HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0138.000 1998-2000 IS IT REALLY ~OC~?- ~ o
In the Sunday paper, January 24th we learned th3t,Inedical waste was "Headed to
Keaau
My initial reaction was to begin researching medical waste to see exactly what the
dangers were, firstly for myself, my family, friends, environment and the community. 1
way not comforted by my discovery and that was just exactly how dangerous this dirty
business is_.
We have a direct attack on our community.
There are no federal regulations covc~emg medical waste incineration. Each state
must pass it's own regulations and few have done so. Fewer yet enforce medical waste
regulation, so basically "anything goes."
Two thirds or incinerators have permist to operate yet they lackthe pollution
crn~trol devices, not to mention retrofitting. the hospital waste causes biological bacteria
and viruses to move in to the community and then change it from a biological problem to a
chemical problem when it is incinerated. Acid gasses from chlorinated organic plastics and
m~ic metals that come from pigments, additives on paper and plastics, batteries,
thermometers, sphygnomometers, fluorescent lights all cause toxic biohazards.
1 V hags, chlorinated plastic and many essential health care products and packaging
horned are creating these gasses.
"I'Itese are called DIOXINS or "polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and the second
~~roup is "polychlorinated dibenzofurans" or PCDFs. Of 210 compounds that comprise
these chemicals, 17 of them are extremely toxic. The LIFE-THREATENING dioxins are
HYDROGEN CHLORIDE, LEAD, CADMIUM AND MERCURY. These travel great
distances and make their way into our food chain. Atmosphere-borne toxins cause
('ANGER AND ENDOCRINE SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION.
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified medical waste as
one of the major sources of mercury and Dioxin pollution.
Medical waste is divided into three categories.
1. Laboratory waste -sharps, needles, scalples.
2. Red bag waste -infectious disease bandages, hepatitis, TB,
AIDS, body tissues, body parts, causing blood borne
pathogens come into contact with workers.
3. Radioactive waste
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There is great danger in transportation of medical waste, roads have to be
approved, trucks must be approved medical waste transport trucks registered as
hazardous waste haulers. The Department of Transportation is involved. Transport
trucks must be vacuum containerized. Drivers of trucks must be professionally licenced in
hazardous material transportation.
There are dangers in collection practices, storage of the materials before it is
incinerated. The landfill must be on a 24 hour monitoring system. There must be an
emergency response system for accidents.
Appropriate record keeping must be in place, how it was collected, the names ofthe
hospitals on the bags, etc. They are responsible for water treatment.
Unfortunately, because of the very nature of our island with its gentle slope to the
ocean, any lower lying subdivisions and areas whose elevation drops from that ofKeauu is
in eetreme danger from the ground water leached down from Keauu. Whether its
Shipman, Fern Acres, Orchidland, Ainaloa, Poha1t11Circle and Road, Hawaiian Paradise
Park. Hawaiian Shores, Hawaiian Beaches, Pahoa, NanawaR Leilani estates or any other
outlying areas down to the ocean.
The very air we breathe for many, many miles is affected.
The subject of medical waste is so highly controversial that the only way medical
facilities can dispose of it the old fashioned way is by hiring highly lucrative private
incineration companies to bamboozle residents of small towns in to thinking that the
suhstances aren't dangerous. They know just how dangerous they are but don't care
about our children's lives.
There are barges floating around the Pacific Ocean full of medical waste right now from
California with nowhere to dump it. The price is too high, human life.
WILY WOULD WE GRACIOUSLY ACCEPT THE PROSPECT OF ACCEPTING
HAZARDOUS WASTE FROM l0 HOSPITALS IN OAHU? WHAT ABOUT
TOMORROW, 20 MORE HOSPITALS?
SOON WE COULD BE KNOWN FOR A GEOTHERMAL FACILITY, AN
IRRADIATION FACILITY, A HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY, A PRISON AND
VOLCANOS.
A I WHAT POINT DO WE STAND UP AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?
The answer to medical waste disposal is in advanced technology which is already
saving hospitals money with their own on site waste disposal units. One of the solutions is
called Fluidized bed technology which burns and oxidizes all waste including sharp objects
which cut transportation dangers, disposal costs and has the byproduct of steam and heat
fbr the hospital. It uses coal and limestone to neutralize the dangers of dioxins. Or, there
is the plasma torch method which heats gas with electricity and pyrolizes waste by
breaking apart molecules changing them in to glass slag which can be used for
crn»position roofing, concrete or aggragate for roads.
The owness is on the hospitals to purchase the disposal systems, not to use
antiquated, dangerous methods which affect MY life.
In closing, when you go out to your yard and pick an orange off your tree, wonder
how many people were really involved in it's growth. You might suddenly feel full, and
when thinking about the Keaau solid waste disposal site and old fashioned incineration and
see a haze off in the distance, any direction you look, ask yourself IS IT REALLY VOG?
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