What is "toxic waste"

n. Any waste that can cause death or injury to living creatures, especially poisonous chemical compounds

n. poisonous waste materials; can cause injury (especially by chemical means) [syn: toxic industrial waste]

Toxic Waste was an anarcho-punk band from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Toxic waste is waste material that can cause death, injury or birth defects to living creatures.

Toxic waste may also refer to:

• Toxic Waste (confectionery), the sour confectionery
• Toxic Waste (band), the rock group
• Toxic Waste (EP), a 2012 split EP by Toxic Holocaust and Municipal Waste
• A slang term for a toxic asset, such as collateralized debt obligations for subprime mortgages

Toxic Waste is a line of sour candies sold in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South Africa and Ireland. The toxic waste candy is packed in novelty drum containers, each holding 16 pieces of sour candy which come in five different flavors. The Toxic Waste Sour Candy brand is owned and marketed by Candy Dynamics Inc of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Toxic Waste is a Split EP by American thrash metal bands Municipal Waste and Toxic Holocaust released under Tankcrimes Records. Tracks 1 & 2 are by Municipal Waste. Tracks 3 & 4 are by Toxic Holocaust.

Toxic waste is any material in liquid, solid, or gas form that can cause serious harm to humans as well as animals and the environment. The materials are poisonous byproducts as a result of industries such as manufacturing, farming, construction, automotive, laboratories, and hospitals which may contain chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, dangerous pathogens, or other toxins. Toxic waste has become more abundant since the industrial revolution, causing serious global health issues. Disposing of such waste has become even more critical with the addition of numerous technological advances containing toxic chemical components. Products such as cellular telephones, computers, televisions, and solar panels contain toxic chemicals that can harm the environment if not disposed of properly to prevent the pollution of the air and contamination of soils and water. A material is considered toxic when it causes death or harm by being inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin.

The waste can contain chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, dangerous pathogens, or other toxins. Even households generate hazardous waste from items such as batteries, used computer equipment, and leftover paints or pesticides. Toxic material can be either human-made and others are naturally occurring in the environment. Not all hazardous substances are considered toxic.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has identified 11 key substances that pose a risk to human health:

• Arsenic: used in making electrical circuits, as an ingredient in pesticides, and as a wood preservative. It is classified as a carcinogen.
• Asbestos: is a material that was once used for the insulation of buildings, and some businesses are still using this material to manufacture roofing materials and brakes. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to lung cancer and asbestosis.
• Cadmium: is found in batteries and plastics. It can be inhaled through cigarette smoke, or digested when included as a pigment in food. Exposure leads to lung damage, irritation of the digestive track, and kidney disease.
• Chromium: is used as brick lining for high-temperature industrial furnaces, as a solid metal used for making steel, and in chrome plating, manufacturing dyes and pigments, wood preserving, and leather tanning. It is known to cause cancer, and prolonged exposure can cause chronic bronchitis and damage lung tissue.
• Clinical wastes: such as syringes and medication bottles can spread pathogens and harmful microorganisms, leading to a variety of illnesses.
• Cyanide: a poison found in some pesticides and rodenticides. In large doses it can lead to paralysis, convulsions, and respiratory distress.
• Lead: is found in batteries, paints, and ammunition. When ingested or inhaled can cause harm to the nervous and reproductive systems, and kidneys.
• Mercury: used for dental fillings and batteries. It is also used in the production of chlorine gas. Exposure can lead to birth defects and kidney and brain damage
• PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are used in many manufacturing processes, by the utility industry, and in paints and sealants. Damage can occur through exposure, affecting the nervous, reproductive, and immune systems, as well as the liver.
• POPs, persistent organic pollutants. They are found in chemicals and pesticides, and may lead to nervous and reproductive system defects. They can bio-accumulate in the food chain or persist in the environment and be moved great distances through the atmosphere.
• Strong acids and alkalis used in manufacturing and industrial production. They can destroy tissue and cause internal damage to the body.

The most overlooked toxic and hazardous wastes are the household products in everyday homes that are improperly disposed of such as old batteries, pesticides, paint, and car oil. Toxic waste can be reactive, ignitable, and corrosive.These types of waste are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

• Reactive wastes are those that can cause explosions when heated, mixed with water or compressed. They can release toxic gases into the air. They are unstable even in normal conditions. An example is Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.
• Ignitable wastes have flash points of less than 60 degrees Celsius. They are very combustible and can cause fires. Examples would be solvents and waste oils.
• Corrosive wastes are liquids capable of corroding metal containers. These are acids or bases that has a PH level of less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5. An example is Battery Acid.

With the increasing worldwide technology there are more substances that are being considered toxic and harmful to human health. Some of this technology includes cell phones and computers. They have been given the name e-waste or EEE, which stands for Electrical and Electronic Equipment. This term is also used for goods such as refrigerators, toys, and washing machines. These items can contain toxic components inside which can break down into our water systems when discarded. The reduction in the cost of these goods has allowed for these items to be distributed globally without thought or consideration to managing the goods once they become ineffective or broken.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state departments oversee the rules that regulate hazardous waste. The EPA requires that toxic waste be handled with special precautions and be disposed of in designated facilities around the country. Also, many cities in the United States have collection days where household toxic waste is gathered. Some materials that may not be accepted at regular landfills are ammunition, commercially generated waste, explosives/shock sensitive items, hypodermic needles/syringes, medical waste, radioactive materials, and smoke detectors.