Chemical hazards/waste

Another desirable attribute of a waste classification system that is a corollary of the system being risk-based is that it treat wastes that pose similar health risks consistently. A chemically hazardous waste estimated to pose a certain risk should be in the same waste class as a radioactive waste that poses an equivalent risk, and similarly for mixed waste. Consistency also implies that wastes posing similar risks could be disposed of using essentially the same technology (municipal/industrial landfill, licensed near-surface facility for hazardous waste, or geologic repository). 

NCRP did not undertake a detailed investigation into the kinds and quantities of radioactive or hazardous chemical wastes containing low levels of hazardous substances that might be classified as exempt, based on the consideration that allowable dispositions should pose no more than a negligible risk or dose. Rather, published studies are cited to indicate that substantial quantities of waste currently managed as radioactive or chemically hazardous waste... 

Hazardous Chemical Wastes. NCRP has not considered studies of particular wastes containing low levels of hazardous chemicals that are potential candidates for exemption. However, studies in support of proposed regulations to establish exemption levels for listed hazardous wastes (EPA, 1992d 1995c 1999c) indicate that substantial quantities of waste currently managed as chemically hazardous waste could be classified as exempt for purposes of disposal. 

Armour, M. A., Laboratory methods for disposal of toxic inorganic and organic chemicals, Hazardous Waste Control in Research and Education, Korenaga, T. et al., Eds., Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, 1994, p. 95. 

Thirdly, during the elimination of chemical war materials, the amounts of resulting chemically hazardous wastes are 5 - 9 times as many as the initial material and they should be reclaimed and buried on the territory of a country that would agree to provide its territory for establishing systems of a long-term controlled burial, because mustard gas remains toxic for more than 400 years. 

Chemically hazardous waste is disposed of through the hazardous waste disposal program for that type of materials. Labels on a container showing that the contents are radioactive must be removed or defaced. 

EPA) defines chemically hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (U.S. NRC) defines radioactivity hazards. Biological hazards are generally not defined within federal regulations. 

Multihazardous waste is waste that contains any combination of chemical, radioactive, or biological hazards. The combinations of these hazards are illustrated in Figure 7.2. Although many of the principles discussed for chemically hazardous waste earlier in this... 

Management of multihazardous waste is complicated further by local or state requirements that may be inconsistent with the relative risk of each hazard and with sound waste management practices. Chemically hazardous waste that contains short-half-life radionuclides may, for example, be best managed by holding the waste in storage for decay, which may require up to 2 years. However, the EPA and state rules usually limit storage of chemically hazardous waste to 90 days. 

Mixed waste produced at university, hospital, and medical research laboratories is typically a mixture of a low-level radioactive waste and chemically hazardous waste. Mixed waste from nuclear and energy research laboratories can include both low- and high-level (e.g., spent nuclear fuels) radioactive materials combined with chemically hazardous waste. Disposal options for mixed waste are usually very expensive. For many types of mixed waste, there are no management options other than indefinite storage on site, or at an approved facility, in the hope that treatment or disposal options will be created in the near future. 

Chemical hazards can be reduced by carrying out various common chemical reactions with the waste in the laboratory (see also section 7.B.5 and 7.D). However, "treatment" of chemically hazardous waste has regulatory implications that must be considered. Many of the same considraations apply to treatment of mixed waste. 

The most extensive use of RIA has been in the clinical laboratory for the diagnosis of metabolic malfunction and disease and for the management of therapy. For clinical applications an RIA must meet certain requirements. Accuracy, for example, should normally be +/- 10% or better. Owing to the great number of assays that must be performed, simplicity of methodology and economy are important considerations. It is desirable to use the same tube for both the reaction and for counting to reduce cost and to reduce the number of necessary operations. The use of small tubes and vials helps achieve an economic utilization of reagents and, in the case of liquid scintillator, also helps to reduce the problem of radioactive and chemically hazardous waste. 

A document setting out an organized, planned, and coordinated course of action to be followed in case of a fire, explosion, or other incident that releases toxic chemicals, hazardous waste, or radioactive materials that threaten human health or the environment. See also Emergency Response Plan (ERP). 

Buildings and other structures not included in Risk Category IV (including, but not limited to, facilities that manufacture, process, handle, store, use, or dispose of such substances as hazardous fuels, hazardous chemicals, hazardous waste, or explosives) containing toxic or explosive substances where their quantity exceeds a threshold quantity established by the authority having jurisdiction and is sufficient to pose a threat to the public if released. 

The basic requirements for shipping papers are described in 49 CFR 172 Subpart C, beginning at 49 CFR 172.200. The US DOT does not prescribe use of a particular form, but the shipper may be driven to the use of specific forms by the NRC that prescribes the format for shipping manifests used for licensed, low-level radioactive waste (10 CFR 20, Appendix G). In addition, radioactive materials shipped together with chemically hazardous waste are subject to the hazardous waste manifesting requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), in 49 CFR 259 and 261. 

D Chemical hazardous waste 48% The authors greatly thank and acknowledge... 

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