or request

additional information from the sender. To perform effectively the transport you also need the

approval of county environmental protection agency in whose jurisdiction the installation of

treatment / recovery / disposal is. The agreement is given within 7 days of receiving all the

information requested by the Environmental Protection Agency. Transportation routes of

hazardous waste is established by the consignor and the carrier, taking into account the

possible circumvention of cities, and authorized by the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations

of the county in whose jurisdiction is the sender, joined in documents accompanying the

transport of hazardous waste. For hazardous waste generated in smaller quantity of 1 ton /

year, the form of expedition / hazardous waste transport does not need approval of the

environmental protection agency in whose jurisdiction is the recipient of hazardous waste, but

when larger quantities of the same category of hazardous waste are involved, this approval is

mandatory.

3.3. Storing

Proper storage of waste must be packaged according to the state of aggregation and

the packaging in bags, special containers (ISO and IBC), drums or a combination thereof.

Once placed in the place of storage, the packed waste must not go through any other

manipulations until the loading for transportation to disposal facilities / recovery. During

storage, but storage containers must be supervised in terms of physical integrity, to prevent

accidental leakage or scattering. In determining the Plan storage for the transfer station the

possibility of widespread application of the principle "first in - first out" should be taken into

consideration given that internally, it is a possibility to have access to any of the existing

packaged waste, and they should retain their identity during storage. It must also be

considered, as a general rule, to avoid locating in proximity waste with incompatible features.

CONCLUSIONS:

Through technology generation and chemical composition the harmful waste is a

special category of waste that is identified by the special impact they have on human health

and implicitly on the environment. It is therefore required that special management measures

bedesigned to correspond to the principles of sustainable development and reflect the

responsibilities devolving upon us in this respect. The main objectives of management

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programs and neutralizing harmful waste aims at making existing waste, minimizing waste

generation; reducing the volume and toxicity until their elimination from technological

processes, implementation of selective waste collection.

The main ways to achieve these objectives are:

- Raising public awareness, disseminating information and raising awareness on the

methods of collection industries and transportation of hazardous waste to treatment, recovery

and / or elimination;

- Development of a service collection and transportation of hazardous waste at

facilities approved for the treatment, recovery and / or disposal.

- Developing proposals and methods of waste recovery;

- Improving data reporting system for environmental protection by the authorities;

- Establishing and implementing a mechanism for effective verification of

compliance of legal provisions;

- The principles underlying waste management: the producer responsibility

principle, the principle of user responsibility, the prevention principle, the principle of

primary resources protection and the principle of integration;

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Apostol T., Marculescu C. – Solid waste management, Publisher Agir , Bucureşti, 2006.

2. Apostol T.- Waste management and environmental impact.PublisherPrintech,

Bucureşti,1998.

3. ADEME: La collecte et le traitement des dechets, 1999.

4. Atudorei, I. Paunescu - Waste management, Publisher Matrix Rom, Bucuresti, 2004.

5. Bold O.,Mărăcineanu A., - Solid waste management, Ed Matrix Rom, Bucureşti, 2003.

6. Bularda Gh., Bularda D., Catrinescu Th.- Household waste, street and industrial, Publisher

Tehnică, Bucureşti 1992

7. Căpăţână C., Racoceanu C.- Waste, Publisher Matrix Rom , Bucureşti, 2003.

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