Household sources

Much of the information about the harmful effects of organic solvents comes from studies of industrial exposure, although toluene abuse through sniffing of glues and other household sources of solvents (acrylic paints, adhesive cements, aerosol paints, lacquer thinners, shoe polish, typewriter correction fluids, varnishes, and fuels) has also been widely reported. 

The process flow used has been described (2 ). MSW (principally from household sources) was shredded, screened, air classified, shredded a second time, and passed through an animal feed densifier modified for the purpose. The primary shredding has been described ( ) brief descriptions of the other unit processes follow. The major pieces of equipment are described in Table I. 

Attrition of rubber carpet backing contributed significantly to elevated concentrations of Cd in household dust sampled in an urban setting in Illinois, U.S. by Solomon and Hartford (1976), although this source of Cd was absent from British homes sampled by Harrison (1979). In some areas, carpet backing may be a source of Zn, in addition to other household sources of Zn such as rubber, paints, and fillers used in linoleum (Fergusson and Kim, 1991). 

Greywater - Waste water from a household source other than a toilet. This water can be used for landscape irrigation depending upon the source of the greywater. 

A) the scope and severity of lead poisoning from household sources ... 

Expenditure 1998 P6.208 billion (about US 152 million) orO.23% of GDP Coverage 1995-8 about 11 % of the country s 14 million households Sources Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (2001)... 

Batteries. Many batteries intended for household use contain mercury or mercury compounds. In the form of red mercuric oxide [21908-53-2] mercury is the cathode material in the mercury—cadmium, mercury—indium—bismuth, and mercury—zinc batteries. In all other mercury batteries, the mercury is amalgamated with the zinc [7440-66-6] anode to deter corrosion and inhibit hydrogen build-up that can cause cell mpture and fire. Discarded batteries represent a primary source of mercury for release into the environment. This industry has been under intense pressure to reduce the amounts of mercury in batteries. Although battery sales have increased greatly, the battery industry has aimounced that reduction in mercury content of batteries has been made and further reductions are expected (3). In fact, by 1992, the battery industry had lowered the mercury content of batteries to 0.025 wt % (3). Use of mercury in film pack batteries for instant cameras was reportedly discontinued in 1988 (3). 

There are numerous misconceptions about the sources of various chemical elements in waste, particularly those that are potential acid formers when the waste is incinerated or mechanically converted and used as a refuse-derived fuel. For example, it is often mistakenly stated that the source of chlorine in waste, hence a potential source of HCl emissions, is poly(vinyl chloride). The relative contents of selected, potentially acid-forming elements in the organic portion of a sample of waste collected from various households in one U.S. East Coast city is given in Table 2 (17). In this city, a chief source of chlorine in the waste is NaCl, probably from food waste. 

For VOCs, control options are multiple. Source reduction or removal includes product substitution or reformulation. Particleboard or pressed w ood has been developed and used extensively in building materials for cabinet bases and subflooring and in furniture manufacturing for frames. If the product is not properly manufactured and cured prior to use as a building material, VOCs can outgas into the interior of the residence or building. Other sources of VOCs may be paints, cleaning solutions, fabrics, binders, and adhesives. Proper use of household products will lower volatile emissions. 

Organic Compounds Chemicals that contain carbon. Volatile organic compounds vaporize at room temperature and pressure. They are found in many indoor sources, including many common household products and building materials. 

One of the reasons why it is important to remove suspended solids in water is that the particles can act as a source of food and housing for bacteria. Not only does this make microbiological control much harder but, high bacteria levels increase the fouling of distribution lines and especially heat transfer equipment that receive processed waters (for example, in one s household hot water heater). The removal of suspended contaminants enables chemical treatments to be at their primary jobs of scale and corrosion prevention and microbial control. 

People differ in their preferences and m the value they put on their time. For consumer choices in particular, the entire list of qualities of services provided by different energy sources can be important. For example, both kerosene lamps and electric lights can be used to illuminate a home. Most households shifted quickly to electricity once it became available, and few would shift to kerosene today even if kerosene for lamp fuel were free. The lighting provided differs in more ways than cost. 

The demand for electrically operated tools or devices that can be handled independently of stationary power sources led to a variety of different battery systems which are chosen depending on the field of application. In the case of rare usage, e.g., for household electric torches or for long-term applications with low current consumption, such as watches or heart pacemakers, primary cells (zinc-carbon, alkaline-manganese or lithium-iodide cells) are chosen. For many applications such as starter batteries in cars, only rechargeable battery systems, e.g., lead accumulators, are reasonable with regard to costs and the environment. 

Potassium iodide is added as a nutrient to prevent goiter, a thyroid problem caused by lack of iodine, and to prevent a form of mental retardation associated with iodine deficiency. A project started by the Michigan State Medical Society in 1924 promoted the addition of iodine to table salt, and by the mid-1950s three-quarters of U.S. households used only iodized salt. Potassium iodide makes up 0.06 percent to 0.01 percent of table salt by weight. Sometimes cuprous iodide—iodide of copper—is used instead as the source of iodine. 

It all started almost 60 years ago when P. Spencer, studying high-power microwave sources for radar applications, observed the melting of a chocolate bar in his pocket at least that is the story told. The first patent in this field was filed by him in 1946 and one year later the first commercial microwave oven appeared on the market. We had to wait until 1955 for domestic models, but by 1976 almost 60% of US households already had a microwave oven. 

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