Health Effects of Solid Waste- Review by Suhas Dixit

The major disadvantage of development and industrialisation is the pollution it causes to the earth – be it land, air, and water. As the  global population increases and the demand for food and other essentials rises. Proportionally, there's a rise in the amount of waste being generated. This waste is finally thrown into municipal waste collection centres from where the waste is collected by the area municipalities to be further dumped into the landfills. However, either due to resource deficiency or inefficient infrastructure, not all of this waste gets collected and transported to the final dumpsites. If the management and disposal of waste  is improperly done, it can cause serious health impact and problems to the surrounding environment.

Waste that is not properly managed, such as excreta and other liquid and solid waste from households and the community, are a serious health hazard and lead to the spread of various infectious diseases. Unattended waste lying around attracts flies, rats, and other creatures that in turn spread disease. Normally wet waste decomposes and releases a bad odour. This leads to unhygienic conditions and thereby to a rise in the health problems. The plague outbreak in Surat is a good example of a city suffering due to the ignorant attitude of the local body in maintaining cleanliness in the city. Plastic waste is yet another cause for ill health. Thus excessive solid waste that is generated should be controlled by taking certain preventive measures.
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Impacts of solid waste on health

The population in areas where there is no proper waste disposal method, especially the pre-school children; waste workers; and workers in facilities producing toxic and infectious material are most vulnerable to the hazards of improper waste management. Other high-risk group is the population living close to a waste dump and the other are those water supply has become contaminated either due to waste dumping or leakage from landfill sites. Uncollected solid waste increases risk of injury, and infection.

Organic domestic waste pose a serious threat, as they ferment, creating conditions favorable for the survival and growth of microbial pathogens. Direct handling of solid waste can result in various types of infectious and chronic diseases with the waste workers and the rag pickers being the most vulnerable.

Exposure to hazardous waste affects human health, children being most vulnerable to these pollutants. Direct exposure leads to diseases through chemical exposure as the release of chemical waste into the environment leads to chemical poisoning. 

Certain chemicals if released without any tratment, e.g. cyanides, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls being highly toxic and exposure can lead to disease or death. Some studies have detected of cancer in residents exposed to hazardous waste. Many studies have been carried out in various parts of the world to establish a connection between health and hazardous waste.
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Plastic waste washed off to shore


The role of plastics
The unhygienic use and disposal of plastics and its effects on human health is a major concern. Coloured plastics are harmful as their pigment contains heavy metals that are highly toxic. Some of the harmful metals found in plastics are copper, lead, chromium, cobalt, selenium, and cadmium. In most developed countries, colour plastics have been legally banned. In India, the Government of Himachal Pradesh has banned the use of plastics and so has Ladakh district. Other states should follow their example.


Preventive measures
Proper methods of waste disposal have to be undertaken to ensure that it does not affect the environment around the area or cause health hazards to the people living there. Recycling too plays a major role in dealing waste. At Pyrocrat Systems LLP, under the guidance of Mr. Suhas Dixit, we provide efficient waste management solutions to recycle plastic and tire waste into pyrolysis oil and carbon black using a patented technology. 


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