Most people understand that improperly disposed hazardous waste will have a negative effect on the environment. However, many people don’t fully understand what short- and long-term environmental impacts this waste can have. Keep reading to learn more about hazardous waste and how it affects the environment, including humans.
When someone doesn’t properly dispose of hazardous waste, there is often an immediate short-term impact on the surrounding environment. The easiest place to see this short-term impact is in the local water supply. Whether the waste is toxic, corrosive, reactive, ignitable, or a combination of any of those characteristics, it can contaminate the water. Then, when plants soak up that water or animals drink from the impacted source, they can get sick. This sickness may only last while the water is in their system, but it can cause temporary behavior changes or even death.
In addition to poisoning water, hazardous waste can also enter the air or soak into soil. While these cycles often take longer to have an effect, their effect can also last longer. Hazardous water, soil, and air can deform or mutate plant and animal life in the affected area. These contaminated elements can also cause long-term physiological problems, such as organ failure in animals and reproductive issues in plant and animal life.
Sometimes, the long-term impact comes from a short-term impact, such as a fire from ignitable waste. In these cases, the entire ecosystem or important parts of the ecosystem sustain significant damage. While some areas recover, others do not, which can impact surrounding areas. For example, if a particular animal population low on the food chain dies in a forest fire, the surviving predators must start hunting in new environments for food. New predators in an environment can negatively impact that area, and the cycle continues.
In many places, humans are part of the impacted environment, so we can also experience short- and long-term impacts from exposure to hazardous waste. Many of the effects are like what animals in the area experience, such as temporary behavior changes from drinking poisoned water or birth defects after eating poisoned plants during pregnancy. Cancer and physical deformations are also potential long-term consequences of hazardous waste exposure if the waste doesn’t follow the correct type of waste stream. This can happen if someone disposes of the waste improperly, making it vital for every person and company to understand where and how to dispose of hazardous waste.
The environmental impact of hazardous waste can have short- and long-term effects on various life throughout your area. Following hazardous waste disposal laws or hiring a waste management company can help you protect the environment in your area from any hazardous waste you create. Research the best options for your company, so you can keep everyone safe.
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