{"id":165,"date":"2012-07-18T15:44:43","date_gmt":"2012-07-18T19:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.ehscsi.com\/?p=165"},"modified":"2017-12-10T23:21:26","modified_gmt":"2017-12-11T04:21:26","slug":"managing-hazardous-waste-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/2012\/07\/18\/managing-hazardous-waste-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Hazardous Waste at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"EHS<\/a>
Nail polish a common household hazardous waste.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Much discussion is centered around toxicity in our homes\u2014chemicals in our cleaning products; cancer-causing materials in our cosmetics and skin care products. \u00a0 I recently read an article published in Globe and Mail<\/em> entitled \u201cYour manicure looks beautiful. But the health effects are ugly\u201d<\/a> about the occupational hazards associated with nail salons.\u00a0 The article highlighted some of the hazardous materials\u2014toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate\u2014found in nail polish.\u00a0 \u00a0Not only do these chemicals have severe chronic (long-term) health hazards, each material is also considered hazardous waste. \u00a0I wonder how many nail salons properly dispose of these materials? In Part One of this series \u201cWhat is Hazardous Waste?\u201d<\/a> I defined hazardous waste and discussed how companies can identify hazardous wastes. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Today, I will review some common household hazardous wastes.<\/p>\n

\"EHS<\/a>
DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) Cream found at a relative’s home.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many think that a material’s availability as a consumer product\u00a0is an indication of its safety; this could not be further from the truth as seen by the nail polish example.\u00a0 This weekend, while visiting a relative I noticed DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) in the bathroom cabinet.\u00a0 I questioned the use of this material and was informed it was used as an alternative treatment for hip pain.\u00a0 I quickly referenced the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for DMSO which indicates it is teratogenic (capable of causing birth defects), mutagenic (potential to change the genes or chromosomes) and carcinogenic (cancer-forming). Now that my relative has been informed of the dangers of this material how do you think it will be disposed?\u00a0 Most likely it will be thrown in the trash, toilet or sink.\u00a0 After reviewing the\u00a0MSDS I determined that DMSO is not a characteristic or listed hazardous waste.\u00a0 Its flashpoint is 189 degrees Fahrenheit and it is not listed in the regulation so technically it\u2019s not a hazardous waste; but considering its health hazards is certainly not a chemical that should be discarded with general trash or thrown down the drain.\u00a0 While wastewater from our toilets and drains is treated at the local wastewater treatment plant many of the chemicals from household\u00a0disposal remain after treatment.\u00a0\u00a0 This means they are redistributed into our drinking water supply or discharged into our waterways.\u00a0\u00a0 This type of news can be disheartening, but with sustainability efforts and green chemistry becoming the focus of much media coverage the tide slowly turning.\u00a0 Groups like the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org<\/a>) and Washington Toxics Coalition (www.watoxics.org<\/a>) have shed light on issues arising from the mismanagement and overuse of chemicals in consumer products. \u00a0This leads to the question:\u00a0Which household products are most likely hazardous? \u00a0Following is a table list of likely suspects:<\/p>\n

Aerosols\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ammonia \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ammunitions
\nFireworks\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pesticides\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Photo Chemicals
\nAerosols\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ammonia \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ammunitions
\nFireworks\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pesticides\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Photo Chemicals
\nAntifreeze \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Gasoline \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Propane
\nHerbicides\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pesticides\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pool Chemicals
\nNail Polish \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Auto Batteries \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Boat Batteries
\nKerosene \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Charcoal Fluid \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Fertilizer
\nRust Remover\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Solvents\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wood Stains
\nMotor Oil\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Polish Remover \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Paint Thinners
\nFire Extinguishers\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drain Cleaners \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mercury Thermometers<\/p>\n

Do you want to manage hazardous waste at your home properly?\u00a0 Most states, counties and\/or municipalities have household hazardous waste or chemical collection programs.\u00a0 Unlike garbage collection residents are typically required to bring the waste to the location.\u00a0 In South Florida, Broward <\/a>County offers a household hazardous waste program and Miami Dade<\/a> County offers a Home Chemical Collection Program.\u00a0\u00a0 Although not required these are programs that foster a cleaner environment.\u00a0 I hope you will give one in your area a try!<\/p>\n

Do you have other examples of hazardous household materials?\u00a0 If so, please leave a comment here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Much discussion is centered around toxicity in our homes\u2014chemicals in our cleaning products; cancer-causing materials in our cosmetics and skin care products. \u00a0 I recently read an article published in Globe and Mail entitled \u201cYour manicure looks beautiful. But the health effects are ugly\u201d about the occupational hazards associated with nail salons.\u00a0 The article highlighted…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[67,65,63,56,66,60,64],"class_list":["post-165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hazardous-waste","tag-chemical-waste-at-home","tag-ehs-consultant-in-south-florida","tag-ehs-compliance-2","tag-hazardous-waste-2","tag-household-hazardous-waste","tag-rcra","tag-toxic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":175,"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165\/revisions\/175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ehscsi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}