Engineering The Risks Of Hazardous Wastes

Many engineers are faced daily with hazardous wastes, from the chemical and process industries, waste treatment system management and design to the clean-up of contaminated sites. This practical reference blends together theoretical explanations, techniques and case study examples.

Hazardous waste in the environment is one of the most difficult challenges facing our society. The purpose of this book is to provide a background of the many aspects of hazardous waste, from its sources to its consequences, focusing on the risks posed to human health and the environment. It explains the legislation and regulations surrounding hazardous waste; however, the scope of the book is much broader, discussing agents that are released into the environment that might not be classified as hazardous waste under the regulatory system, but nonetheless pose substantial hazards to human health and the environment. It provides a background of some of the major generators of hazardous wastes, explains the pathways by which humans and wildlife are exposed, and includes discussion of the adverse health effects linked to these pollutants. It provides numerous case studies of hazardous waste mismanagement that have led to disastrous consequences, and highlights the deficiencies in science and regulation that have allowed the public to be subjected to myriad potentially hazardous agents. Finally, it provides a discussion of measures that will need to be taken to control society’s hazardous waste problem. This book was designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences, including students, professionals, and general readers interested in the topic. Provides information about sources of and health risks posed by hazardous waste Explains the legislation and regulations surrounding hazardous waste Includes numerous case studies of mismanagement, highlights deficiencies in science and regulation and discusses measures to tackle society’s hazardous waste problems

Hazardous Wastes An illuminating, problem-solving approach to source area analysis, environmental chemodynamics, risk assessment, and remediation In the newly revised second edition of Hazardous Wastes: Assessment and Remediation, a team of distinguished researchers delivers a foundational and comprehensive treatment of all aspects of hazardous waste problems. The book offers two sections—one on assessment and the following on remediation—while exploring topics crucial to the study of environmental science and engineering at the senior or master’s level. This latest edition includes a new emphasis on the chemistry of emerging contaminants, including perfluorinated compounds, 1,4-dioxane, methyl tert-butyl ether, and personal care products. It also offers updated data on contaminant Threshold Limit Value, Reference Dose, Slope Factor, Reference Concentration, and Inhalation Unit Risk. New remediation chapters also provide many design problems, incorporating economic analyses and the selection of various design alternatives. Approximately 200 new end-of-chapter problems—with solutions—have been added as well. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to hazardous wastes, including discussion of pre-regulatory disposal and hazardous waste legislation Comprehensive discussions of common hazardous wastes, including their nomenclature, industrial uses, and disposal histories In-depth explorations of partitioning, sorption, and exchange at surfaces, as well as volatilization Extensive descriptions of the concepts of hazardous waste toxicology and quantitative toxicology Perfect for senior- and masters-level college courses in hazardous wastes in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Chemical Engineering programs, Hazardous Wastes: Assessment and Remediation will also earn a place in the libraries of professional environmental scientists and engineers.

This book analyses the treatment of uncertainties within risk management and regulation for hazardous wastes, in five national case-studies. It is shown that, although institutional uncertainties vary between national political cultures, regulatory bureaucracies everywhere understate these more fundamental uncertainties (which are often structural conflicts, of different rationalities) and define them instead as marginal technical uncertainties or imprecision in risk-definitions. Close comparative analysis shows that technical regulatory standards depend upon their local institutional setting in systematic ways, so that conventional regulatory emphasis on technical precision or standardisation should be replaced by greater social negotiation, and educated public involvement and control. Readers will find the book valuable for its novel analytical approach especially in relation to public acceptance issues, and the argument for fresh practical approaches derived from this; in addition there is new information and analysis from the descriptive materials in case studies. Its main aim is to stimulate fresh thinking and approaches to an urgent problem.

Engineers who play a major role in hazardous waste management, must have full understanding of technical, regulatory, economic, permitting, institutional and public policy issues. This reference book provides this information, providing data and techniques that can be applied to analyzing, designing and developing effective hazardous waste management solutions.

Hazardous Waste Management and Health Risks presents a systematic overview of evaluating solid and hazardous waste management practices. The book introduces readers to the basic principles of hazardous waste management and progresses into related topics that allow managers to assess environmental quality. These topics include heavy metal pollution, reproductive biomarkers as signals of environmental pressure and health risks, and environmental contamination in an international perspective. With an emphasis on sustainable development throughout the text, a zero-waste strategy as an alternative way to manage hazardous waste is suggested in a dedicated chapter. This reference book is intended as an introductory guide for managers taking waste management training courses and students involved in degree courses related to environmental engineering and management.

Many engineers, from the chemical and process industries, waste treatment system management and design to the clean-up of contaminated sites, are engaged in careers that address hazardous wastes. However, no single book is available that explains how to manage the risks of those wastes. At best it is dealt with in diverse sections of books on the general field of environmental engineering, and in various treatments of the subject of risk, statistics and hazard assessment. This is a reference and text that blends together theoretical explanations, techniques and case study examples to complement practical knowledge. These include problems with solutions, case studies of current and landmark hazardous waste problems, and reference sections that will make certain that this text stays on the practicing engineer's bookshelf. Addresses a subject of theoretical and regulatory importance The only book to take this approach Includes textbook case studies and examples as well as practical advice